Creative Destruction Lab
Facts
- HQ
- Toronto, Ontario, CA
- Sectors
- Venture Capital and Private Equity Principals
- Founded
- 2012
- Employees
- 722
Stoke Space CEO Andy Lapsa says he might not have started the rocket company in Washington today, citing politics, schools and tax proposals
Stoke Space CEO Andy Lapsa said he and his co-founder might not choose Washington state if they were starting the fully reusable rocket company today, citing a hostile political climate toward successful founders, insufficient state support for startups, struggling public schools, and proposed wealth taxes. He made the remarks during a keynote at a Seattle Space Week event urging Washington to do more to retain and attract next-generation founders.
ModernVivo uses AI to analyze millions of animal studies, cutting literature review from weeks to minutes
ModernVivo, a Seattle startup, uses AI to scan millions of published animal studies and related data to help researchers design preclinical drug experiments faster, reducing literature review time from weeks to minutes and aiming to improve experiment quality while using fewer animals.
Neuramill founders Nistha Mitra and Nick Khormaei build software to capture retiring machinists' know‑how; win six‑figure defense contract
Neuramill, founded last year by Seattle-born engineers Nistha Mitra and Nick Khormaei, is building software that captures veteran machinists' tacit knowledge to generate manufacturing plans for aerospace and defense shops. The startup has early traction including a six-figure contract with an unnamed prime defense contractor and pilot users such as Diamond Machine Works, VTN Manufacturing and Astranis.
TIME Ranks Northwestern’s The Garage No. 5 as 1 of 21 University-Linked Incubators on America’s 80 Best List
TIME’s inaugural list of America’s 80 Best Incubators and Accelerators includes 21 programs with university ties—five in the top 10—highlighting resources that connect MBA students to broader campus innovation ecosystems. Northwestern’s The Garage ranks No. 5, has supported 1,500+ startups that raised $1.6 billion and engaged about 2,000 students annually.
Lev names startup veteran Jay Bartot as CTO to build its ‘AI co-founder’ and productize PSL playbook
Lev, a Pioneer Square Labs spinout building an 'AI co-founder' for entrepreneurs, named veteran startup builder Jay Bartot as CTO to help productize the venture-studio playbook and launched Lev Learn, a free guide to startup terminology.
CoMotion announces Startup Spotlight at Seattle Tech Week featuring 25 UW and CoMotion-affiliated startups
Seattle Tech Week’s Startup Spotlight, hosted by CoMotion with Plug and Play and Creative Destruction Lab–Seattle, showcased 25 UW- and CoMotion-affiliated startups demonstrating innovations across AI, biotech, climate tech, fintech, robotics, and more. The expo highlighted lab-to-market progress from founders addressing challenges like PFAS destruction, drug discovery, autonomous systems, and financial inclusion.
Elizabeth Liu announces Crowd Cow-sponsored WTIA Seattle Tech Week BBQ Throwdown: Team Startup wins 1st place again
Crowd Cow sponsored WTIA Seattle Tech Week BBQ Throwdown with Creative Destruction Lab where Team Startup — three founders — won first place again, beating teams of angels and VCs.
Creative Destruction Lab Seattle Accelerator Graduates 17 Startups, Raising Over $330M Since 2022
Creative Destruction Lab's Seattle accelerator, based at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business, graduated 17 early-stage startups in its fifth cohort since 2021. These startups, specializing in advanced manufacturing and computational health, have collectively raised over $330 million in venture funding since 2022.
