Anne Robinson
Former CSO of Kinaxis
Supply Chain
CDL Supply Chain is a 9-month startup program offered at HEC Montréal, designed to amplify the impact of early-stage companies eager to revolutionize global supply chains. Beginning in October and concluding in June, the program supports ventures focused on minimizing costs, enhancing transparency, increasing efficiency, and driving sustainability across supply chains.
Located in one of North America’s leading AI research hubs and a major transportation and logistics center, CDL Supply Chain serves a wide range of industries, including retail, manufacturing, transportation, and logistics.
The program consists of up to 4 objective-setting sessions where ventures refine their goals, optimize resources, and attract investment. Additionally, graduating ventures could participate in “CDL Super Session,” an international networking event that connects startups with investors, industry leaders, and partners.
Who Should Apply?
The CDL-Montreal Supply Chain stream is best suited for:
- A technical founding team with at least one full-time co-founder (typically without a formal board).
- Ventures developing innovative supply chain technologies with a degree of defensibility (e.g., patents, trade secrets, proprietary datasets).
- Startups with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of at least 4, ideally 5 to 8. TRL 3 ventures may be evaluated on a case-by-case basis if they demonstrate strong potential.
CDL Supply Chain Technology/Industry Applications
Planning:
- Demand Forecasting and Planning: AI/machine learning tools to predict demand for novel goods and services, ensuring production capacity meets anticipated requirements.
- Capacity and Resource Utilization Planning: Algorithms to align demand with internal resource utilization, such as raw material sourcing, inventory, and factory/store replenishment.
- Warehouse and Inventory Planning: Optimization techniques and robotics to boost warehouse efficiency and improve product flow.
Sourcing:
- Supply, Contracting, Procurement: Solutions to automate supplier selection, sourcing, and integration of cross-provider schedules and operations to improve performance.
- Ethical & Circular Sourcing: Technologies promoting sustainable materials, ethical procurement, and closed-loop supply chains.
Logistics & Production
- Automated Warehousing & Logistics: Robotics, AI, and vision systems to automate material handling and warehouse operations.
- Predictive Maintenance & Risk Analysis: Machine learning solutions for asset health monitoring, downtime reduction, and risk mitigation.
- Fleet & Transportation Optimization: Platforms improving last-mile delivery, route efficiency, and autonomous freight management.
- Eco-Efficient Industrial Processes: Innovations reducing waste, improving recyclability, and lowering energy consumption.
- Clean Tech Logistics: Zero-emission transport solutions, freight electrification, and renewable energy integration.
- IoT & Digital Twins for Supply Chain Resilience: Real-time monitoring and analytics to enhance supply chain visibility and adaptability.
Sales & After-Sales:
- Automated Quality Control: AI-powered tools for defect detection and post-production verification.
- Customer Engagement & Relationship Management: Predictive analytics and automation to improve customer experience and service efficiency.
- Reverse Logistics & Waste Reduction: Solutions for product returns, refurbishment, and recycling to support circular economy initiatives.
The CDL-Montreal Supply Chain stream aims to:
- Identify and support high-impact supply chain ventures focused on efficiency, transparency, and sustainability.
- Build a strong portfolio of startups leveraging AI, automation, and clean tech innovations to transform global supply chains.
- Accelerate the development of sustainable, resilient, and tech-driven supply chains through mentorship, funding, and industry connections.
- Establish CDL-Montreal as a leading marketplace for judgment in supply chain technology, fostering collaboration between startups, investors, and industry leaders.
CDL Supply Chain Alumni Companies
CDL Alumni Companies are changing the world every day as impactful new companies that seek to enhance the commercialization of science for the betterment of humankind. Below are a few examples of companies that have graduated from CDL Supply Chain:
Our Mentors
Mentors are the backbone of the Creative Destruction Lab program because they provide expert guidance for early-stage technology companies to grow and improve their probability of success. CDL brings together experienced exited entrepreneurs, world-class scientists, and active investors (VCs and angels) with early-stage technology startups to help guide companies. Below are a few examples of CDL Supply Chain mentors:
To contact a CDL Supply Chain stream representative, please email cdl-montreal@creativedesrtuctionlab.com to learn more about how this stream can benefit your company.