Name

Lab2Market

Legal name

Lab2Market

Website

https://lab2market.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Research Commercialization Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries) (EDAFAIAH)

Keywords

• Research commercialization training
• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Academic startup accelerator
• Customer discovery programs
• Deep tech venture creation

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government of Canada Funding: Lab2Market receives primary funding from the Government of Canada through NSERC Lab to Market grants ($32 million over 5 years announced January 2025), with additional support from CIHR and SSHRC. This covers program delivery, coordination, and participant stipends.
2. Regional Development Agency Funding: Funding from federal regional development agencies (ACOA for Atlantic Canada, FedDev Ontario, PrairiesCan, etc.) and provincial partners supports regional hub operations and program delivery.
3. Partner Institution Contributions: Universities and colleges contribute to program delivery as delivery partners, providing infrastructure, staff, and in-kind support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Lab2Market is a national research commercialization training network operating through Canadian universities and colleges. It delivers cohort-based experiential learning programs (Discover, Validate, Launch, Build) that help graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty translate academic discoveries into market-ready ventures. Programs are inspired by NSF I-Corps and MIT delta V methodologies, and are offered free to participants with stipends.

Product overview

Lab2Market is a suite of interconnected programs that fosters innovation and commercial success in Canada by helping researchers and students realize the market potential of their ideas. The core portfolio consists of four sequential program streams - Discover, Validate, Launch, and Build - that guide entrepreneurs from ideation through venture creation. Discover introduces participants to entrepreneurship; Validate helps stress-test research as a business opportunity; Launch accelerates startups toward market entry with funding and mentorship; and Build focuses on scaling prototype technology. The suite is complemented by specialized programs including AI2Market (AI-focused ventures), Campus2Market (Atlantic Canada regional), Collide Launch (undergraduate-focused), L2M Discover Radiopharma (healthcare sector), and L2M Discover Quantum (quantum technology). The flagship Lab2Market Summit provides annual networking and pitch competition opportunities. All programs are inspired by proven methodologies including NSF I-Corps, MIT delta V, and ICURe, and are delivered through a national network of 50+ universities, colleges, and research hospitals organized around six regional hubs plus a national health hub.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lab2Market Discover An exploratory entrepreneurship program that introduces researchers and students to entrepreneurship as a viable career path and helps them determine if entrepreneurship is right for them.
• Lab2Market Validate A 16-week cohort-based program that allows graduate students and postdoctoral innovators to critically evaluate and stress test their research as a potential opportunity. Participants learn to build and refine business models through customer discovery by speaking with 100 potential customers.
• Lab2Market Validate Foundations A foundational validation program component that helps researchers assess the commercial potential of their technology and determine the appropriate path forward.
• Lab2Market Launch A 12-week or 16-week full-time accelerator based on MIT's delta v accelerator model. Helps researchers build their business case, prepare for funding rounds, and become startup-ready. Teams receive up to $10,000 in funding plus milestone-based payments.
• Lab2Market Build A program focused on taking prototype technology out of the laboratory to a bigger 'benchtop' or scaling it up. Works in parallel with the Launch phase to help companies transition from research labs to actual deep tech businesses.
• AI2Market A specialized program in Atlantic Canada, developed in collaboration with Dal Innovates and ShiftKey Labs, aimed at helping postsecondary students and researchers translate their AI-powered ideas into commercially viable ventures.
• L2M Discover Radiopharma A specialized initiative in partnership with CPDC (Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization) to cultivate entrepreneurial skills among Canadian researchers in the radiopharmaceutical sector.
• L2M Discover Quantum Quantum-focused entrepreneurship program providing graduate students and researchers across Canada with tools, mentorship and entrepreneurial training needed to transform cutting-edge quantum research into real-world startups. Led by QV Studio.
• Lab2Market Summit Canada's premier innovation event bringing together scientists, academics, entrepreneurs, companies, and investors for three days of idea exchange, problem-solving, and connection-building. Features keynote speeches, breakout discussions, and pitch competitions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 42% of teams continue pursuing commercialization, resulting in 133-172 startups, 190 jobs created, and $34-47.9 million in follow-on funding raised by alumni
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered specialized, regional, core, parallel network and national.

