CDL Startup Program
CDL Startup Program is a program offered by Creative Destruction Lab for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador).
A nine-month, objectives-based mentorship program for seed-stage, science- and technology-based companies. No fees, no equity taken. Founders attend five full-day sessions where experienced entrepreneurs and investors set measurable objectives. CDL operates across 16 global sites including Halifax.
Visit the official program page →
Program details
CDL's core program features five full-day sessions every two months. Each session includes Small Group Meetings with curated Fellows and Associates and Large Room Discussions where mentors debate proposed objectives. Between sessions, ventures are assigned a Venture Manager and paired with mentors committing at least 4 hours between sessions. Operates across 23 specialized streams including AI, Quantum, Climate, Health, Space, and Energy. CDL does not directly fund startups but mentors include VCs and angel investors. Companies have generated over CAD $51B in equity value.
Who qualifies
Must be a seed-stage, science- or technology-based company with novel, defensible, and scalable technology. Should have advanced beyond concept stage. Applications are currently closed for 2025/26.
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