From Lab to Startup: Scientific Entrepreneurship Day
Are you developing a breakthrough technology, conducting world-class research, or wondering whether your work has the potential to become a venture-backed company?
From Lab to Startup: Scientific Entrepreneurship Day is a practical half-day event for University of Alberta graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty members, principal investigators, research associates, and ecosystem partners who are interested in turning research into real-world impact.
Celesta Capital, a global venture capital firm built by experienced deep-tech operators, will lead a featured session on scientific entrepreneurship and the path from lab to company. Since 2013, the firm has backed foundational technologies across semiconductors and intelligent hardware, next-generation infrastructure software, bio-convergence, and industry-transforming technologies. Drawing on its experience supporting deep-tech founders from breakthrough innovation to global scale, the Celesta team will share a practical framework for evaluating spinout readiness and building a science-driven company for success.
The session will explore three core questions:
Should you spin out?
Learn how investors evaluate technologies through market opportunity, performance differentiation, and scalability.
When should you spin out?
Understand the signs of readiness, including founder commitment, customer pull, technical maturity, and whether progress now requires resources beyond the lab.
How do you set up for success?
Explore the foundational elements of building a deep-tech company, including intellectual property, licensing, founding teams, cap tables, non-dilutive funding, customer discovery, venture capital, and university relationships.
Following the presentations, selected attendees will have the opportunity to participate in limited office hours with investors and commercialization experts to discuss their research, technologies, and venture ideas.
This event is intended for University of Alberta participants who are seriously exploring research commercialization, scientific entrepreneurship, or the formation of a startup or spinout.
What you will learn
How investors assess whether a research-based technology is ready for a startup
How to evaluate market opportunity, technical differentiation, and scalability
When a research project may be ready to move beyond the lab
How to think about IP, licensing, company formation, and founder commitment
How to approach customer discovery, early revenue, grants, and venture funding
Common red flags that can derail deep-tech startups
How to prepare for investor and commercialization conversations
Featured speakers
Charles Lespérance, Partner, Celesta Capital Charles Lespérance leads Celesta Capital’s Canadian investment team and brings more than 15 years of experience in technology investing, structured finance, and strategy. He previously co-founded BDC’s $200 million Deep Tech Venture Fund, investing across quantum, AI, semiconductors, and robotics. Charles holds an MBA from Harvard University and a degree in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University.
David Goldman, Partner, Celesta Capital David Goldman has more than a decade of operating and investment experience evaluating technology companies, structuring transactions, and advising founders on strategy and growth. Before joining Celesta, he worked in investment management and held a senior operating role within a global portfolio company. David serves as a director or observer for several early-stage technology companies and holds graduate degrees in Finance and International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
Agenda
Half-day event at Edmonton Unlimited
Welcome and opening remarks
Featured presentation by Celesta Capital: From Lab to Company: A Practical Guide for Founders
Discussion of spinout readiness, IP, funding, customers, and company formation
Additional partner presentations on topics relevant to technical leaders considering startup formation
Limited office hours for in-depth discussions and individual Q&A
Office hours
Limited office hours will be available after the session for selected participants. These conversations are intended for attendees who are actively exploring commercialization, evaluating a potential spinout, or seeking feedback on a specific technology, research program, or venture idea.
Selected participants will be invited to office hours for one-on-one discussions with investors.
Registration note
This event is intended for University of Alberta-affiliated participants.
Photography & Video Consent
Events and workshops hosted in our space may be photographed or recorded. By registering for or attending an event, you consent to the use of photographs and video footage that may include you for promotional and marketing purposes. If you wish to opt out, you must identify yourself at reception upon arrival so appropriate accommodations can be made.