Halifax, NS (August 14, 2025) — Dal Innovates, in partnership with ShiftKey Labs and Lab2Market, is pleased to announce the launch of AI2Market, a new AI-focused entrepreneurship program that focuses on training more students in AI and entrepreneurship, while creating more and better scalable AI driven enterprises.
As artificial intelligence transforms how businesses are built and scaled, AI2Market is positioning students in Atlantic Canada at the forefront of this shift.
“Students participating in the AI2Market program will be equipped with both AI fluency, critical thinking, and the entrepreneurial skills necessary to transform their ideas into market-changing innovations,” said Jeff Larsen, assistant vice president, innovation and entrepreneurship at Dalhousie University. “These innovators are not just preparing for an AI-driven economy; they will be actively driving the future of AI innovation in Atlantic Canada.”
AI2Market is being launched in response to a new kind of venture emerging in the global market, what Paul Cheek, senior advisor, entrepreneurship & AI at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, refers to as AI-Driven Enterprises (AIDEs). Cheek, along with Larsen, recently wrote about AI-driven entrepreneurship and how a handful of people trained in AI can create enormous value quickly and this is reshaping assumptions about what it takes to build a successful company.
‘AI-driven’ goes far beyond simply adding ChatGPT to a customer support desk To qualify as a true AIDE, a company must integrate AI deeply across the entire business—from company formation and product development to go-to-market strategy and day-to-day operations. i
Together, Larsen and Cheek illustrate how regions like Atlantic Canada, with educated entrepreneurs and internet access can spawn high-impact startups, with the limiting factor becoming knowledge and skills rather than venture capital. Regions that invest in entrepreneurship education and training founders – teaching not just business basics but also modern skills like AI utilization, agile development, critical thinking and global market strategy – can empower their local talent to build globally competitive AIDEs.
AI2Market program applications are slated to open this August, and programming begins in October. The program is open for any students in any faculty. The program is designed to empower students with little technical knowledge to develop the basic AI skills needed to thrive in today’s world.
AI2Market is designed to accelerate innovation and drive commercial success through AI adoption in Canada by helping students unlock the full market potential of their ideas. Open to students from any university or college in Atlantic Canada, AI2Market mirrors the nationally recognized Lab2Market entrepreneurship program and unfolds in three stages: Discover, Validate, and Launch.
Program participants will learn to integrate AI deeply across all areas of business, from company formation and product development to go-to-market strategy and day-to-day operations.
The suite of programs offers:
"As a soon-to-be graduate of Computer Science at Dalhousie University, I am excited to see AI2Market as an offering to students in Atlantic Canada. Combining AI skills with innovation and entrepreneurship training will provide an exciting opportunity for students to explore their ideas – whether they are AI-based or using AI to move faster,” said Vansh Sood, a fourth-year computer science student, student ambassador for ShiftKey Labs, and co-founder of Bean, an AI solution to simplify cooking and meal prep.
AI2Market was developed in response to a seismic shift in how companies have been transformed by AI. AI enables small teams to create massive impact with unprecedented speed and efficiency. Whether students want to launch a business or build career readiness for AI-driven enterprises, this program is designed to help them thrive.
Dal Innovates provides opportunities for students and faculty to explore entrepreneurship and develop the skills to translate ideas into innovations. Since 2020, over 1.200 students and faculty from 25 colleges and universities across Canada have participated in Dal Innovates programs. Dal Innovates alumni have gone on to raise $20 million in private and public funding. Empowering participants to build and contribute to successful ventures, its programs support every step of their venture journey—from identifying market needs and building prototypes to sourcing investment and securing patents. Dal Innovates is led by Dalhousie University, and for more information visit www.dalinnovates.ca
ShiftKey Labs is an innovation-focused “hub” located in Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Computer Science that introduces post-secondary students to applied innovation at the earliest stages. Participants have access to workshops, networking events, material resources, and supports that help build practical, transferrable skills in high demand by current and future employers. Entrepreneurially minded students gain additional access to mentorship and financial supports specifically aimed at advancing potential startup ideas. Learn more at www.shiftkeylabs.ca
Lab2Market envisions Canada as a global leader in transforming academic research into innovative solutions that drive social impact and economic growth. As a national beacon for innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship, Lab2Market empowers students, researchers, and highly qualified personnel through specialized training that bridges the gap between research and real-world applications. Funded by the Government of Canada, Mitacs, and the Ocean Startup Project, Lab2Market draws inspiration from leading programs such as I-Corps and MIT Delta V (U.S.), ICURe (U.K.), and the Quebec Scientific Entrepreneurship Program. Learn more at www.lab2market.ca
Natalie McMullin
416.931.6002
Associate Director, Marketing and Communications
Dal Innovates, Dalhousie University
