Innovation UBC

Meet Shayan Narani — Founder & CEO of Cement Dioxide and Venture Founder alumnus.

Shayan's venture, Cement Dioxide, produces high-strength, low-emission concrete for the construction industry. Using bio-derived byproducts and carbon capture and utilization techniques, their approach reduces CO₂ emissions by 50–100% — making durable, high-performance concrete a more sustainable choice for infrastructure development.

On Shayan's experience in Venture Founder:

💬 "Venture Founder was my first real exposure to entrepreneurship. The program gave me the tools to study my market, connected me with industry, and walked me through the full journey from idea to launch. What stood out most was the program team, who are genuinely supportive and committed to creating a space where students can explore whether entrepreneurship is right for them, without pressure."

Ready to build your venture? Applications for Venture Founder Fall 2026 close May 31.

🔗 Apply: https://innovation.ubc.ca/Apply-for-Venture-Founder-Fall-2026

Venture Founder is Innovation UBC's 16-week entrepreneurship program designed for UBC researchers commercializing a discovery and students ready to build a startup.

Not sure if Venture Founder is for you? Join an info session on May 8, 15, or 27.

Applications for Climate Change and Wellbeing Education Grants are open! 🌱

UBC Vancouver and Okanagan faculty members can now apply for up to $6,000 in funding to integrate climate change and wellbeing content into existing undergraduate or graduate courses.

These grants support the development of new course materials, consultation workshops, and teaching resources that explore the connections between climate change and human health and wellbeing, while using wellbeing-supportive approaches in the classroom.

Deadline: June 5

Learn more and apply: sustain.ubc.ca/cweg

Innovation in motion at UBC! Check out what’s new across the innovation ecosystem ⬇️

𝗧𝘆𝗱𝗿𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 $𝟭.𝟮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀
https://techcouver.com/2026/04/14/tydra-labs-raises-1-2m-to-turn-waste-into-biomaterials/

𝗨𝗕𝗖 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀
https://innovation.ubc.ca/news/april-04-2026/water-science-and-sovereignty-ubc-research-brings-clean-drinking-water

𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗕𝗖'𝘀 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟭 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝗯 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝘃𝗲𝗿
https://innovation.ubc.ca/events/innovation-ubc-web-summit-vancouver-2026

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮'𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/science/in-a-b-c-industrial-zone-a-new-link-forged-in-canadas-crucial-lithium-supply/article_abdabffd-607d-5f26-bc6d-53aac8167ced.html

𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻𝘆𝘅 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀 $𝟭.𝟮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀
https://betakit.com/carbonyx-raises-1-2-million-to-turn-mining-waste-into-usable-materials/

𝗨𝗕𝗖 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆
https://innovation.ubc.ca/news/april-04-2026/ubc-researchers-aim-deliver-earlier-warnings-toxic-drug-supply

𝗟𝟮𝗠 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵
https://www.lab2market.ca/validate-foundations

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Heading to Web Summit Vancouver? Don't miss the Tech Advantage Tours at The University of British Columbia on May 11! 🚀

These curated, small-group campus tours showcase how UBC translates world-class research into scalable, real-world solutions. Designed for companies considering expansion or investment in the region, you'll tour cutting-edge labs, meet researchers, and network with emerging UBC spin-out companies.

Choose your focus:
🧪 Life Sciences Tour: Transforming Healthcare for Global Impact (very few seats remaining)
⛏️ Mining & Critical Minerals Tour: Next-Generation Mining Innovators 🌱 Cleantech & Renewable Resources Tour: Scaling Cutting-Edge Solutions

Engage directly with researchers and ventures demonstrating UBC's strength in building innovation ecosystems, accelerating commercialization, and generating measurable health, environmental, and economic impact.

Spots are extremely limited. Register now! ➡️ https://ow.ly/R8Am50YvpWp

Invest Vancouver Invest Vancouver is an economic development leadership service provided through Metro Vancouver Regional District to position the region for success in a rapidly evolving global economy.

Canada's food system is at a crossroads. What's next? 🌱

Join us at Feeding the Future: Doubling Down on Canadian AgTech Innovation on May 13 as industry leaders and UBC researchers make the case for investing in technology that supports the long-term success of our food system.

Growers and food processors face mounting challenges — climate change, extreme weather, rising supply chain costs, and trade uncertainty. Canadians want a stronger local food system that's sustainable and prepared for the future.

