Lab2Market Validate Foundations

Validate Foundations is a free three-day online intensive training program aimed at providing researchers (faculty, students, recent graduates) with a comprehensive understanding of the process and best practices for taking research from lab to market.

Developed as part of the national Lab2Market (L2M) initiative, the program introduces core approaches to early-stage validation, including identifying problems, understanding users, and testing assumptions.

Through a series of facilitated online sessions over three days, Validate Foundations provides a structured space for participants to reflect on their work and consider where it might exist beyond academic or studio settings. Participants work through practical exercises, group discussions, and guided frameworks, applying concepts directly to their own projects, research, or areas of interest.

Upon completion, participants will possess the knowledge necessary to bring their ideas to the marketplace and strategically position their projects to align with various opportunities within the ecosystem including Lab2Market’s Validate program, incubator and accelerator programs, and public innovation grants.

The Summer 2026 cohort of Validate Foundations is delivered by ECU’s Shumka Centre for Creative Entrepreneurship as part of the L2M Pacific Hub co-led by UBC and SFU.

Program Objectives

Participants will:

Learn how to identify and frame real-world problems and opportunities
Develop early skills in customer discovery and user research
Test assumptions and explore potential applications of their work
Gain insight into pathways beyond academic or studio-based outcomes

Validate Foundations also serves as an entry point into the broader Lab2Market pathway, with opportunities to continue into advanced programs such as Validate and Launch.

Summer 2026 Program Details

Dates: June 1, 3, 5, 2026
Format: Online via Zoom (live sessions)
Duration: 6 hours across 3 days
Cost: Free

Eligibility

Validate Foundations is open to students, faculty, and researchers affiliated with Canadian post-secondary institutions including artists, designers, and creative practitioners working within or alongside academic contexts.

No prior experience in entrepreneurship or commercialization is required.

How to Apply

Click to apply for Validate Foundations Summer 2026. Deadline for applications is May 11, 2026.

Interested in applying but have questions? Join one of the two virtual Q&A sessions to learn more about the program and ask questions before applying: