Organization · Community
CELS - Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Science
CELS is a non-profit organization based in California that supports Canadian life science companies in commercializing and scaling their innovations in the US, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Overview
What CELS - Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Science does
What CELS - Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Science is
CELS is a non-profit organization based in California that supports Canadian life science companies in commercializing and scaling their innovations in the US, particularly in the San Francisco Bay Area.
How it participates in the startup ecosystem
The current public profile supports community capabilities. Each capability below is shown separately so organization identity and role-specific information do not get conflated.
Operational profile
Organization status and context
Organization status describes the entity itself. Funding and program availability appear within the relevant capability profile.
- Operational status
- Active
- Organization type
- Community
- Founded
- Founded in 2017
- Approximate age
- About 9 years
- Structured capabilities
- Community
- Last reviewed
- April 2, 2026
Official channels
Find CELS - Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Science elsewhere
Open the official website or a supported primary organization account.
Capability profile
CELS - Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Science as a community
Community overview
Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Science (CELS) is a California non-profit organization founded in 2017 by a group of Canadian expatriates and residents. The organization is dedicated to empowering and supporting Canadian life science companies in their efforts to commercialize, scale, and raise capital in the United States.
Community focus
CELS focuses on supporting Canadian life science startups, particularly those in the pre-seed to Series A stages. The organization aims to facilitate connections between these companies and the Bay Area life science community, helping them navigate the competitive landscape of Silicon Valley. CELS provides access to funding sources, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
Member value
Members gain access to funding sources, mentorship, and networking opportunities, which are crucial for navigating the competitive landscape of Silicon Valley.
Membership
- Pricing models
- free
Format and cadence
- Modality
- in-person
- Schedule
- cohort-based
- Commitment
- moderate
Availability
- Membership state
- Accepting
Audience and fit
- Audience
- Founders · Investors
- Benefits
- mentorship and network-access
- Program types
- accelerator and community
- Selection criteria
- application
- Stages
- Pre-seed · Seed · Series A
- Sectors
- Biotech & Life Sciences
- Regions
- North America
Community activity
Events and activity
CELS organizes various events to support Canadian life science entrepreneurs, including the Canada in the Valley Showcase, which connects high-potential Canadian startups with U.S. investors and industry leaders. The showcase features presentations, networking opportunities, and discussions with key speakers from the life sciences sector.
Notable members
CELS has a notable alumni network that includes various innovative companies in the life sciences sector such as Awake AI, BioMimir, HyIvy, Tatum Bioscience, and many others.
Common questions
What to know about CELS - Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Science
Upseed classifies CELS - Canadian Entrepreneurs in Life Science under the Community organization type. Its current public profile includes community capabilities.
Source and update disclosure
Know what this page is based on
Source basis
Public organization and program material, official websites, and structured Upseed records.
Last reviewed
April 2, 2026
Known limits
Capability profiles appear only when a structured public profile also contains decision-useful role evidence. Terms and availability can change.
Upseed is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the organization described on this page.