CDL’s mission is to accelerate the commercialization of science for the betterment of humankind.
Together, we are Building Something Massive.
Welcome
Looking back on the 2023-24 program year, we are reminded of the adage: “It takes a village to raise a startup.” This sentiment has never been more true as we celebrate our seventh year of programming at Creative Destruction Lab Atlantic. Our focus on collaboration continues to be the cornerstone of our success, both within Atlantic Canada and on the global stage.
Our Prime stream has been a vibrant showcase of many Atlantic Canadian companies. CDL-Atlantic remains dedicated to increasing support for our regional founders. We were delighted that the Province of Nova Scotia renewed its support for CDL-Atlantic for the next five years. In addition, they have initiated a pilot program to match angel investments originating from CDL, further boosting our local entrepreneurial ecosystem. (For more details, please refer to our In the News section.)
This year, we also launched a new initiative in partnership with Volta to attract more investors from outside our region to Atlantic Canada. Volta Investment Day, hosted before our two CDL Prime
in-person sessions, allowed for cross-attendance of investors at both events, along with increased exposure and investment opportunities for venture founders. The positive feedback from this initiative has encouraged us to continue this collaboration in the future.
We also explored the appetite for collaboration with other Oceans ecosystems, culminating in the successful kickoff of our Oceans session in partnership with MIT and Dalhousie’s Oceans Frontier Institute (OFI). Delivered as the Oceans Climate Solutions Summit, the Jeff Larsen, Site Lead
multi-day event engaged in critical discussions and education around some of the most pressing climate issues affecting our oceans, while introducing the companies that are developing solutions to address them.
The success of the Oceans Climate Solutions Summit has forged new connections and garnered support that will allow us to expand our horizons. We are thrilled to announce that CDL will be offering a session in Bergen, Norway during One Ocean Week 2025 and at the Sustainable Oceans Summit in San Francisco in the fall of 2025. These collaborations not only enhance awareness of CDL Oceans but also inject excitement and fresh perspectives into our
program year, keeping it dynamic and engaging for both returning mentors and new participants.
At CDL-Atlantic, we take immense pride in being a driving force for collaboration, helping to raise startups locally and abroad. The combined efforts of our community— mentors, partners, investors, and entrepreneurs—have once again demonstrated the power of working together towards a common goal.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to fostering these vital connections and supporting the next wave of groundbreaking startups. Thank you for being an integral part of our journey.
Leslie McNabb-Kryritsis, Director
Louis Beaubien, Site Academic Lead
Since its inception in 2017, 236 ventures have participated in CDL-Atlantic with 113 of these ventures successfully completing the program. CDL-Atlantic alumni companies have raised over $408M in capital, and generated $1.6B in cumulative equity value.
Oceans
For founders focused on disrupting the ocean economy with digital technologies and sustainable solutions.
2023-24 Graduates
Adhere Gear Technology Corp.
Beaverton, Oregan, USA → adheregearpodpaq.com
atdepth MRV
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA → atdepthmrv.com
Care Weather Technologies Inc.
Provo, Utah, USA
→ careweather.com
Katchi
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
→ katchi.tech
NONA Technologies
Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA → nona-technologies.com
Seasats
San Diego, California, USA → seasats.com
SOS Carbon
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic → soscarbon.com
VoltSafe Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
→ voltsafe.com
For founders pursuing state of the art technological innovations across diverse industries.
2023-24 Graduates
Aruna Revolution Health Inc.
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada → arunarevolution.com
Elle, MD Biotechnologies
New Minas, Nova Scotia, Canada → ellemd.ca
Infusd Nutrition
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada → infusd.ca
OPAS Mobile
St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada → opasmobile.com
Locarius
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada → locarius.io
Phoenix Waste Solutions
Chauvin, Louisiana, USA → phoenix-waste-solutions.com
Quantum Devices Corp.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada → quantumdevicescorp.com
RFINE Biomass Solutions Inc.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada → rfinebiomass.com
Unified.to Toronto, Ontario, Canada → unified.to
The CDL Effect
A big aspect of the CDL effect is the magic created in the room when the program brings together venture founders, mentors, partners and students. Below are just a few examples of the impact on some of our graduating companies.
