Creative Destruction Lab

Profile

Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a nonprofit accelerator and incubator founded in 2012 at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. Based in Toronto, Canada, CDL operates globally with 17 locations across Canada, the United States, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The organization is known for its objectives-based program that supports massively scalable, seed-stage, science- and technology-based companies. CDL's team includes experienced mentors like Chris Hadfield, former Commander of the International Space Station, who guide startups through their growth journey.

CDL invests in a wide range of sectors including advanced therapies, agrifood, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, space, energy, health, supply chain, and web3. The program typically provides mentorship and support rather than direct financial investment, with an average check size ranging from $50K to $250K. CDL focuses on pre-seed, seed, and Series A stages, and has a strong presence in Canada, the USA, and Europe. The organization is part of the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association.

Notable companies in CDL's portfolio include Ada - a health AI platform, D-Wave - a quantum computing company, and Sensi - a sensory technology firm. CDL has supported over 1,900 companies, with 277 successful exits, demonstrating its significant impact on the startup ecosystem.