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 Fall 2025 - Prairies (Faculty)
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: November 12, 13, 14
Application deadline: November 10, 2025
L2M Validate Foundations Fall 2025 - Oceans
Eligibility: Graduate researchers (Master's, PhD, and Postdoctoral), Certificate and Diploma students, Undergraduate students, College and Polytechnic students, early-career professionals, faculty, and staff interested in exploring research commercialization and entrepreneurship. Applicants must be in an ocean-related field, an ocean-related academic program, or working on an ocean-related project. This program will be delivered by the Ocean Startup Project.
Program dates: November 3, 5, and 7, 2025. This workshop is offered over three days and runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST.
If you wish to join an info session before applying, click here.
Application deadline: November 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM
L2M Health / Validate Foundations for Physicians Fall 2025
Eligibility: Open to physicians across Canada who are interested in learning more about research commercialization. A 3-day intensive virtual training program providing physicians with a comprehensive understanding of the processes and best practices for research commercialization. This program will be delivered by University of Toronto's Temerty Faculty of Medicine.
Program dates: November 17, 19, 21, 2025. This workshop is offered over three-days and runs for 2 hours each day, from 2:00 - 4:00 PM ET.
Application deadline: November 13, 2025
L2M Health / Validate Foundations - Fall 2025
Eligibility: Open to Graduate researchers (Master's, PhD, and Postdoctoral), undergraduate students, research associates, and faculty from Canadian universities and colleges who are engaged in health-related research. Eligible projects must have potential applications in health, life sciences, or biomedical fields, including diagnostics, therapeutics, digital health, medical devices, health data tools, or public health innovations. This program will be delivered by the University of Calgary's Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking.
Program dates: December 02, 03, 04, 2025. This workshop is offered over three days and runs for 3 hours each day, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm MDT.
Application deadline: November 25, 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