OCEANS
Ocean Simulations in Real-Time
atdepth MRV is building a real-time ocean modelling and monitoring platform for carbon dioxide removal measurement, reporting, and verification. Through CDL, the mentors guided atdepth MRV towards a slow-burn strategy and helped them map out alternative markets for their platform.
Following their graduation from the 2023-24 CDL Oceans cohort, atdepth MRV co-founder Raphael Ouillon was nominated to present on the CDL Super Session Main Stage in Toronto.
Being in a highly uncertain and nascent industry, this set them up to withstand inevitable changes to the market. Over the course of the program, atdepth MRV secured a $3M USD grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, generated their first pilot project revenues, and tripled their fulltime team.
PRIME
Quinn Cavanagh Founder & President, RFINE Biomass Solutions Inc.
“The single element of CDL that was most valuable was the time spent with mentors. Not only were the strategy discussions and recommendations very helpful, but the introductions that they made to other “experts” were most helpful. Our lead mentor also made key introductions to coffee operators who may participate as prototype early-adopter partners.”
RFINE Biomass Solutions Inc. (RFINE) is an upcycling technology company focused on converting spent coffee grounds (SCG) into value-added food ingredients to help quick-service coffee vendors reduce waste disposal costs and benefit from new revenue opportunities.
During the CDL program, RFINE secured a non-compete agreement with SureShot Solutions, connected with the head of Impact and Sustainability at McDonald’s Canada, and submitted a proposal for Stage 2 of their Tim Hortons’ pilot.
PRIME
Rashmi Prakash CEO, Aruna Revolution Health Inc.
“One of our CDL-Atlantic mentors introduced us to a FANTASTIC advisor. I cannot tell you how long we have been looking for someone to help us with sales and marketing! What took us over 6 months of trial and error to learn, they told us in an hour-long meeting! That is going to be the key to speeding up our sales, and attacking that front with much more efficiency and effectiveness.”
Aruna Revolution Health Inc. offers 100% compostable menstrual pads made from local food and crop waste fibers, addressing the environmental impact of non-compostable products while providing chemical-free and affordable alternatives.
In 2022, Aruna’s first handmade pad cost approximately $8000 to make. Now, with optimized processes, they can manufacture pads at $0.18 each and can produce up to 2 million pads monthly.
In the News
Over the past year, mentors, partners and alumni ventures have been making an impact and have been recognized for their accomplishments.
NovaResp receives $3M to support clinical trials
Alumni companies like NovaResp—Respiratory AI (Prime 2021-22) embody CDL’s mission
by working towards a better future for all. They recently secured $3 million to advance the clinical testing of their innovative cMAP CPAP therapy software which aims to improve adhesion and comfort for patients.
“In our small group meetings with CDL mentors, we discussed NovaResp being a
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
hardware vs. software company. Those initial comments, along with conversations with our board of directors, triggered our decision to focus on our core capability which is software and artificial intelligence.
After that, we started developing the algorithm that would address the main market problem, which is patient comfort and adherence to CPAP therapy. We then used artificial intelligence to drop the pressure of therapy compared to the conventional Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) algorithm, called, APAP. After experiments, we turned the software into standalone software, cMAP, which can be used on any CPAP machine on the market. Ultimately, this will improve patients’ adherence to therapy by improving comfort through low-pressure therapy while not compromising therapy efficacy.
There is feedback from patients in this trial about how comfortable our therapy is, making it a better experience for not only the patient but their partners as well. That’s the impact we hope to have on
CDL-Atlantic alumni James Rockwood, Founder & CEO of Capintel (left), is pictured with Mo AlGermozi, CEO of GIT Coatings (right), attending Prime Session 4 at Dalhousie University as Alumni Associate Mentors. This new initiative was introduced to allow alumni to give back to the program that helped them scale, by connecting them with current cohort ventures.
already adherent patients—to have a better therapy experience for them and their partner, for brand new patients to acclimate faster and to help all patients avoid any comorbidities associated.