From Startup to Exit Podcast: A Conversation with Nick Huzar
Brought to you by TiE Seattle Hosts: Shirish Nadkarni and Gowri Shankar Guest: Nick Huzar Producers: Minee Verma and Eesha Jain Nick Huzar is the co-founder and former CEO of OfferUp for more than a decade. He is currently operating as a board director, brand evangelist, and advising the CEO on strategic projects. Nick's experience lies in building two-sided marketplaces from the ground up. Through this, he has raised over $380M in financing from leading investors including A16Z, TRowe, Tiger, Allen.co, GGV, Coatue, and more. He is currently focused on simplifying the complexity around climate change via my weekly video…
Transforming Science and Technology for Humankind, Emer Dooley, CDL
The Creative Destruction Lab: Connecting Innovation with Impact In this episode, Emer Dooley, site lead for the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) at the Foster School of Business, University of Washington, discusses the CDL's mission to commercialize deep tech startups for the benefit of humankind. She elaborates on CDL’s mentoring program, which pairs high-caliber mentors with promising startups in the fields of computational health and advanced manufacturing, to guide them through critical objectives over a nine-month period. Emer also explains the program's unique funding model, the process of selecting and nurturing startups, and CDL’s significant impact on the Seattle innovation ecosystem…
Uncommon Thinkers 2025: Solar spacecraft, sci-fi biology, destroying PFAS, beyond AI chatbots, and better social media
On this special episode of the GeekWire Podcast, recorded backstage at the GeekWire Gala at the Showbox Sodo, we sit down with five of the inventors, scientists, and entrepreneurs selected as the Seattle region's 2025 Uncommon Thinkers, in partnership with Greater Seattle Partners. Jeff Thornburg spent years building rocket engines for Elon Musk at SpaceX and Paul Allen at Stratolaunch. Now, as CEO of Portal Space Systems, he's moved past chemical rockets to revive a concept NASA studied decades ago but never pursued — a spacecraft powered by focused sunlight. He calls it a "steam engine for space." Read the…
How OfferUp Took Over America
Nick Huzar, co-founder of OfferUp, shares how a simple idea to clear space for his newborn turned into a $40 billion marketplace used by half the U.S.—and how his next company, Juicer Energy, is reimagining EV charging and circular economies for the future. Start your application to WSU: https://admission.wsu.edu/apply/ Learn more about our other programs: https://business.wsu.edu/degrees-majors/
Nineteen Startups Graduate from Creative Destruction Lab’s Seattle Accelerator, Raising Over $190 Million Since 2022
Nineteen startups graduated from the Creative Destruction Lab’s nine-month accelerator program in Seattle, hosted at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. The cohort includes companies from manufacturing and computational health sectors, and CDL-Seattle startups have collectively raised at least $190 million since 2022.
Seattle Startup Community Foundations Doubles Capitol Hill Space, Plans Bellevue Expansion to Support Growing Members
Seattle startup community Foundations, founded by Aviel Ginzburg, is doubling its Capitol Hill office space and planning an expansion in Bellevue to support its 236 members, including 55 founders-in-residence. The community offers a no-equity, no-fee environment that helps startups grow together, with recent graduates choosing to remain engaged as the program evolves.
Innovation in Turbulent Times: Voices from the GeekWire Awards
Recorded live at the 2025 GeekWire Awards in Seattle, this episode features industry leaders navigating a shifting tech and political landscape. Amid celebrations of AI breakthroughs, startup milestones, and community-building, guests discuss deeper concerns: capital flight, regulatory headwinds, and what the region needs to retain its innovation edge. Featured on the show: Ambika Singh, founder and CEO of Armoire (Workplace of the Year winner) Joseph Williams, Washington State Department of Commerce (Public Policy Champion for Innovation) Emer Dooley, Creative Destruction Lab, University of Washington (Geeks Give Back honoree) Laura Ruderman, CEO of the Technology Alliance Aviel Ginzburg, co-founder at Foundations…
GeekWire Honors Aviel Ginzburg, Chaitra Vedullapalli, and Emer Dooley for Building Seattle’s Tech Community at 2025 Awards
The 2025 GeekWire Awards honored Aviel Ginzburg, Chaitra Vedullapalli, and Emer Dooley for their efforts in strengthening Seattle's tech community through inclusive initiatives and startup support. The awards ceremony recognizing nearly 50 finalists will take place on April 30, 2025, in Seattle.
Seattle Opens AI House and Foundations Startup Hubs Amid Growing AI Ecosystem
Seattle launched two new startup hubs, AI House and Foundations, to support its growing AI ecosystem, hosting events with notable figures like venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and Mayor Bruce Harrell. These hubs aim to foster collaboration and growth within Seattle's burgeoning AI startup community.
Seattle's Foundations Launches Founder-in-Residence Program Without Equity Requirement for Early-Stage Startups
Seattle-based startup community Foundations has launched a new Founder-in-Residence program designed to support early-stage founders without requiring equity. The program offers mentorship, accepts companies at various development stages, and operates on a rolling basis with a typical six-month participation.
CDL-Seattle Leader Departs After Raising $200M for Startups, Joins Accenture Strategy in Seattle
After leading the CDL-Seattle deep-tech startup mentorship program for over three years and helping founders raise nearly $200 million, the author is leaving to join Accenture's Strategy organization in Seattle.
Pack Ventures partners with University of Washington, raises $30M fund to back UW founders
Pack Ventures, an independent VC fund, has formalized a partnership with the University of Washington and CoMotion to support UW-affiliated startups, launch its second fund, and is raising $30 million with over 50 investors so far. Founder Ken Horenstein says the fund will lower investment barriers for alumni, attract faculty and students, boost philanthropy, and he has pledged up to 2% of his personal proceeds to the UW.
Seattle Tech Week Returns July 29 with Focus on AI Innovation and Healthcare, Backed by Madrona Ventures
Seattle Tech Week returns starting July 29, featuring panel discussions and networking events centered on AI innovations and healthcare advancements in the Seattle tech ecosystem, coordinated by Madrona Ventures and other sponsors. The event highlights Seattle’s strong presence in AI and biotech sectors with sessions led by local tech giants, researchers, and startups.
Creative Destruction Lab Seattle Graduates 17 Startups from Manufacturing and Computational Health Cohort
Creative Destruction Lab's Seattle accelerator, launched in 2021 and funded by UW and Microsoft, graduated 17 startups focused on manufacturing and computational health from its latest cohort of 40. The 9-month program features no equity taken, milestone checkpoints, and support from over 70 Pacific Northwest mentors.
From Startup to Exit Podcast: A Conversation with Nick Huzar
The location of this episode on YouTube has updated to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFqAfG8L_bE&list=PLqH2XogpwLRmYvCCxOj-W-eOAlCrhrk7i Brought to you by TiE Seattle Hosts: Shirish Nadkarni and Gowri Shankar Guest: Nick Huzar Producers: Minee Verma and Eesha Jain Nick Huzar is the co-founder and former CEO of OfferUp for more than a decade. He is currently operating as a board director, brand evangelist, and advising the CEO on strategic projects. Nick's experience lies in building two-sided marketplaces from the ground up. Through this, he has raised over $380M in financing from leading investors including A16Z, TRowe, Tiger, Allen.co, GGV, Coatue, and more. He is currently focused…
The founding of OfferUp, a conversation with OfferUp founder Nick Huzar
Send us Fan Mail Today, we have invited Nick Huzar, the co-founder and former CEO of OfferUp for more than a decade. He is currently operating as a board director, brand evangelist, and advising the CEO on strategic projects. Nick's experience lies in building two-sided marketplaces from the ground up. Through this, he has raised over $380M in financing from leading investors including A16Z, TRowe, Tiger, Allen.co, GGV, Coatue, and more. He is currently focused on simplifying the complexity around climate change via my weekly video podcast @ www.stufftv.org. Additionally, he will ride anything with a board (wake surf, skate…
Nick Huzar Q&A On Marketplace Metrics To Track At The Early Stages
Highlight clip from the recording of the Everything Marketplaces Group Chat #136 (7/25) with Nick Huzar, who's the Founder & former CEO of OfferUp. OfferUp is the largest mobile marketplace in the US for buying & selling items from others nearby. They've also raised over $380M+ in venture capital from top investors like a16z, Coatue Management, GGV Capital, and more. Full recording: https://youtu.be/pyC0-PM6ofA Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickhuzar OfferUp: https://www.offerup.com Join other marketplace founders & all of our group chats: http://www.everythingmarketplaces.com
People
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Emer Dooley Site Lead
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Henry Albrecht Mentor, Computational Healthcare
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Jay Bartot Startup Mentor
