Lay the foundation for your entrepreneurial journey.
Are you eager to bring your idea to market but unsure where to start? As a researcher in emerging technologies, you may sense the commercial potential of your work but need guidance on how to take the first step and tap into the resources around you. With Validate Foundations, you'll gain the essential knowledge and tools to seize these opportunities, including access to our Lab2Market Validate program.
Our Program
Validate Foundations is a three-day intensive virtual training program aimed at providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the process and best practices for research commercialization. Upon completion, graduates will possess the knowledge necessary to initiate their commercialization endeavors and strategically position their projects to capitalize on various opportunities within the ecosystem. These opportunities include Lab2Market’s Validate program, incubator and accelerator programs, and public innovation grants.
Eligibility
Validate Foundations is offered free of cost and is open to all researchers (Undergrads, Masters, Ph.D., and Postdocs) and faculty from all disciplines, in Canada.
Eligibility may vary slightly depending on the cohort being offered. Please refer to the cohort descriptions below.
The program is designed for individuals seeking to commercialize their ideas—those who envision how their technology can benefit the real world and wish to understand the steps required for commercialization. This program consists of six online sessions delivered over three days.
If you have already made the decision to leap into the world of entrepreneurship and try commercializing your technology, check out our Lab2Market Validate and Launch programs.
Still have questions? Email us at validate@lab2market.ca to request more information.
Apply to Upcoming Validate Foundation Cohorts
L2M Validate Foundations Summer 2025 - Atlantic
Eligibility: Graduate researchers (Masters, PhD, and Postdoc) and faculty members from universities and colleges in Canada’s Atlantic region, who are interested in exploring research commercialization and entrepreneurship. This program will be delivered by Dalhousie University.
This program is offered over three-days and runs for five hours each day, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. AT.
Program dates: August 11, 13, 15
Application deadline: August 9, 2025
L2M Validate Foundations Fall 2025 - Pacific
Eligibility: Graduate researchers (Masters, PhD, and Postdoc), Certificate and Diploma students, and Undergraduate students from any faculty or discipline at universities and colleges in British Columbia or the Yukon, who are interested in exploring research commercialization and entrepreneurship. This program will be delivered by the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraiser University.
Application deadline: September 8, 2025
L2M Validate Foundations Fall 2025 - Quebec
Eligibility: Graduate researchers (Masters, PhD, and Postdoc) from universities and colleges in Quebec, who are interested in exploring research commercialization and entrepreneurship. This program will be delivered by V1 Studio.
This program is offered over three-days and runs for four hours each day, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST.
Program dates: September 3, 4, 5
Application deadline: September 1, 2025
L2M Validate Foundations Fall 2025 - Prairies (General)
Eligibility: Graduate researchers (Masters, PhD, and Postdoc), Certificate and Diploma students, Undergraduate students, and early career professionals from any faculty or discipline at universities and colleges in Manitoba or Saskatchewan, who are interested in exploring research commercialization and entrepreneurship. This workshop will provide tips on how to effectively apply to the Validate CORE program. This workshop will be delivered by the University of Manitoba.
If you wish to join an info session prior to applying, click here.
This workshop is offered over three-days and runs for 3 hours each day, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (CT).
Program dates: September 30, October 24, 25
Application deadline: September 26, 2025
L2M Validate Foundations Fall 2025 - Prairies (Faculty Only )
Eligibility: Faculty from universities and colleges in Manitoba and Saskatchewan who are interested in exploring research commercialization and entrepreneurship. This workshop will be delivered by the University of Manitoba.
If you wish to join an info session prior to applying, click here.
This workshop is offered over three-days and runs for 3.5 hours each day, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (CT).
Program dates: September 23, 24, 25
Application deadline: September 19, 2025
“I have been trained as a scientist all my university life, but I have always dreamed of starting my own business. There was a huge gap between my fantasy and reality, and Lab2Market Validate built a bridge. When I started this program, I was a green hand with zero experience in the market, but everyone I met during the program taught and helped me both enthusiastically and patiently.”
- Hao Guo
Ph.D. Candidate in Medical Physics at Dalhousie University