TORONTO, ON – September 17, 2026 – Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) has announced a new partnership with OpenAI to support the next generation of AI-enabled companies across CDL’s global network of science-based startups.
In its upcoming 2026/27 program year, CDL will work with approximately 700 companies across 17 global sites, bringing together founders building companies at the frontier of science and technology. The partnership with OpenAI will create new opportunities for these founders to engage directly with OpenAI’s technology and teams as they develop, test, and scale their companies.
AI is increasingly becoming a fundamental layer of innovation across sectors. In 2025, 61% of companies applying to CDL reported having an AI or machine learning component, reflecting the growing role of AI in companies emerging from scientific research and technological breakthroughs.
Through the partnership, more than 700 CDL startups will receive OpenAI credits, and higher rate limits, giving founders more capacity to build, test, and scale with OpenAI’s technology. A select group of high-performing companies will also work directly with OpenAI teams to bring AI products to market at scale with hands-on technical support, research previews, and opportunities to provide feedback that informs future product development.
The collaboration builds on a shared commitment to helping ambitious founders turn breakthrough technologies into companies with global impact. CDL’s model brings together science-based entrepreneurs with experienced mentors, researchers, investors, and industry leaders, while OpenAI provides access to frontier AI technology and expertise.
“At OpenAI we’re very excited about this new partnership. CDL is at the cutting edge of helping start-up businesses make the most of AI. I visited them in Toronto earlier this year to see for myself the value they are creating. They are one of the jewels in the crown of the Canadian tech economy and we’re delighted to be working together to build out the AI economy, in Canada and around the world,” said George Osborne, Head of OpenAI for Countries.
“Partnering with OpenAI will give our global community of CDL ventures access to cutting edge AI capabilities and expertise. It also provides CDL founders a direct connection to the teams building these technologies. This will provide the opportunity for ventures in this year’s CDL program to incorporate frontier AI into their inventions at the earliest stages,” said Sonia Sennik, CEO, Creative Destruction Lab.