• QV StudiospecializedStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Appointed quantum lead for the Lab2Market network in October 2025. Based in Sherbrooke, Quebec with relationship to Université de Sherbrooke's quantum strength. Provides quantum-focused mentorship and entrepreneurial training for graduate students and researchers across Canada.
• ShiftKey LabsregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 August 2025Partner with Dal Innovates and Lab2Market on AI2Market program, piloting AI-focused entrepreneurship training in Atlantic Canada.
• Dalhousie UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2025Co-founder and lead applicant for Lab2Market. Serves as national headquarters for the network. Jeff Larsen serves as CEO and Principal Investigator. Dalhousie's Dal Innovates serves as the Atlantic Hub lead.
• Ontario Bioscience Innovation Organization (OBIO)regionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 January 2025Delivery partner for Lab2Market project run by University of Toronto. Supports health and life sciences innovation programming.
• Simon Fraser UniversityregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Co-leads the Pacific Hub with UBC. Also co-leads National Invention to Innovation (i2I) Network with $22.9M in NSERC funding. SFU provides programming through its Venture Labs.
• University of British ColumbiaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Co-leads Pacific Hub with SFU. Provides Lab2Market programming through Innovation UBC. Member of Executive Committee.
• Concordia UniversityregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Co-leads Quebec hub of Lab2Market. Integrated Quebec Scientific Entrepreneurship (QcSE) program into initiative, which became L2M Discover. Member of Executive Committee.
• University of TorontoregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Hosts National Health Hub at Temerty Faculty of Medicine through Health Innovation Hub (H2i). Received $4.25M funding for health hub. Part of 38-organization national health hub partnership.
• University of AlbertaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Leads Alberta Hub and key partner in Lab to Market networks. Hosting 2026 Lab2Market Summit in Edmonton. Hosted Dal Innovates Launch 2026 program participants. Member of Executive Committee.
• University of CalgaryregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Regional hub partner. Member of Executive Committee. Collaborates on prairie region delivery.
• University of ManitobaregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Leads Prairies Hub. Member of Executive Committee. Dr. Mario Pinto, VP Research, serves on Mitacs Board.
• McMaster UniversityregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Ontario Hub partner with focus on health research commercialization. University of Manitoba has run Lab2Market Validate for six years before expansion.
• Université LavalregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Quebec region partner. Listed as regional lead for i2I Network expansion.
• Polytechnique MontréalregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Quebec region partner. Listed as regional lead for i2I Network expansion.
• Memorial UniversityregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Atlantic region partner. Member of Executive Committee. Participates through Dal Innovates ecosystem.
• Centennial CollegeregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 January 2025Only Ontario college invited to pan-Canadian network. Will offer Discover sessions and Foundations boot camps, mentorships and hands-on experience focusing on health, transportation, Edtech, Cleantech and Deeptech sectors.
• Red River College Polytechnicparallel networkStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2025Leads separate $24 million College-University Lab to Market Network with 38 institutions. Both networks part of same $95.3M federal Lab to Market initiative.
• Ocean Startup ProjectnationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2025Co-funder of Lab2Market. Supports ocean-related and marine technology startup commercialization in Canada.
• National Research Council of Canada (NRC)nationalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Launched Defence Industry Assist program with $240M+ for SMEs. Lab2Market programs address similar goals of commercializing research for economic and national security benefit.
• Innovate CalgaryregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2024Delivery partner for Lab2Market Validate Alberta cohort. Provides mentorship and workshop facilitation.
• Edmonton UnlimitedregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2024Delivery partner for Lab2Market Validate Alberta cohort. Part of Edmonton innovation ecosystem.
• University of LethbridgeregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2024Delivery partner for Lab2Market Validate Alberta cohort. Received funding from federal Lab to Market grants.
• Toronto Metropolitan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-founder of Lab2Market alongside Dalhousie. John MacRitchie serves as Chair of the Executive Committee. TMU leads the Ontario Hub with $4.25M in dedicated funding. Lab2Market is integrated into TMU's Science Discovery Zone and Innovation Boost Zone.
• MitacscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Founding partner since 2020 pilot. Provides Business Strategy Internship program integration and co-funded stipends for participants. Has paid over $6.5 million in student/postdoc stipends through partnership. Funded by Government of Canada and provincial governments.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lab2marketca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lab2market
• Instagraminstagram.com/lab2market
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lab2Market