Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) recently graduated a new group of early-stage companies from its Seattle program, which was launched in 2021. Unlike many accelerators, CDL does not take equity from companies and is funded by founding members such as the University of Washington and Microsoft. The CDL-Seattle program is 9 months long and enforces objective-based milestones for companies. If companies are not meeting certain standards, they are removed from the program. The Seattle hub is supported by over 70 mentors, including founders, investors, and leaders from the Pacific Northwest.
The latest cohort to graduate from CDL-Seattle included 40 startups that were chosen from nearly 300 applications. By the end of the program, only 17 companies remained. The focus of CDL-Seattle is on two sectors: manufacturing and computational health. The companies that graduated from the program include Cibotica, a food preparation robotics company from Vancouver; DraftAid, an automated fabrication drawing software developer from Toronto; and Enosemi, a silicon photonics company. Other graduates include Integrate, a collaboration and program management software startup from Seattle and Muse Engine, a small batch injection molding manufacturer from New Orleans.
In the computational health sector, graduates included 5 Prime Sciences, a drug development startup focused on human genetics from Montreal; CalmWave, a software developer focused on reducing noise in the ICU from Seattle; and Generable, a drug development startup building disease-specific models from New York. Companies still in stealth mode such as Accipiter Biosciences were also part of the cohort. CDL-Seattle’s program is unique in its emphasis on specific sectors and its stringent requirements for companies to meet certain standards throughout the accelerator program.
CDL-Seattle is a part of a larger network of startup accelerators, running a total of 13 programs worldwide. The program is designed to help early-stage companies grow and scale their businesses through mentorship, funding, and support from the local entrepreneurial community. With the graduation of its third cohort, CDL-Seattle continues to support innovation in the manufacturing and computational health sectors, helping companies develop their products and create value for customers. The program’s approach of setting objective-based milestones and checkpoints ensures that participating companies are meeting the necessary standards to succeed in their industries.
The CDL-Seattle program is supported by a diverse group of mentors, founders, investors, and leaders from various industries across the Pacific Northwest. This network of mentors provides valuable guidance and expertise to the participating companies, helping them navigate the challenges of building and growing a successful startup. By focusing on specific sectors such as manufacturing and computational health, CDL-Seattle is able to provide targeted support and resources to companies in these areas, helping them accelerate their growth and reach their full potential. The recent graduates of the program represent a diverse range of startups working on innovative solutions in their respective industries.
Overall, the graduation of the latest cohort from CDL-Seattle highlights the success of the program in supporting early-stage companies and fostering innovation in key sectors such as manufacturing and computational health. With the support of the local entrepreneurial community and a network of experienced mentors, CDL-Seattle continues to play a significant role in helping startups develop their products, scale their businesses, and create value for customers. The companies that have graduated from the program are well-positioned to succeed in their industries and make a positive impact on the world.