Some mentor connections made at CDL resulted in investment and having CDL mentors back up the company helped in raising future rounds. It’s an effect that keeps giving.” —Dr. Hamed Hanafi, Founder & CEO of NovaResp
GIT Coatings makes strides in durable marine coating
GIT Coatings (Prime 2017-18), founded by Dalhousie graduates Mo AlGermozi and Marciel Gaier, is revolutionizing the marine coatings industry with a graphene-based solution.
Supported by investments from key players like StoltNielsen and John Risley, GIT has grown rapidly. Their coating has been applied to over 150 vessels globally, with
supply agreements in place with major shipowners. To scale up production, GIT is constructing a new facility in Dartmouth, funded in part by a loan from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). Additionally, they’ve partnered with Halifax Transit to apply their coating to the Rita Joe ferry, contributing to Halifax’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Chinova Bioworks —Chiber ™ in Whole Foods
Since their participation in Prime 2017-18, Chinova Bioworks has celebrated the approval of Chiber™,
the first mushroom fiber accepted by Whole Foods Market. Chiber™ is a natural, clean-label, shelf-life extender derived from upcycled white button mushrooms. This innovative product offers broad spectrum protection against spoilage-causing microorganisms, while preserving the taste, texture, and appearance of food and beverages.
Whole Foods Market, as America’s largest natural food retailer, operates a rigorous “Quality Standards” program. Chiber™’s approval by Whole Foods Market signifies a major milestone for Chinova Bioworks, showcasing their dedication to
developing products that support both health and environmental sustainability.
CDL-Atlantic mentor Kathryn Lockhart named Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business in Atlantic Canada
Kathryn Lockhart’s dedication and vision have earned her recognition as one of 2024’s “25 Most Powerful Women in Business” award winners.
Kathryn is a powerhouse in the business world and a driving force behind women’s empowerment in entrepreneurship. As the CEO of Propel and Managing Director of the Atlantic chapter of Women’s Equity Lab, Lockhart is making waves in the investment landscape.
As a mentor with CDL-Atlantic, participating ventures have the opportunity to gain invaluable insight from Kathryn.
Chinova Bioworks’ Natasha Dhayagude, Co-Founder & CEO and David Brown, Co-Founder & COO
Myomar Molecular Inc. recently received Health Canada’s approval in the form of a Medical Devices Establishment License.
XPRIZE finalist— Planetary Technologies Planetary Technologies (CDL-Atlantic Oceans 2021-22) was named one of the top 20 finalists for the prestigious XPRIZE carbon removal competition. The four-year global competition is designed to combat climate change by rebalancing Earth’s carbon cycle. It offers $100 million USD to innovators who can create and demonstrate solutions that remove carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere
or the oceans, and sequester it durably and sustainably.
Myomar Molecular CEO Rafaela Andrade recognized as Inspiring Immigrant while company secures $1.1M in funding It has been an exciting year for Rafaela Andrade, CEO of Myomar Molecular Inc. (Prime 2021-22). Voted amongst the Most Inspiring Immigrants in Atlantic Canada, the award aims to recognize and celebrate immigrants
who have made significant positive contributions to their communities in the East Coast region. Honorees are chosen based on criteria such as leadership, vision, social responsibility, and impact in their communities.
Adding another win to the year, they also closed $1.1 million in pre-seed funding to commercialize its muscle health monitoring device. Myomar also added $50,000 in prize money from The Firehood Angel Camp.
CoLab Software raises $28.6M in Series B funding as it looks to expand its team and incorporate AI into its platform Newfoundland’s CoLab Software Inc. (Prime 2018-19) is a powerful cloud-based software platform that lets large engineering teams collaborate effectively on design files. The company plans to add 30-40 jobs, bringing its headcount to 125. CoLab’s tool allows cloud-based editing of 2D and 3D design files, and the Series B funding will enhance platform development, including ReviewAI, aimed at assisting engineers with routine tasks. CoLab has previously raised pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds, totalling $21 million in 2021.
