Chris Hadfield
Astronaut | First Canadian Commander of the International Space Station
Space
For founders pursuing commercial space opportunities, addressing the inherent challenges of accessing and utilizing space sustainably, with a focus on ensuring the long-term viability of space activities.
CDL Space is an international program based out of four CDL locations CDL-Atlanta, CDL-Oxford, CDL-Paris and CDL-Toronto for pre-Seed to pre-Series A technology startups and designed to support both space and Earth-based technology.
The program brings together astronauts, entrepreneurs, investors, and scientists from fields related to space exploration and transportation, satellite communications, Earth observation, automation, and robotics. CDL startups work with these mentors to sharpen objectives, prioritize time and resources, raise capital, build networks and engage with experts working on the frontiers of research.
The startups attend five objective-setting sessions between October 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.
Who Should Apply?
CDL Space is particularly suited to coachable startup companies who are applying artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to exploit commercial opportunities related to space and space-based services. This Stream is tailored towards early-stage companies (early venture or growth) or even projects (pre-incorporation); however, startups at all levels of maturity will be considered. Companies from more than 15 countries have participated in the program.
Example Innovation Areas:
- Satellite communications
- Earth observation
- Positioning, navigation, and timing
- Space Situational Awareness
- Software and AI systems
- Robotics and automation
- Computing and data processing
- Materials and energy solutions
- Space logistics and manufacturing
- Satellite hardware (i.e. sensors, antennas, chips, propulsion)
- Planetary exploration and interplanetary transportation
The list above is not exhaustive. Contact space@creativedestructionlab.com to discuss the program and your venture with someone from CDL Space.
Our Mentors
CDL mentors include accomplished entrepreneurs, experienced operators, and active angel and venture investors. Mentors meet every eight weeks to help founders set objectives over the program’s nine-month duration.
See all Space mentors ▶︎
For more information or to schedule an introduction meeting with the CDL team, email space@creativedestructionlab.com.
“By assembling a community of world-class experts and founders, we will push the boundaries of the commercial space industry. We are at the frontier of a new space economy. Now is the time to place a bet on the next generation of space entrepreneurs.”
Chris Hadfield
First Canadian Commander of the International Space Station | CDL Space
“A whole slew of investment meetings that we had over the last few months were a direct result of the connections that we made at CDL.”
Ewan Reid
CEO, Mission Control Space Services | CDL Space
“The heart of what [CDL does] is encourage you to focus. We’ve gone from the group of really excited, talented founders with ideas to now having minimum viable product.”
Dr. Allyson Hindle
Co-founder, Leap Biosystems | CDL Space
“This is a period of time we call New Space, where innovative business and new technology is opening up into a much broader and more agile space industry. It’s important to bring people on the technological side (and that is essentially the kind of people space attracts) who have until recently only known government-funded programs. We give a faster paced, more responsive business model to industry”
Christine Tovee
Consultant, CATx Technology | CDL Space
“We have been challenged out of our comfort zone. Our strategy is much better, much tighter. It has allowed us to think much bigger. Our scale and pace has changed since CDL. Any company that has aspirations to grow a massive global business should apply to CDL.”
Allan Cannon
CEO, R3 loT | CDL Space Alumni 2020/21
“Super session is a CDL showcase of the ‘best of the best’ from each stream. Aside from the obvious tangible benefits of participating in the event, some of the most valuable interactions are the unanticipated meetings and introductions to an international cadre of business, investment, and technical professionals that most ventures would never be able to tap into on their own. As an entrepreneur and CDL mentor, I find the value to myself and the ventures to be incalculable.”
Jeff Thornburg
Founder & CEO, Interstellar Technologies