Think your idea has potential? As a researcher, you may be curious as to if your idea has potential in the entrepreneurial landscape, but don’t know how to go about it.
Lab2Market Validate is your opportunity to test and evaluate your idea in an entrepreneurial landscape. Lab2Market Validate is a national program and is now being offered across British Columbia as in partnership with VentureLabs and entrepreneurship@UBC.
About the Lab2Market Validate program
Are you a graduate student or postdoctoral researcher looking to validate your idea with the purpose of finding business or commercial value in what you are pursuing?
Lab2Market Validate is your opportunity to test and evaluate your idea in an entrepreneurial landscape. Lab2Market Validate is a national program and is now being offered across British Columbia in partnership with SFU VentureLabs and entrepreneurship@UBC.
We are offering two cohorts and invite you to apply to one of the following streams:
If your research is in Health Sciences*, apply to join the National Lab2Market Health Cohort here.
*This Stream is for those in Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, Med-tech, Human and Animal Health, Health IT, Digital Health, and Health related AI projects.
Apply to the Pacific Lab2Market Validate Research Cohort* here.
*This Stream is industry agnostic, and if your field of study is not in Health Sciences and you are at a post secondary institution in British Columbia.
Application deadline is November 19th 11:59 PM PST.
Program starts February 2024.
Who Should Apply?
Each applicant team must include the following:
- Entrepreneurial Lead (main applicant) - full-time graduate student (Masters, Ph.D., or Postdocs) who has developed or is currently developing, tech-based university research.
- Technical Lead (faculty member) - principal investigator (PI) for the research project.
Program details:
Get the opportunity to conduct market research for your research project. Apply as a team: graduate student, investigator/academic supervisor. The program runs 4 months, February to May, and is a full-time commitment of 30-40 hours a week. For a full breakdown on the Lab2Market Validate program, read our Program Overview here.
Still have questions about the program?
We're holding virtual info sessions on November 7th, November 10th November 14th, and November 16th to help answer your questions. All info sessions are virtual, and can be accessed via Zoom:
- November 7, 2023, 12-12:30pm
https://sfu.zoom.us/j/82309870917?pwd=6eGQOM8PZuoFbnBMRr76ajQ43A7mf5.1
- November 10, 2023, 12-12:30pm
https://sfu.zoom.us/j/81733261812?pwd=laqijiPbyhvOya5bBrytimbIkSmb01.1
- November 14, 2023, 9-10am
https://sfu.zoom.us/j/88454181354?pwd=LyT2gP4P5XE9GUK5mqfH4gAkpe0yFE.1
- November 16, 12:30-1:00 pm
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/final-info-session-lab2market-validate-tickets-759294128177?aff=oddtdtcreator
If you have any questions about the Lab2Market Validate program, please contact:
- For the Health Sciences stream, reach out to lesley@venturelabs.ca
- For the non-Health Sciences stream, reach out to lynn.jennifer.kulli@ubc.ca
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
Do I need to be affiliated with SFU or UBC, given they are the program delivery partners?
No - the programs are open to eligible researchers across BC for the Regional Cohort, and across the country for the Health Cohort.
Do I need to be a student with a university in British Columbia?
You must be a current graduate or postdoc researcher, or recent graduate program alumni (within 2 years) eligible for Mitacs funding with any university in BC (regional cohort) or across Canada (Health cohort). Mitacs eligibility requirements.
Can I apply to both streams?
No, please select the best fit for your innovation/technology.
What do you mean by Industry Agnostic? In the context of this program, Industry Agnostic refers to any industry not related to Health Sciences. Health Science applicants must apply to the Health Sciences stream.
Timelines
What are the key dates I should be aware of?
- Week of November 1: Recruitment campaigns begin
- November 19: Application deadline
- Week of November 20: Applicant interviews commence. Note: the interview includes both the researcher and their affiliated faculty member)
- Week of Nov 27th: Applicant decisions announced
- Mid February : Bootcamp prep session and pre-program activities
- Week of March 4: Sessions begin
- Week of April 29: Sessions end
- May: Post program and wrap up activities
Evaluation Process
How will the evaluation process take place?
We anticipate the initial application review process to be completed by Nov 17, with invitations sent for interviews for the week of Nov 20th.
Decisions will be communicated the week of Nov 27th. Successful applicants will then be connected with Mitacs to work on the BSI Application. Only completed applications will be reviewed.
Location
Where will the sessions be taking place?
The program kicks off with three days of training in mid February (week Feb 19th) that will take place in Vancouver in February. Please connect with program contacts if you would like to participate but may be unable to attend in person. Core programming sessions (March and April) will take place online. Participants will be able to coordinate directly with facilitators and mentors for 1:1 Office Hours.
Cost
Are there any fees to participate in L2M Validate?
No, this program is free for accepted teams. In person participation for the pre-training sessions in Vancouver is strongly encouraged. Travel expenditures may be required for the Entrepreneurial Lead to participate.
Funding
How will I receive my funding for this program?
Funding for the program is provided by the Mitacs Business Strategy Internship and Pacifican. The graduate student or postdoc participant will be required to complete a successful funding application to participate in the program.