Creative Destruction Lab (CDL)

Iris Dynamics Ltd. is a privately-owned Canadian technology startup with headquarters on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Iris has invented a process for magnetic force controlled actuator motors that improves the human-machine interface. This technology has been deployed in a diverse range of markets to help clients improve their processes that previously utilized low performance, less reliable, and more expensive technologies. The company is also using this technology to develop high performance stabilization platforms in several different client-led applications. Iris sponsors advanced theoretical and applied electromagnetic research at two major Canadian universities. Applications for our technology include aircraft controls, flight simulation, remotely piloted vehicles, heavy equipment, submersibles, automotive, industrial automation, robotics, platform/sensor stabilization, and semiconductor manufacturing. Iris Dynamics is actively seeking industry partners to advance this technology.

Lucent BioSciences is a Vancouver-based AgTech start-up driven by accelerating the transition of agriculture to sustainability. Lucent Bio has developed a novel patent-pending fertilizer for agriculture called "Soileos'' using cellulose fibre as a delivery agent. The product improves yield and soil health, and is climate positive, non-polluting, and sustainable.

VodaSafe Inc. is a Canadian company based in Kelowna that specializes in developing innovative water search and rescue technologies. Its primary product, AquaEye, is a handheld waterproof device designed for rescuers, utilizing sonar and artificial intelligence to detect submerged individuals in bodies of water. AquaEye not only locates people but also records essential rescue data and connects via Bluetooth to various devices. VodaSafe aims to enhance lifeguard, emergency responder, and recreational user capabilities in lifesaving and victim recovery efforts through advanced ultrasonic scanning methodologies.

BarrelWise Technologies specializes in innovative solutions for the wine industry, focusing on improving production and analysis processes. Their flagship product, the FS1 System, revolutionizes routine free SO2 checks by allowing wineries to conduct these tests directly in the cellar, significantly reducing the time required from days to mere minutes while ensuring lab-level accuracy. Additionally, the technology facilitates various barrel management tasks, such as topping, sampling, sulfating, and chemical analysis, all without the need to open the barrel. This integrated approach enhances operational efficiency for wineries in regions like British Columbia, California, and Washington.

Open Ocean Robotics is a company focused on collecting ocean data using solar-powered autonomous boats. Founded in 2018 and based in Victoria, British Columbia, the company operates unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) equipped with sensors, cameras, and communication devices. These boats can gather information from various locations in the ocean, providing real-time data that can aid in protecting endangered whale species, optimizing shipping routes for fuel efficiency, combating illegal fishing, and enhancing understanding of climate change impacts. By offering a safe, efficient, and cost-effective alternative to traditional crewed vessels, Open Ocean Robotics enables clients to monitor ocean traffic and conduct marine observations effectively.

Miru Smart Technologies, formerly known as Click Materials, is a Vancouver-based company specializing in advanced materials, particularly in the development of electrochromic windows for residential, commercial, and automotive applications. Founded as a university spin-off, Miru leverages over a decade of academic and industrial research to innovate traditional thin film production. This advanced fabrication process is designed to provide superior performance at lower manufacturing costs compared to existing technologies. By focusing on strategic partnerships, Miru aims to integrate its window technology into the growing trends of connected smart buildings and voice-activated smart homes, contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced energy efficiency.

BeatDapp is a technology company that specializes in music streaming software aimed at eliminating streaming fraud and ensuring fair compensation for artists. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, with additional offices in Los Angeles and Toronto, BeatDapp provides a SaaS-based platform that allows music labels and artists to accurately track their songs and collect royalties. Its innovative tracking system authenticates and validates media streamed in real-time, reducing discrepancies between Digital Service Providers and rights holders. This capability not only enhances royalty revenue for rights holders but also mitigates legal risks associated with royalty disputes. With a team of industry and technology veterans, BeatDapp is positioned to revolutionize the music industry by delivering transparent streaming data to a rapidly growing market of paid consumers.

QReserve is a provider of scheduling software that assists organizations in managing, promoting, and sharing resources such as meeting rooms, offices, desks, equipment, and facilities. The platform offers a variety of products, including room and desk scheduling, laboratory management, and property management, which facilitate the acceleration of research and development projects for students, researchers, and businesses. QReserve enhances resource utilization through professional cataloguing services and analytics tools, delivering valuable insights on utilization rates, revenues, capacity, and performance. The platform supports thousands of users daily, helping them discover and access over ten thousand resources. Notable clients include SickKids, UBC Okanagan, and McMaster University.

Miru Smart Technologies, formerly known as Click Materials, is a Vancouver-based company specializing in advanced materials, particularly in the development of electrochromic windows for residential, commercial, and automotive applications. Founded as a university spin-off, Miru leverages over a decade of academic and industrial research to innovate traditional thin film production. This advanced fabrication process is designed to provide superior performance at lower manufacturing costs compared to existing technologies. By focusing on strategic partnerships, Miru aims to integrate its window technology into the growing trends of connected smart buildings and voice-activated smart homes, contributing to reduced greenhouse gas emissions and enhanced energy efficiency.

Dooly Research Ltd. is a Canadian company based in Vancouver that specializes in artificial intelligence-driven software designed to enhance the efficiency of sales teams. Founded in 2015, Dooly's platform automates the customer relationship management process by collecting and sharing essential customer information from meetings and conversations. This software facilitates the organization and updating of workflow systems in real-time, allowing users to manage notes, tasks, and learnings more effectively. By bridging the gap between note-taking and information sharing, Dooly enables sales teams to minimize administrative burdens and concentrate on core business activities, ultimately optimizing their performance and productivity.

