Creative Destruction Lab (CDL)

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Program Overview

The Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a seed-stage program for massively scalable, science and technology-based companies. The program employs an objectives-based mentoring process with the goal of maximizing equity value creation.

The selected CDL ventures are supported by a class of our MBA students working with the venture founders to develop financial models, evaluate potential markets and fine-tune strategies for scaling over the course of the program. In support of the ventures, CDL students participate in two courses (one in Fall and one in Winter) - focusing on new venture financing, marketing and markets, strategy and early-stage venture operations.

Course Information

The CDL program split into 2 parts:

Part 1: FIN 657 New Enterprise Finance
New Enterprise Finance is designed to help students learn about venture formation, development of a viable business model, early-stage financing, and management of massively scalable ventures through a series of close interactions with early-stage technology companies and their potential mentors and investors ("G7 Fellows and Associates").
Part 2: FIN 658 Creative Destruction Lab
Advanced Seminar in Venture Development; Creative Destruction Lab - Rockies combines the application of financial and entrepreneurial theory and analysis to the development of new ventures, focusing on developing an effective scale-up model, establishing effective governance structures, negotiating with venture capitalists, and developing an exit strategy.

Program Benefits

If chosen to participate in this program, students will:
  • Deepen their entrepreneurial knowledge through the course content
  • Learn first-hand from wildly successful serial entrepreneurs
  • Receive hands-on coaching from Venture Leaders
  • Work directly with the founders of the ventures to deliver real-world impact
  • Discover potential opportunities to secure employment with venture companies

How to participate

Students are required to apply to participate in the CDL-Rockies course.  Details on the application process and answers to frequently asked questions are available on our student page.

CDL Student Application