CDL-Atlantic Founding Member awarded Order of Canada
Jim Spatz has added another remarkable
accolade to his distinguished career. Recently appointed to the Order of Canada, this prestigious honour recognizes Jim not only for his business acumen but also for his unwavering community leadership and philanthropic support for diverse causes and initiatives.
Jim is a Founding Partner of the Creative Destruction Lab and, through mentorship, has helped shape the startup landscape in Atlantic Canada.
This recent appointment to the Order of Canada further solidifies Jim Spatz’s legacy as a leader, philanthropist, and a driving force
behind positive change in both the business and academic realms.
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and CORSphere: Advancing Marine Operations with AI Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) has teamed up with CORSphere Software Inc. (Oceans 2022-23) to introduce the OceanAI Navigator Project, aiming to transform marine fleet operations through AI. With OSC investing $950K out of the $2.4 million total project value, the initiative signals a significant push towards
CoLab Software Inc.’s Adam Keating, Co-Founder & CEO and Jeremy Andrews, Co-Founder & CTO
sustainable growth in the maritime sector.
The pivotal project addresses key challenges in marine shipping, such as fuel emissions and operational efficiency. This partnership between OSC and CORSphere signifies a collaborative effort towards a cleaner and more sustainable global ocean economy.
Province announces renewed funding for CDL-Atlantic
Nova Scotia’s Economic Development Minister
Susan Corkum-Greek
announced the Province’s renewed support for the Creative Destruction Lab Atlantic program with an annual investment of $250,000 over five years. Additionally, Invest Nova Scotia will launch a pilot program to match venture capital invested by CDLAtlantic mentors. For startups addressing healthcare or housing challenges, investments will be matched 100% up to $500,000. Companies in other sectors will have investments matched 50% up to $250,000.
“Every day, I am more and more inspired by the innovative startups that are taking shape in Nova Scotia with the help of the Creative Destruction Lab,” said the Honourable Susan Corkum-Greek. “The magic of this program is the way it connects experienced entrepreneurs as mentors and investors in these developing companies. As government, we want to ensure these startups have the support they need to successfully scale and grow right here in Nova Scotia.”
Hon. Susan Corkum-Greek announces funding for CDL-Atlantic on May 14, 2024.
CDL-Atlantic partners with MIT
The launch of our 2023-24 Oceans stream in partnership with the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, SeaAhead, the New England Aquarium, and the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI) marked a milestone in our mission to foster innovation and collaboration in ocean-based climate solutions. This initiative was not just a series of events, but a convergence of visionary minds, with a shared commitment to the health of our oceans and the planet.
The journey began with OFI hosting the Ocean-Climate Solutions Summit, a gathering that brought together leaders from diverse fields including science, technology, finance, and policy. The discussions centred on ocean-based climate mitigation solutions, identifying strengths, gaps, and opportunities to create an aligned value chain. The collaborative spirit of the summit set the tone for the CDL Oceans stream session, fostering a sense of urgency and possibility.
Several participants attended CDL Oceans the next day to meet early-stage tech founders working on ocean and climate solutions. This not only created greater awareness for our Oceans stream, but also attracted new mentors who have become invaluable supporters of the program by providing expertise, guidance, and new perspectives.
One of the highlights was the Mentor and Partner Dinner held at the New England Aquarium. Surrounded by marine life, guests were treated to a keynote address by Johan Odjfell. As the head of his 4th generation family business in the shipping industry and the driving force behind Farvatn Ventures, Odjfell shared his deep commitment to supporting ocean technology companies.
Hosting the event at MIT was made possible through Site Lead Jeff Larsen’s work with Bill Aulet, Managing Director of the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. The shift from Dalhousie to the prestigious MIT campus was a strategic move that enticed new international mentors to participate, broadening the reach of the program. New mentors from Ireland and Norway, have continued to work with CDL-Atlantic, bringing valuable international perspectives and expertise.
