From Lab to Startup: Scientific Entrepreneurship Day

Are you a University of Alberta researcher, grad student, post-doc, or faculty member wondering if your scientific breakthrough can become a venture-backed company? Join us for From Lab to Startup: Scientific Entrepreneurship Day, a practical half-day event designed to help you bridge the gap between academic innovation and real-world commercial impact. Why Attend? Led by Celesta Capital—a global deep-tech venture capital firm—alongside top technology legal experts from Osler, you will learn directly from experienced operators, investors, and legal advisors on how to protect your IP, evaluate spinout readiness, and build a science-driven company for scale. The Value for You Great deep-tech ventures aren't just discovered—they are engineered from the lab up. This event is designed for you to learn the commercialization end-game years before you actually need institutional funding. Join us to build your venture correctly from day one: Start with the end in mind: Learn what top-tier venture capital firms look for in deep-tech startups, allowing you to align your early-stage lab research with future market and funding demands. Map your critical milestones: Understand the steps required to bridge the gap from a fundamental lab discovery to a scalable, investable business. Build your network early: Gain firsthand insights from major venture partners and legal experts long before the high-stakes pressure of a formal fundraise begins. Key Takeaways Should you spin out? Evaluate your technology’s market potential, performance differentiation, and scalability through an investor's lens. When to launch? Recognize key signs of technical maturity, founder commitment, and market demand. How to build for success? Master the essentials: IP strategy, licensing, cap tables, non-dilutive funding, customer discovery, and university relationships. Avoid critical mistakes: Identify common legal and operational red flags that derail early-stage deep-tech startups. Featured Speakers Charle