COMM 489 - Applied Methods in Technology Start-ups at CDL (formerly COMM 486W)
COMM 489, Applied Methods in Technology Start-ups at Creative Destruction Lab is a 6-credit course in entrepreneurship in which students will work with the Creative Destruction Lab Vancouver (formerly CDL-West) team to support emerging technology and science focused start-ups. Students will become familiar with the CDL-Vancouver companies and will have the opportunity to work on market analysis, customer development, financial analysis, and other core activities related to building early stage start-ups. Students will be provided with visibility into how venture capitalists and angel investors make investment decisions. This course can be used toward Year 4 Entrepreneurship option requirements.
We recommend that you learn more about the CDL program by visiting creativedestructionlab.com as well as reading these news releases and articles:
- Creative Destruction Lab West: Helping create next generation entrepreneurs
- Creative Destruction Lab's second Super Session is an intense two-day startup testbed
- Creative Destruction Lab receives $25 million from Canadian government
- CDL Climate leverages the Creative Destruction Lab commercialization model to increase the probability of success for high impact scientific innovations that address climate challenges
- Wine tech startup takes next step towards commercialization
Admission to this course is by application only. The course is restricted to students in Year 4.
Watch the course video on YouTube
Information sessions
Watch the recording of our information session here (password: &.zS+3+v)
Application information
To apply for the 2022 Winter Session cohort, please complete the online application by 11:59pm PT on Friday, May 27, 2022.
Summary overview
CDL-Vancouver is an expansion from the original Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, a program that has created more than $5.0 Billion in equity value in eight years targeting companies that have the potential to transform our social, industrial, and economic landscape. The CDL is one of the world’s premier seed stage programs for massively scalable science-based ventures. Notable graduates include: Atomwise, Notch Therapeutics, Plantible Foods, Ionomr Innovations, Shift, Spiderwort and others.
The goal of the course is to provide students with knowledge and hands-on experience helping build high potential venture-scale start-ups based on a solid foundation of technology and/or science and engineering. Students will become familiar with the CDL-Vancouver companies and will have the opportunity to support them with market analysis, customer development, financial analysis, and other core activities related to building early stage start-ups. Students will also get some insight in how angel investors (and VCs) make investment decisions. Indeed, the work students do for ventures will be seen by the mentors/investors in the CDL program, and influence their investment decisions and the progress of the ventures. Some of the students across the CDL network have joined venture-backed CDL companies in key roles – this course is a unique opportunity for students who are interested in real world exposure to start-ups and seed funding. For more information, click here.
How will this course be taught?
This course is a combination of both lecture and workshop sessions in which students will advance their CDL-Vancouver ventures. Workshops will draw upon knowledge from entrepreneurship and start-up best practices across many verticals and students will be coached by guest speakers such as venture capitalists, lawyers, project managers, and marketing professionals. Projects and assignments will be conducted for the benefit of the CDL ventures and students alike.
The course is taught over Terms 1 and 2. Admitted students will receive a schedule of meeting dates and times from their instructor before the start of course. This course requires significant independent effort and effective self-management skills.
Course instructor
Darrell Kopke
Adjunct Professor, Entrepreneur
Email: darrell.kopke@sauder.ubc.ca
Room: HA 338
Note: Prior to 2021W, this course was formerly numbered COMM 486W and titled Creative Destruction Lab Venture Program. Prior to 2019W, COMM 486W was a 3-credit course.