Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) - Oceans Stream

Enriched International · Found: 2026-03-10 13:43

Dedicated oceans stream within the Creative Destruction Lab accelerator program based in Halifax, Canada. Supports ocean-focused startups through objective-based mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and scientists.

Source: https://creativedestructionlab.com/streams/oceans/

Funding Details

Funder

Creative Destruction Lab

Funding Goal

Support ocean-economy focused startups through objective-based mentorship, helping founders sharpen goals, raise capital, and engage with scientific and entrepreneurial experts working on sustainable ocean innovation and technology.

Funding Amount

No fees charged, no equity taken. Value provided through mentorship, network access, and structured objective-setting sessions.

Deadline

Annual, sessions run September to June; application timing varies each cohort (periodic)

How to Apply

Apply via https://creativedestructionlab.com/application-triage/. Startups attend five objective-setting sessions between September and June over a nine-month program.

Target Region

Global (program based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

Contact

Hope Scheller, Associate Director: hope@creativedestructionlab.com

Last Checked

2026-05-07 08:06

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be an entrepreneur or researcher in the ocean economy or oceanographic research
• Startups at any stage of maturity are considered, from pre-incorporation to growth stage

Project Scope

• Program is delivered in Halifax, Nova Scotia — applicants should be able to attend in person or engage remotely
• Project must relate to ocean technology: acoustics, sensors, robotics, AUVs, data, aquaculture, marine energy, or related

Required Documents

• Apply via the CDL online application portal

Constraints

• No fees charged and no equity taken by CDL
• Participants must attend five structured objective-setting sessions over nine months (September to June)

Summary

The Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) Oceans Stream is a startup accelerator focused on the ocean economy, located at CDL-Atlantic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is part of the broader CDL program that spans multiple streams and global locations. The programme's thematic scope covers emerging ocean technologies including underwater acoustics and imaging, sensors, robotics and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), data analytics, predictive analytics, sustainable fishing and offshore aquaculture, marine resources and bio-products, marine and sustainable energy innovations, and naval technologies. The unifying thread is digital technologies and sustainable solutions for the ocean economy. Eligible activities include early-stage startup development, technology commercialization, capital raising, and scientific collaboration. The program does not involve direct cash grants; instead, it provides structured mentorship over five objective-setting sessions spanning nine months (September to June), with no participation fees and no equity taken. The geographic scope is global in terms of applicant origin, but the program is delivered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, with a strong Canadian ocean industry anchor. Partners include Canada's Ocean Supercluster and other Canadian ocean institutions. Eligible applicants are entrepreneurs, researchers, and early-stage companies (from pre-incorporation to growth stage) working in the ocean economy or oceanographic research. The program is particularly suited to coachable founders seeking mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and scientists. Target beneficiaries are ocean technology startups seeking to scale. The program does not provide direct funding but connects startups to mentors, investors, and partner organizations including the 1000 Ocean Startups coalition, Dalhousie University, and Memorial University. There is no budget or co-funding requirement for applicants. The program is free to participate and CDL does not take equity. Value is delivered through mentorship and network access rather than capital injection.

Historical Context

The Oceans Stream is based at CDL-Atlantic in Halifax, Canada. CDL collaborates with Canada's Ocean Supercluster, Ocean Startup Project, Ocean Frontier Institute, Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE), DeepSense, Dalhousie University, Memorial University, and the 1000 Ocean Startups coalition. Alumni include Aquaai, Open Ocean Robotics, XOcean, Kraken Sense, Flux Marine, and Circadian.

Why it was added

Prestigious accelerator with dedicated oceans innovation stream

Sources

• https://creativedestructionlab.com/streams/oceans/

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