Meet the Panelists:
- Pamela Ambriz, VP of Projects and Transformation, Vitalus Nutrition Inc.
- Tyler Groeneveld, CEO, Protein Industries Canada
- Dr. Tianxi Yang, Assistant Professor of Food Science, UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems

Moderated by Dr. Sumeet Gulati, Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems

📅 Wednesday, May 13 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM
📍 Climate Innovation Zone, Vancouver Convention Centre

Learn more: https://innovation.ubc.ca/events/innovation-ubc-web-summit-vancouver-2026

Meet Dr. Sabrina Nurmohamed — Co-Founder of CheckMark and Venture Founder alumna.

Her team is rethinking how we catch skin cancer. CheckMark brings dermatologist-reviewed skin imaging to pharmacies, giving patients faster answers about potentially cancerous spots. Benign cases are reassured quickly, while suspicious lesions are expedited directly into the healthcare system — cutting wait times and catching cancer earlier.

On what the Venture Founder program changed for her:

💬 "The candid feedback from experienced mentors pushed us to think bigger while staying practical. We left the program not just with a clearer strategy, but with tangible momentum — clearer opportunities, stronger partnerships, and the confidence to execute."

Inspired? Applications for Venture Founder Fall 2026 close May 31.

Apply: https://innovation.ubc.ca/Apply-for-Venture-Founder-Fall-2026

Venture Founder is Innovation UBC's 16-week entrepreneurship program designed for UBC researchers commercializing a discovery and students ready to build a startup.

Not sure if Venture Founder is for you? Join an info session on May 8, 15, or 27.

University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University are taking the stage at Web Summit Vancouver! 🚀

Join us for the University Power Pitches at the Climate Innovation Zone on May 13 as the next generation of university startups showcase breakthrough innovations in Agritech and Cleantech to investors, industry leaders, and policymakers from around the world.

Come and meet our startups, cheer them on, and vote for your favourite People’s Choice !

📅 Wednesday, May 13, 2026
🕑 1:00 – 2:00 PM
📍 Climate Innovation Zone, Web Summit Vancouver

Learn more: https://innovation.ubc.ca/events/innovation-ubc-web-summit-vancouver-2026

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Find out if Lab2Market Validate Foundations is for you! ⬇️

📌 What is it?
A free, three-day virtual program.
June 1, 3, and 5, 2026.

📌 Who should apply?
Open to researchers (Undergrads, Masters, Ph.D., and Postdocs) and faculty in Canada. No prior business experience needed.

📌 What do you gain?
- Foundational commercialization frameworks
- A peer community of researchers and innovators
- Pathway to Lab2Market Validate — $10K stipend opportunity

📌 How to apply:
Apply via ECU's Shumka Centre by May 11, 2026: https://innovation.ubc.ca/lab2market-validate-foundations
Program dates: June 1, 3, 5 (virtual, free)

🔗 RSVP to an Online Info Session:
- April 29 11:30-12:30 PST: https://luma.com/hhmztt68

Do you have an idea with commercial potential in the defence or dual-use space? Lab2Market Validate – Defence will help you test it.

This September, the Lab2Market Validate Defence cohort offers tailored programming and coaching for graduate researchers to explore the commercial potential of defence and dual-use technologies. Participants will engage directly with customers, validate market needs, and assess commercialization pathways.

As part of the program, participants will also attend DefSec Atlantic 2026 (October), with travel, accommodation, and registration fully covered. This includes participation in an in-person cohort event featuring specialized seminars focused on commercialization in the defence and dual-use sectors, along with networking opportunities with industry leaders and experts.

📌 Program participants receive:
- Opportunity to assess product–market fit
- World-class curriculum delivered by innovation leaders
- Access to best-in-class advisors and industry experts
- Fully funded travel and registration to DefSec Atlantic 2026
- In-person defence commercialization seminars and networking
- $10,000 in funding

📌 Eligibility:
Lab2Market Validate – Defence Cohort is open to graduate researchers (Master’s, PhD, and Postdoctoral fellows) from Canadian universities and colleges seeking to commercialize research-based ideas in the defence or dual-use space.

📅 Application deadline: May 1, 2026

🔗 Apply here: https://www.lab2market.ca/validate

Have a discovery to commercialize or a startup idea you're ready to build?

Applications are now open for Venture Founder Fall 2026, Innovation UBC's 16-Week Entrepreneurship Program.

Whether you're a researcher bridging the gap from lab to market or a UBC student ready to pressure-test your business idea, Venture Founder gives you the structure, expert mentorship, and founder community to define and validate your venture opportunity and begin building real traction.

🗓 Applications close May 31
🔗 Apply using the link in our bio

Not sure if Venture Founder is for you? Join an info session on May 8, 15, or 27.