Are you a University of Alberta researcher, grad student, post-doc, or faculty member wondering if your scientific breakthrough can become a venture-backed company? Join us for From Lab to Startup: Scientific Entrepreneurship Day, a practical half-day event designed to help you bridge the gap between academic innovation and real-world commercial impact.
Why Attend?
Led by Celesta Capital—a global deep-tech venture capital firm—alongside top technology legal experts from Osler, you will learn directly from experienced operators, investors, and legal advisors on how to protect your IP, evaluate spinout readiness, and build a science-driven company for scale.
The Value for You
Great deep-tech ventures aren’t just discovered—they are engineered from the lab up. This event is designed for you to learn the commercialization end-game years before you actually need institutional funding.
Join us to build your venture correctly from day one:
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Start with the end in mind: Learn what top-tier venture capital firms look for in deep-tech startups, allowing you to align your early-stage lab research with future market and funding demands.
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Map your critical milestones: Understand the steps required to bridge the gap from a fundamental lab discovery to a scalable, investable business.
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Build your network early: Gain firsthand insights from major venture partners and legal experts long before the high-stakes pressure of a formal fundraise begins.
Key Takeaways
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Should you spin out? Evaluate your technology’s market potential, performance differentiation, and scalability through an investor’s lens.
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When to launch? Recognize key signs of technical maturity, founder commitment, and market demand.
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How to build for success? Master the essentials: IP strategy, licensing, cap tables, non-dilutive funding, customer discovery, and university relationships.
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Avoid critical mistakes: Identify common legal and operational red flags that derail early-stage deep-tech startups.
Featured Speakers
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Charles Lespérance | Partner, Celesta Capital (Former Co-Founder, BDC $200M Deep Tech Venture Fund)
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David Goldman | Partner, Celesta Capital (Expert in deep-tech transactions, strategy, and startup growth)
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Jean-Nicolas Delage | Partner, Emerging and High Growth Companies, Osler (Expert in IP strategy, standardization, and FRAND licensing for emerging deep-tech ventures)
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Jacob Young | Partner, Emerging and High Growth Companies, Osler (Advises startup and early-stage tech founders on corporate governance, venture financing, and exit strategies)
Event Snapshot & Agenda
Format: Half-Day Event @ Edmonton Unlimited (Main Programming in AM, Office Hours in PM)
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8:30 AM – 9:15 AM | Arrival & Coffee Get settled and connect with fellow University of Alberta researchers.
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9:15 AM – 9:30 AM | Event kickoff Opening remarks by EU
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9:30 AM – 10:30 AM | Keynote Presentation (Celesta Capital): From Lab to Startup. The Celesta team will walk you through the most critical early-stage decisions
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10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Break
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11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Partner Session (Osler): Practical mechanics for technical leaders. Osler will lead a deep dive into the IP, legal, financial, and growth strategies essential for scientific startups.
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12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Networking Lunch & Main Event Wrap-Up Open networking for all attendees. (The general event concludes at 1:00 PM).
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1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Transition Break
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1:30 PM – 5:00 PM | Interactive Office Hours 1-on-1 feedback sessions for selected participants with Celesta Capital and/or Osler.
Who Should Attend: University of Alberta-affiliated researchers, faculty, PIs, and post-docs seriously exploring scientific entrepreneurship.
About Celesta Capital
Celesta Capital is a venture capital firm built by global deep tech operators. Since 2013, we’ve backed the foundational technologies that unlock every major technology wave: semiconductors and hardware systems, vertical AI platforms, and bio-convergence. Founded by Silicon Valley veterans who’ve built, scaled, and exited major global technology companies, today we bring that operating experience to support deep tech founders from breakthrough to global scale.
Our team has founded 40+ businesses, served as founder-CEOs of 11, and generated 600+ patents. With offices in Silicon Valley, Bangalore, and Montreal, we invest across the U.S., Canada, and India, and back compelling companies wherever our network reaches. Celesta has more than $1.1B+ in AUM and 110 global investments to date. Learn more at https://celesta.vc.
Note: Photography and video recording will occur at this event for promotional purposes. Please notify reception upon arrival if you wish to opt out.