The 2023-24 cohort launch showcased the strength of our partnerships and highlighted future opportunities for collaboration in other ocean ecosystems, such as Norway and California. The event underscored cross-border collaborations in driving innovation and scaling solutions that can make a significant impact on ocean health and climate change.
Johan Odjfell, guest speaker and CDL Oceans mentor
Student Engagement
MBA students from Dalhousie, University of New Brunswick and Memorial University of Newfoundland participate in a unique work integrated learning experience through the CDL Course offering oneof-a-kind opportunities including:
→ Working directly with venture founders to deliver consulting projects for their early-stage science and technology start-ups
→ Gaining exposure to our Mentors and Corporate Partners by attending our CDL Sessions
→ Learning how to work lean and grow a business on scarce resources
→ Understanding the economic impact of innovative entrepreneurial pursuits
MUN MBA students and Dr. Carlos Bazan, Assistant Professor, pictured with Newfoundlandbased CDL Venture Manager Bronwyn Woolfrey.
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
Michael Allain MBA 2024
“CDL was a driving force in my decision to pursue my MBA at Dalhousie University, which presented a unique pairing of formal education and exposure to startups through the CDL course. I ended up joining the CDL-Atlantic team as a Venture Analyst for my 8-month corporate residency, participated in the course and worked hands-on with a biotechnology startup, and am now working with CDL full-time post-grad as a Venture Manager.”
MEMORIAL
UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND
Precious Dela Cruz
MBA Candidate
“The Creative Destruction Lab program was an enriching experience that inspired me to consider launching my own venture in the future. Observing the mentoring process between the ventures and seasoned industry experts provided me with valuable insights on entrepreneurship, while the support I provided to the venture enhanced my skills in research, marketing, and business development.”
UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK
Ray Fitzpatrick UNB Instructor
“The partnership that UNB has with Creative Destruction labs enables the MBA students unprecedented access to real world start-ups and the challenges they’re faced with. The students apply the academic lessons learned in an applied way that just can’t be replicated in business cases. Every year we receive tremendous feedback from the students pointing to this class as the highlight of their MBA program!”
CDL Apprentice Program
The Apprentice Program is a CDL initiative that aims to support young women-identified individuals, including two-spirit, transgender and non-binary individuals interested in STEM and entrepreneurship. The vision of the CDL Apprentice Program is to create an immersive, technology-focused learning experience for young students that expands their awareness of possible career paths and increases the probability that young women+ individuals pursue opportunities in STEM, business and entrepreneurship.
The apprentices are invited to our in-person sessions and shadow one of our mentors, meet founders and
learn how science and technology startups are built.
After spending the day at an in-person CDL-Atlantic session, one high school apprentice reflected on their time spent with us:
“As someone who has long aspired to become a medical doctor, my participation in the CDL sessions has instilled in me the confidence to explore alternative fields, particularly biomedical engineering. Inspired by entrepreneurs like Dr. Jennifer Johnston, who transitioned from medical practice to founding a successful company like Elle, MD, I envision myself developing a product in the future.”
At Prime Session 4 in May, our apprentices were invited to meet Dr. Jennifer Johnston, founder of Elle, MD
Biotechnologies, for a Q&A about founding a medical device startup!
Shimrit Perkol-Finkel Memorial Scholarship
On March 7, 2021, the CDL family lost one of our 2020-21 Oceans Stream founders, Dr. Shimrit
Perkol Finkel, Co-Founder & CEO of ECOncrete. Shimrit was a passionate innovator in the ocean tech space and a pioneer specializing in sustainable management of urban marine habitats. ECOncrete’s innovative and high-performing environmentally sensitive solutions enhance the biological and ecological environment of coastal infrastructure.
To honour and remember Shimrit, CDL-Atlantic established a memorial scholarship in her name to support female undergraduate students pursuing STEM-related studies.
