Creative Destruction Lab
Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School has partnered with Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), a nonprofit venture growth program aimed at scaling early-stage technology companies.Quick Links
About the Program
Creative Destruction Lab is an elite mentorship program connecting early-stage founders with world-class mentors to commercialize and scale deep-tech breakthroughs.
CDL creates a “Market for Judgment” by cutting out the noise and ruthlessly prioritizing a venture’s path from lab to market. CDL minimizes common early missteps and dramatically accelerates the timeline to scale.
Recognition
Creative Destruction Lab has been named one of America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026 by TIME and Statista!
Creative Destruction Lab’s Global Network
The CDL Experience
An exclusive opportunity for Mays Business School students to step directly into the room where high-stakes business decisions are happening in real time. CDL-Texas is a masterclass in venture building.
Why Get Involved in CDL-Texas?
- Exposure to Breakthrough Tech: Get an exclusive, insider view of deep-tech startups building industry-disrupting innovations.
- Witness Incredible Business Judgement: Observe industry leaders, investors, serial entrepreneurs, and top scientists evaluate commercial viability, dissect business strategies, and provide high-stakes, actionable guidance in real time.
- Behind-the-Scenes Deliberations: Gain a front-row seat as mentors identify signal vs. noise and evaluate risk to determine which ventures advance to the next session.
- Strategic Career Insights: Build practical understanding of commercialization pathways from both a business and investor lens.
Keys to Venture Growth
Sessions
Highly structured, full-day discovery periods where all ventures, mentors, and students engage in activities to facilitate the sharing of ideas/information, screening of technology/teams, and setting of objectives. Session days take place every two months at Mays Business School.
Sprints
Eight-week periods where ventures, with support from student teams, focus on achieving key objectives outlined by mentors.
Screening and Selection
Ventures are rigorously and repeatedly evaluated by CDL prior to entry and by mentors during each session-sprint cycle to drive competition. Only the top performers advance.
Opportunities for Students
Housed in the Center for Applied Entrepreneurship and Innovation, CDL-Texas offers a wide range of pathways for students eager to launch a startup, join an early-stage venture, or invest in deep-tech. Student opportunities range from attendance at a session to internships for course credit.
Invest in Your Future
Participating in the CDL-Texas program is designed to build the hands-on skills, competencies, and compelling stories you need to stand out in job interviews, internships, and future careers.
Each CDL program year:
Creators, Innovators and Entrepreneurs Wanted
Join CDL-Texas and immerse yourself in a world-class innovation ecosystem—where visionary students collaborate with pioneering entrepreneurs to transform bold ideas into real-world impact.