Routific, Inc. is a provider of route optimization software designed to assist small and medium-sized delivery businesses in Canada and internationally. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, the company offers an intelligent delivery management solution that automates vehicle routing and scheduling operations. Inspired by the foraging behaviors of honey bees, Routific's platform features intelligent route optimization, dispatch and live tracking, and delivery notifications, enabling businesses to save time and fuel while reducing carbon emissions by 20-40%. By enhancing driver efficiency and customer satisfaction, Routific's technology is trusted by delivery companies worldwide to lower delivery costs and improve overall operational effectiveness.

Industrial Plankton Inc. is a Canadian company founded in 2010 and headquartered in Victoria, British Columbia. All equipment is manufactured in-house to ensure a high quality product. The company was founded in 2010, and by 2012 launched its flagship product, a 1000L algae bioreactor. Building on the success of the 1000L, a 100L research reactor was added to the product line in 2014, followed by full LED 1250L reactor in 2016. In addition to algae production, an automated rotifer reactor is scheduled for launch in late 2017.

Mesentech Inc. is a regenerative medicine company based in Vancouver, Canada, specializing in the development of therapeutics that target bone-related diseases. The company utilizes a unique prodrug platform that delivers bi-specific small-molecule therapeutics selectively to bone tissue, minimizing side effects associated with systemic exposure. Its lead product, MES1007, is a bone-targeted prodrug of a prostaglandin mimetic, designed to potentially reverse bone loss linked to conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy and osteoporosis. Mesentech's proprietary technology overcomes the challenges of delivering medications to the difficult-to-treat bone environment, which often requires high drug doses and can lead to significant side effects. Through pre-clinical in-vivo models, the effectiveness of this bone-targeting system has been confirmed, positioning Mesentech to address various low-bone-density disorders and enhance bone healing outcomes. The company was incorporated in 2013 and continues to innovate in the field of bone therapeutics.

Mangrove Water Technologies Ltd. specializes in the manufacture of wastewater desalination systems, focusing on the treatment and purification of contaminated well water. The company has developed a modular and mobile technology that converts saline wastewater and waste gases into desalinated water and valuable chemicals for on-site use. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, the company has advanced its technology from concept to commercial-scale demonstrations over four years. The technology originates from research conducted at the University of British Columbia's Chemical Engineering Department, supported by various funding agencies, including Emissions Reduction Alberta and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Damon Motors Inc. is a technology company focused on revolutionizing motorcycle safety and urban mobility. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, with additional offices in San Rafael, California, the company develops advanced safety systems for motorcycles, including its 360º Advanced Warning System, which utilizes innovations in sensor fusion, robotics, and artificial intelligence to enhance rider awareness. Damon Motors is recognized for its groundbreaking electric powertrain, HyperDrive, and innovative features such as CoPilot and Shift, which appeal to a new generation of riders. By integrating cutting-edge technology into its designs, Damon is committed to setting new standards in motorcycle safety and sustainability, gaining rapid market acceptance both in the United States and internationally.

For greenhouse growers of high value crops, Ecoation Innovation Solutions provides the earliest possible detection of pests, diseases and deficiencies that affect crop value. We collect data on plant state directly from plant signals and predict crop health use proprietary AI software systems. Our system brings crop status to a Grower’s desktop or smart phone daily. With our system, Growers can take immediate actions that increase crop value, reduce operating costs and reduce pesticide use. Our made in Canada technology is available now with paid field trials underway in BC greenhouses.

Plantiga Technologies Inc. is a Vancouver-based company that specializes in biometric sensing technology for footwear. Founded in 2017, Plantiga has developed a platform that offers human movement intelligence, providing deep insights into health by analyzing how individuals move. Their technology focuses on optimizing health, preventing injuries, and monitoring recovery by detecting subtle changes in functional movement patterns that are often imperceptible. By combining rigorous analysis of human performance with wearable device capabilities, Plantiga enables users to assess athletic performance, health, and productivity effectively.

Meet FTSY (‘footsy’), the easy-to-use and super accurate footwear matching platform. FTSY matches people to shoes, in-store and online, with confidence. FTSY makes size and style recommendations as effectively as a seasoned salesperson. With a focus on helping brands build unique and memorable experiences, FTSY’s app and Match service join to drive sales up, bring returns down, and enhance customer loyalty. FTSY plays well with the major point of sale, ecommerce, and CRM platforms, so that footwear brands can be up and running in no time. There’s no scale to stand on or quiz to take; simply snap and match. Recommendations are powered by FTSY’s proprietary AI and validated by real people. Founded in 2015 and hailing from Vancouver, Canada, the FTSY team draws from sophisticated talent in retail, ecommerce, computer vision, AI, and CRM.

Starling Minds Inc. is a Vancouver-based company founded in 2013 that specializes in digital mental health therapy. It offers an online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program designed to address stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression in workplace settings. The company provides comprehensive solutions for various sectors, including business, disability management, education, healthcare, insurance, and workers' compensation. By utilizing an artificial intelligence-powered platform, Starling Minds licenses its technology to insurance payers, healthcare providers, and employers in a business-to-business model. This approach aims to alleviate the chronic shortage of affordable mental health professionals by offering effective support for employees, facilitating their return to work, and promoting overall workplace productivity and mental well-being.