We are grateful to all who donated, especially the CDL community members who contributed to this scholarship.
2023-24 Shimrit
Perkol-Finkel Scholarship Recipient
Anneka, a first year, Bachelor of Science, student at Dalhousie University participated as a CDL-Atlantic apprentice in 2021-22.
“I have been surrounded by the ocean my entire life, and I grew up sailing. I am very lucky to have parents who educated me on the ocean, and how important it was to the environment. This unique experience grew my love for the ocean, and the science/technology associated with it.
My favourite part of the CDL Apprentice Program was being surrounded by such a supportive and empowering community. The whole experience opened my eyes to the endless possibilities there are for innovation and entrepreneurship in the Ocean. Dr. Perkol-Finkel’s legacy inspires me to strive for greatness in my academic pursuits, and this scholarship serves as a reminder of the impact of her life, creativity, and entrepreneurship.”
Mentor of the Year
CDL-Atlantic’s “Mentor of the Year” award is given annually to celebrate the impactful work that our fellows, associates, investigators, and scientists have made in our CDL Community. Mentors are the heart of our program, and their support for our ventures help these startups build something massive! These awards were announced at the beginning of the program year for each stream.
OCEANS
Justin Manley Founder, Just Innovation
“CDL provides entrepreneurs and mentors the opportunity to evolve and learn together, growing businesses and personal relationships. I enjoy every conversation I have at CDL and look forward to each session.”
PRIME
Savior Joseph President, Breathing Green Solutions
“I was honoured and humbled to receive mentor of the year, particularly because there are such passionate, dedicated and experienced mentors in the program. CDL is an amazing place to be. The learnings and knowledge I have gained, even as a mentor, have been significant. The impact of this type of mentorship and coaching is immeasurable. I’m excited to continue to support great companies that are building something massive.”
“CDL provided an amazing opportunity to rethink and expand my business strategy. The CDL network of mentors and founders has been invaluable for helping us become investment-ready.”
Dr. Jennifer Johnston Elle, MD Biotechnologies
Thank You to our Mentors
We are grateful for the support and engagement of the business leaders who were active mentors in 2023-24.
Bill Adams President, JCove Holdings Limited
ASSOCIATE
Mo AlGermozi CEO, GIT Coatings GUEST MENTOR
Rob Barbara Partner, Build Ventures
ASSOCIATE
Bill Barrett Co-CEO, Barrett Corporation
FELLOW, FOUNDING PARTNER
Cathy Bennett Partner, Sandpiper Ventures
ASSOCIATE
Rakim Brooks President, Alliance for Justice/AFJ Action
GUEST MENTOR
Michael Brown Founder & Managing Partner, TLT IMPACT VENTURES GUEST MENTOR
Tim Burke
Serial Founder & Advisor, Self Employed GUEST MENTOR
Colin Calvert CFO, Nicoya Lifesciences Inc. ASSOCIATE
Kent Carson Principal, DTP Developments ASSOCIATE
Matt Cooper CEO, VOLTA ASSOCIATE
Rhiannon Davies Founding & Managing Partner, Sandpiper Ventures ASSOCIATE
Wade Dawe Chairman & CEO, Numus Financial FELLOW
Adam de Sola Pool Partner, Blue Angels Investment Group ASSOCIATE
Gus Domel Senior Investment Associate, Boost VC ASSOCIATE
Samuel Edandison Director of Global Customer Support, Danaher GUEST MENTOR
Malcolm Fraser Managing Partner, Nàdarra Ventures
ASSOCIATE
Spencer Fraser Founder & CEO, Landing Zones Canada Inc. ASSOCIATE
Oyvind Fylling-Jensen Board Member & Advisor, PaaFyll Holding AS ASSOCIATE
Ted Graham Principal, GM Ventures ASSOCIATE
Jim Hanlon Owner, Convergent Consulting ASSOCIATE
Andy Harris VP Strategic Engagement (Former), BMO Radicle ASSOCIATE
Kory Henn Associate, Concrete Ventures GUEST MENTOR
Bobby Hennessey Senior Industry Manager, Retail & eCommerce, Pinterest GUEST MENTOR
Peter Hickey Founder, SUMS Captial GUEST MENTOR
Paul Hill Founder & Managing Director, Sparkasa Capital
ASSOCIATE
Monica Jain Partner, Fish 2.0 Ventures
INVESTIGATOR
Richard Janega COO, Emera Inc. (Retired)
ASSOCIATE
Faizal Javer Managing Partner, Greyhill ASSOCIATE
Yohann John Director, Venture Scouting, Antler GUEST MENTOR
Mark Jollymore President, InnovaSea Systems Inc.
