Montreal, June 9, 2026 – Two years after announcing their collaboration to create a structuring model of entrepreneurial development in clean technologies, 2 Degrés and Cycle Momentum today reach a decisive milestone with the creation and financing of the first two companies from the Lab-à-Startup program: Boréa Aquatech and BeNat.
This announcement marks a concrete advancement in the deployment of the program and constitutes a first tangible demonstration of its capacity to transform innovations into viable, structured companies ready to deploy on the market.
Launched in 2024, the Lab-à-Startup program aims to fill a blind spot in the ecosystem by accompanying the transition from research to market. By relying on a collaborative model bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs in residence and ecosystem partners, the initiative makes it possible to structure from the outset high-growth and high-impact companies, anchored in real market needs.
“Two years ago, we officially announced the Consortium with a strong ambition: to deploy a collaborative model capable of transforming innovations into viable companies. Today, with the creation of Boréa Aquatech and Benat, we are reaching a major milestone for the Lab-à-Startup program, which constitutes proof that by bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs and partners, it is possible to transform an idea from research into a company ready to deploy on the market. The adventure is only beginning!” – Alexandre Guindon, CEO and founder of 2 Degrés
“The creation of Borea Aquatech and Benat concretely demonstrates the relevance of the Lab-à-Startup model: structuring from the outset innovations from research to make them companies capable of responding to real industrial needs. At Cycle Momentum, we believe that it is by closely bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs and partners that we can accelerate the market launch of high-impact solutions and build the technological champions of tomorrow.” – Patrick Gagné, President and CEO of Cycle Momentum
Two major innovations to accelerate the ecological transition
Boréa Aquatech
Boréa Aquatech develops a sustainable solution for shrimp farming in indoor farms, based on an innovative approach validated with Université Laval. Founded in 2025, the company aims to transform aquaculture through a circular, high-performance and low environmental footprint model. It thus addresses the current challenges of the sector, particularly the environmental impacts of traditional production methods.
“At Boréa, we want to offer Quebecers a new local, fresh and gourmet culinary option. Shrimp, often imported and frozen, can be rediscovered with more freshness, transparency and pleasure. Produced under the right conditions, it also represents a sustainable protein. Thanks to Lab-à-Startup and Université Laval, we are building a new generation of aquaculture, rooted here, in innovation and the taste for good products.” – Valérie Robitaille, founder and CEO of Boréa Aquatech
BeNat
BeNat valorizes industrial residues to produce innovative supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), thanks to a technology developed by Prof. Ammar Yahia and Mojtaba Kohandelnia, PhD at the Université de Sherbrooke. This solution makes it possible to replace up to 40% of cement in concrete, reduce its carbon footprint by more than 50% and improve the productivity of concrete manufacturers by reducing hardening time.
“At BeNat, we are developing cementitious materials to tackle two major challenges: climate change and the housing crisis. Our materials display a significantly lower carbon footprint than cement and are competitive in terms of costs, but above all, they improve productivity and reduce the costs of prefabricated concrete. By unlocking the full potential of prefabricated and modular construction, our innovations make it possible to accelerate construction sites and make construction more affordable.” – Navi Cohen, co-founder and CEO of Benat
Beyond the creation of these first two startups, this announcement reinforces the credibility of the Lab-à-Startup model and confirms its potential to generate a pool of clean technology companies capable of responding to current environmental and economic challenges.
About Lab-à-Startup
The Lab-à-Startup program helps researchers transform their innovations into viable and promising companies in the clean technology sector. Drawing on the expertise of seasoned entrepreneurs and close collaboration with academic, industrial and municipal partners, it makes it possible to deploy pilot projects that accelerate the transition from laboratory to market. Lab-à-Startup is an initiative of the Clean Technology Consortium, carried jointly by 2 Degrés, Cycle Momentum and IVÉO.
The Lab-à-Startup initiative is made possible thanks to the support of the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy, as well as that of the Fonds du Grand Mouvement de Desjardins, a strategic partner of Cycle Momentum within the framework of this initiative.
To know more: https://cyclemomentum.com/program/lab-to-startup/
