Bridging Science and Entrepreneurship .
Celebrating 5 years of CDL-Paris, Creative Destruction Lab is a global startup program for seed-stage, science-based companies. The program employs an objectives-based mentoring process by a selected group of accomplished entrepreneurs, angel investors, economists, and scientists.
Celebrating 5 years of CDL-Paris, Creative Destruction Lab is a global startup program for seed-stage, science-based companies. The program employs an objectives-based mentoring process by a selected group of accomplished entrepreneurs, angel investors, economists, and scientists.
The CDL-Paris Climate Stream will provide high impact contributions to climate challenges by unlocking the potential of cutting-edge research and accelerating its path to commercialization. Ventures work with CDL mentors to sharpen objectives, prioritize time and resources, raise capital, and engage with experts working on the frontiers of climate research.
The CDL-Paris Climate Stream will provide high impact contributions to climate challenges by unlocking the potential of cutting-edge research and accelerating its path to commercialization. Ventures work with CDL mentors to sharpen objectives, prioritize time and resources, raise capital, and engage with experts working on the frontiers of climate research.
CDL Space is an international program based out CDL-Paris and CDL-Toronto for pre-Seed to pre-Series A technology startups and designed to support both space and Earth-based technology.
The program brings together astronauts, entrepreneurs, investors, and scientists from fields related to space exploration and transportation, satellite communications, Earth observation, automation, and robotics.
CDL Space is an international program based out CDL-Paris and CDL-Toronto for pre-Seed to pre-Series A technology startups and designed to support both space and Earth-based technology.
The program brings together astronauts, entrepreneurs, investors, and scientists from fields related to space exploration and transportation, satellite communications, Earth observation, automation, and robotics.
For founders pursuing commercial opportunities predicated on the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence.
The Artificial Intelligence Stream brings together experienced exited entrepreneurs, leading scientists, and active investors to help scale ventures based around technologies underpinned by, or core to the advancement of, artificial intelligence.
For founders pursuing commercial opportunities predicated on the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence.
The Artificial Intelligence Stream brings together experienced exited entrepreneurs, leading scientists, and active investors to help scale ventures based around technologies underpinned by, or core to the advancement of, artificial intelligence.
In 2024, XPRIZE selected Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) as its strategic partner for the Carbon Removal prize, an ambitious $100 million initiative designed to combat climate change by rebalancing Earth’s carbon cycle. This collaboration brings together the strength of CDL’s mission to enhance the commercialization of science for the betterment of humankind with the transformative vision of XPRIZE in accelerating solutions toward humanity’s grand challenges.
In 2024, XPRIZE selected Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) as its strategic partner for the Carbon Removal prize, an ambitious $100 million initiative designed to combat climate change by rebalancing Earth’s carbon cycle. This collaboration brings together the strength of CDL’s mission to enhance the commercialization of science for the betterment of humankind with the transformative vision of XPRIZE in accelerating solutions toward humanity’s grand challenges.
For founders centered on the exploration of the new computing concepts and algorithms required to unlock the full potential of computing power and reduce energy consumption
The Next Gen Computing stream is jointly operated by CDL-Paris and CDL-Berlin, in partnership with HEC Paris, ESMT Berlin and in cooperation with the Technical University Munich (TUM) and Campus Founders.
For founders centered on the exploration of the new computing concepts and algorithms required to unlock the full potential of computing power and reduce energy consumption
The Next Gen Computing stream is jointly operated by CDL-Paris and CDL-Berlin, in partnership with HEC Paris, ESMT Berlin and in cooperation with the Technical University Munich (TUM) and Campus Founders.
Celebrating 35 year since its creation, HEC Challenge+ empowers researchers and founders of high-growth, innovative projects through a unique mix of training, expert consulting, and tailored support—backed by a diverse network, it stands as a pioneering leader in entrepreneurial education.
Celebrating 35 year since its creation, HEC Challenge+ empowers researchers and founders of high-growth, innovative projects through a unique mix of training, expert consulting, and tailored support—backed by a diverse network, it stands as a pioneering leader in entrepreneurial education.
58 startups supported in 2024 2 promotions per year
58 startups supported in 2024 2 promotions per year
30 startups supported in 2024 1 promotion per year
30 startups supported in 2024 1 promotion per year
30 startups supported in 2024 1 promotion per year
30 startups supported in 2024 1 promotion per year
What if we applied a startup mindset to R&D projects — blending lab research, academia, business, and innovation?
This is the foundation of our intensive 3-month program designed to accelerate the go-to-market journey of R&D initiatives. The program helps reduce uncertainty while saving time, effort, and resources typically spent on exploring new opportunities.
It offers corporates a concrete way to bring agile, entrepreneurial approaches into their teams and innovation pipelines — while giving them direct access to cutting-edge expertise, seasoned mentors, and startups driving the latest breakthroughs in deep tech.
What if we applied a startup mindset to R&D projects — blending lab research, academia, business, and innovation?
This is the foundation of our intensive 3-month program designed to accelerate the go-to-market journey of R&D initiatives. The program helps reduce uncertainty while saving time, effort, and resources typically spent on exploring new opportunities.
It offers corporates a concrete way to bring agile, entrepreneurial approaches into their teams and innovation pipelines — while giving them direct access to cutting-edge expertise, seasoned mentors, and startups driving the latest breakthroughs in deep tech.
In 2024, our Deep Tech Center welcomed 17 startups into a new program. The goal is to identify early-stage deep tech startups and support them in developing and maturing their projects to prepare for the next phase.
In 2024, our Deep Tech Center welcomed 17 startups into a new program. The goal is to identify early-stage deep tech startups and support them in developing and maturing their projects to prepare for the next phase.
Created in 2024 and announced in January 2025, the lab will investigate the dynamics of mentorship by focusing on how to optimize selection — or even eliminate it when irrelevant, and how to improve matching, interaction methods, and incentives. With the goal of disseminating actionable insights to enhance mentorship effectiveness, the ION Management Science Lab is set to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world applications.
The lab will be under the direction of two HEC Paris professors, both experts in the field of entrepreneurship, Professors Carlos Serrano and Professor Thomas Åstebro. Professor Serrano will serve as the Scientific Director, while Professor Åstebro will be the Executive Director. Their combined expertise and diverse perspectives will be instrumental in steering the lab’s research agenda and ensuring its impact on the broader community.
This initiative, backed by a generous 10 million Euro gift from the ION Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Italian entrepreneur Andrea Pignataro, aims to delve into the impact of mentorship within startups, mid-sized firms, large enterprises, universities, and NGOs.
Created in 2024 and announced in January 2025, the lab will investigate the dynamics of mentorship by focusing on how to optimize selection — or even eliminate it when irrelevant, and how to improve matching, interaction methods, and incentives. With the goal of disseminating actionable insights to enhance mentorship effectiveness, the ION Management Science Lab is set to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world applications.
The lab will be under the direction of two HEC Paris professors, both experts in the field of entrepreneurship, Professors Carlos Serrano and Professor Thomas Åstebro. Professor Serrano will serve as the Scientific Director, while Professor Åstebro will be the Executive Director. Their combined expertise and diverse perspectives will be instrumental in steering the lab’s research agenda and ensuring its impact on the broader community.
This initiative, backed by a generous 10 million Euro gift from the ION Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Italian entrepreneur Andrea Pignataro, aims to delve into the impact of mentorship within startups, mid-sized firms, large enterprises, universities, and NGOs.