ASSOCIATE
Savior Joseph President, Breathing Green Solutions
ASSOCIATE
Rangesh Kasturi Semi-Retired President, Chairman, and Director, Ex-L3Harris Maritime International ASSOCIATE
Patrick Keefe Partner, Build Ventures ASSOCIATE
Chris Keevill CEO, VERSOS AI ASSOCIATE
Caitriona Kelleher Managing Director, Early Stage Investments, Hatch Blue INVESTIGATOR
David Kelly CEO & CTO, InnovaSea Systems Inc. ASSOCIATE
Andrea King Director, Media & Government Relations, Nasdaq INVESTIGATOR
Shelley King CEO, Natural Products
Canada ASSOCIATE
Jennifer LaPlante Chief Growth & Investment Officer, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster GUEST MENTOR
Allen Lau Co-founder & Operating Partner, Two Small Fish Ventures
ASSOCIATE
Michael J. Lavigne Senior Advisor, MC Advisory GUEST MENTOR
Lauren Ledwell CEO, Discovery Garden Inc. ASSOCIATE
CDL Affiliation -Prime, -Oceans
Marlon Lewis Prof. Emeritus/ Senior Ocean Advisor, Dalhousie/ Cox & Palmer SCIENTIST
John Lindsay Chairman, East Port Properties
ASSOCIATE
Kathryn Lockhart CEO, Propel INVESTIGATOR
Atle Lohrmann President, General Oceans ASSOCIATE
Scott Loong Partner, Panache Ventures ASSOCIATE
Michael Lyon CEO, Lyon Capital Services
ASSOCIATE
Jevon MacDonald Co-Founder, Tier FELLOW
Thank You to our Mentors
Laurie MacKeigan President, Backman Vidcom
ASSOCIATE
Marion MacKenzie Executive Coaching Practice Lead, Royer Thompson GUEST MENTOR
Bob MacKinnon Former President & CEO, Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation GUEST MENTOR
Matt MacLellan President, Soley Cove Holdings ASSOCIATE
Kevin Madill Partner, Graphite Ventures
GUEST MENTOR
Leslie Magee Principal, Maytree Developments ASSOCIATE
Justin Manley Founder, Just Innovation
ASSOCIATE
Paola Marignani Professor, Dalhousie University SCIENTIST
Ken Marshall Director, KTM Ventures Inc. ASSOCIATE
Larsen Mettler Managing Director, S2G Ventures ASSOCIATE
Lian Michelson Investment Director, Vala Capital GUEST MENTOR
Erika Montague Chief Technologist, Schmidt Marine Technology Partners INVESTIGATOR
Mike Morris Former CEO, Resson Aerospace GUEST MENTOR
Chris Moyer President, Pelorus VC ASSOCIATE
Sarah Murphy Partner, Pelorus VC ASSOCIATE
Melanie Nadeau CEO, COVE ASSOCIATE
Chris Neumann Partner, Panache Ventures ASSOCIATE
Carolyn O’Keefe Owner, Thinkwell Research + Strategy ASSOCIATE
Johan Odfjell Director, Farvatn Venture ASSOCIATE
Robert Orr Managing Director, Cuna del Mar LP FELLOW
Reece Pacheco Partner, Propeller Ventures
GUEST MENTOR
Thomas Park Partner, BDC Deep Tech Fund ASSOCIATE
Scott Pelton Co-founder, RiSC Capital ASSOCIATE
Millicent Pitts Executive Director, Ocean Exchange, Inc. ASSOCIATE
Emmanuel Priniotakis Principal, Sustainability Venture Fund, BDC Capital Inc. GUEST MENTOR
Julie Pullen Partner & Chief Scientist, Propeller Ventures GUEST MENTOR
Ram Raju President & CEO, Kunkum Film Company
GUEST MENTOR
