Creative Destruction Lab
Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a nonprofit, objectives-based program for seed-stage, science- and technology-based startups, founded at the University of Toronto's Rotman School. Founders meet experienced mentors and investors in sessions over a program year. The program runs subject-specific streams such as AI, Quantum, Climate, Health, Space and Defence at sites in Canada, the US, Europe, Australia and Qatar. CDL takes no equity and charges no fees.
At a glance
Creative Destruction Lab key facts
- Investment
- None
- Equity
- No equity
- Deal terms
- Nonprofit: no investment, no equity taken, no fees. Founders negotiate any investment directly with investors who are mentors in the program. Third-party sources state there is no stipend.
- Duration
- One program year, roughly fall to spring
- Format
- Hybrid
- Headquarters
- Toronto, Canada
- Cohort locations
- Toronto, Canada; Vancouver, Canada; Calgary, Canada; Montreal, Canada; Halifax, Canada; Seattle, United States; Cleveland, United States; Texas, United States; Wisconsin, United States; London, United Kingdom; Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; Milan, Italy; San Sebastian, Spain; Estonia; Melbourne, Australia; Doha, Qatar
- Stage
- pre-seed, seed
- Sectors
- deep tech, ai, climate, health, energy, agrifood, robotics, web3, biotech
- Application cycle
- Annual (one program year)
Verified November 4, 2026 against the sources below. Terms change; confirm on the official site before applying.
Timing
Applications for the 2026/27 program year closed July 24, 2026, per CDL's apply page. Some streams closed earlier: Defence on June 15 and the Quantum Bootcamp on June 21, 2026, per third-party listings. No 2027/28 deadline has been published; past cycles opened in spring and closed in July.
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Notable alumni
- Ada
- Atomwise
- Deep Genomics
- Eavor Technologies
- Notch
FAQ
Applying to Creative Destruction Lab
- How much does Creative Destruction Lab invest?
- Creative Destruction Lab's standard deal: Nonprofit: no investment, no equity taken, no fees. Founders negotiate any investment directly with investors who are mentors in the program. Third-party sources state there is no stipend.
- How much equity does Creative Destruction Lab take?
- Creative Destruction Lab takes no equity.
- When is the Creative Destruction Lab application deadline?
- Application cycle: Annual (one program year). Applications for the 2026/27 program year closed July 24, 2026, per CDL's apply page. Some streams closed earlier: Defence on June 15 and the Quantum Bootcamp on June 21, 2026, per third-party listings. No 2027/28 deadline has been published; past cycles opened in spring and closed in July.
- Where is Creative Destruction Lab based?
- Creative Destruction Lab is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. The program runs hybrid. Cohorts run in Toronto, Canada, Vancouver, Canada, Calgary, Canada, Montreal, Canada, Halifax, Canada, Seattle, United States, Cleveland, United States, Texas, United States, Wisconsin, United States, London, United Kingdom, Paris, France, Berlin, Germany, Milan, Italy, San Sebastian, Spain, Estonia, Melbourne, Australia, Doha, Qatar.
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