Creative Destruction Lab is Launching a Space Cohort

May 24, 2018

One of Canada’s most notable tech incubators is holding a showcase that will let the world see just what kind of cutting-edge innovation their businesses have been up to.

The Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is hosting what they call a Super Session on June 6 and 7 at their original location in the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. The two days will feature several science-based startups that show high potential, along with CDL mentors, investors, VCs and globally recognized scientists. It will also mark the incubator’s launch of an official cohort focused on space technology.

The companies that will be present at the Super Session will be representative of CDL’s five locations across Canada: CDL-Montreal, CDL-Atlantic Halifax), CDL-Rockies (Calgary) and CDL-Vancouver. They also sport a location in New York City.

CDL is a seed-stage program that lasts nine months, pairing founders with experienced leaders in the field. The goal is to set real and reachable goals, learning how to scale properly in an ecosystem that can become overwhelming very quickly. Since the first cohort launched in 2012, companies involved in CDLs across North America have created a whopping $2.5 billion in equity value.

Along with a showcase of several CDL companies, there will be speakers and discussions happening over the two days. One of the highlights includes a chat on commercializing space with former space station commander Chris Hadfield. At this super session, CDL will more details on their space stream, the world’s first ever to specialize exclusively on startups focusing on advancements in space exploration.

Silicon Valley investor Vinod Khosla will also lead a discussion talking about development focus and fundraising strategies.

“Knowing whose advice to take and on what topic is the single most important decision an entrepreneur can make,” says Khosla.

Finally, one of CDL’s alumni from 2013 will speak on how to utilize AI in healthcare. Atomwise’s co-founder and CEO Abraham Heifets will dive into how AI must be used for more advanced purposes in healthcare, and the decisions right now on how new tech is harnessed must be thought out on a deeper scale.

CDL has produced a host of incredibly successful companies, including Thalmic Labs, Nymi, Winterlight Labs, Bridgit, BenchSci and more.