Akash Rastogi Lead Strategist, Ocean Frontier Institute
GUEST MENTOR
Olivier Raybaud Managing Director, SWEN Capital Partners ASSOCIATE
John Risley Chairman & CEO, CFFI Ventures Inc. FELLOW, FOUNDING PARTNER
Susan Robinson Partner, Advisory, EY
GUEST MENTOR
James Rockwood Founder & CEO, Capintel GUEST MENTOR
Frank Rudzicz Associate Professor of Computer Science, Dalhousie University
GUEST MENTOR
David Savoie CEO, Acadian Construction GUEST MENTOR
Marc Savoie Executive In Residence, East Valley Ventures ASSOCIATE
Ian Smith CEO, Clearwater Seafoods ASSOCIATE
Ben Soltoff Entrepreneur in Residence, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship GUEST MENTOR
Matt Stanley Investment DirectorCleantech, BDC Capital ASSOCIATE
Tobias Stapleton Co-founder, Managing Director, Blue Venture Forum INVESTIGATOR
Richard Stavis Founder, Stavis Consulting, LLC ASSOCIATE
Kevin Stover Venture Partner, Sterling Capital Brokers GUEST MENTOR
Duncan Turner General Partner, SOSV GUEST MENTOR
Ron van der Giesen Chief Supply Chain Officer, Plastic2green GUEST MENTOR
Gerry Verner Founder & CEO, FocusLine Strategies GUEST MENTOR
Neil Wainwright CEO, UpHabit ASSOCIATE
CDL Affiliation -Prime, -Oceans
Anya Waite CEO & Scientific Director, Ocean Frontier Institute SCIENTIST
Jeff White CEO, New Brunswick Innovation Foundation ASSOCIATE
Sean Williams Co-founder & Brand Strategist, Dashboard Marketing Inc.
GUEST MENTOR
Partners
Thank you to all of our partners that support us in our Prime and Oceans streams.
Founding Partners
George Armoyan
Bill Barrett
Mark Dobbin
Chris Huskilson
John Risley
Ken Rowe
Frank Sobey
Rob Sobey
Jim Spatz
Rob Steele
Government and Corporate Partners
ACOA
BDC
BMO
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
ExxonMobil
Invest Nova Scotia
KPMG
Osler
Walton Family Foundation’s Builder’s Initiative
Ecosystem and Individual Supporters
Genesis
John Lindsay
Ocean Frontier Institute
Volta
2024-25 Session Dates
OCEANS
In conjunction with OCEANS 2024 HALIFAX Conference
September 27, 2024 HALIFAX, NS Session #1
November 21, 2024 VIRTUAL Session #2
February 5, 2025 VIRTUAL Session #3
April 6, 2025 BERGEN, NORWAY Session #4
In conjunction with ONE OCEAN WEEK
PRIME
November 13, 2024 HALIFAX, NS Session #1
February 6, 2025 VIRTUAL Session #2
March 26, 2025 VIRTUAL Session #3
May 14, 2025 HALIFAX, NS Session #4
Creative Destruction Lab Atlantic (CDL-Atlantic) is housed within the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University. The CDL program is a ninemonth objectives-based mentorship program for science and technology-based ventures looking to accelerate their path to commercialization. With guidance from experienced entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and accomplished scientists, founders learn to sharpen their focus on the priorities that will help them gain traction and positively impact their company’s trajectory.
creativedestructionlab.com