For founders developing dual-use, defence-relevant technologies that improve mission capability, resilience, and national security.
The CDL Defence Stream is run in partnership with sites across Canada and Europe (CDL-Atlantic, CDL-Berlin, CDL-Estonia, CDL-Rockies, CDL-Toronto, and CDL-Vancouver), with additional partners to follow. The purpose is to help ventures align to real buyer needs, navigate government pathways, and build evidence toward testing and procurement with allied partners. In addition to CDL’s core objective-setting program, the stream includes Procurement Marketplace Workshops co-hosted with the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy to connect problem owners with potential solution providers.
CDL startups work with mentors to sharpen objectives, prioritize time and resources, raise capital, and engage with experts working on the frontiers of research.
The startups attend three in-person objective-setting sessions between November and June. CDL is a non-profit organization. There are no fees for participation and CDL does not take any equity. Learn more about the CDL program.
Venture Bootcamp (virtual): October 29, 2025
One-day preparation for applicants on dual-use, mission fit, and buyer interactions.
Core CDL sessions (Defence focus days):
Session 1: Halifax, NS – November 2025
Session 2: Munich, Germany – February 2026
Session 3: Toronto, ON – May 2026
The CDL Defence Stream is designed for founders developing dual use technologies that directly address operational needs in defence, national security, and critical infrastructure protection. We are particularly interested in solutions at TRL 4–7 that demonstrate strong technical feasibility and a credible pathway to pilot testing with end users.
This stream prioritizes early-stage companies (seed to growth) and advanced pre-incorporation projects emerging from universities, labs, or research institutes with defensible IP and clear commercial pathways. While our emphasis is on ventures with explicit dual-use applications, we will also consider startups across maturity levels if they can demonstrate strong technical foundations and potential relevance to defence and security contexts.
This stream will accept applications from (1) net new applicants, (2) CDL alumni ventures, and (3) existing cohort ventures (to be done in conjunction with their current stream).
Example Innovation Areas
The list above is not exhaustive. Contact defence@creativedestructionlab.com to discuss the program and your venture with someone from the CDL Defence team.
CDL mentors include accomplished entrepreneurs, experienced operators, active angel and venture investors, and world-leading scientists, engineers, and economists. Mentors meet every eight weeks to help founders set objectives over the program’s nine-month duration.
Companies accepted to the CDL Defence Stream benefit from guidance by senior operators and procurement advisors, prime/system-integrator leaders, dual-use investors, and technical experts. These mentors meet with companies periodically to evaluate technologies, suggest improvements, and explore formal advising engagements.
Applications are open until October 17, 11:59PM ET for new applicants.
If you are a CDL Alumni or are a currently in the CDL program, you do not need to submit a new application for CDL Defence. To express interest, email defence@creativedestructionlab.com by October 17, 11:59PM ET and someone from the team will get in touch regarding next steps. Suggested subject: “Defence Stream EOI – [Venture Name].”