Capital BioVentures Launches ASCENT26: Accelerating Canada’s Next Therapeutic Breakthroughs

OTTAWA, Ontario — Capital BioVentures (CBV), a Canadian biotech accelerator supporting the growth of early-stage life sciences companies, today announced the launch of ASCENT26, the second cohort of its ASCENT program. Nine Canadian therapeutics companies have been selected to participate in the six-month virtual program, which provides targeted support to navigate critical development, corporate, and financing milestones.

“Our inaugural ASCENT cohort provided an incredible opportunity to engage with therapeutics companies across the country, and dive into the challenges and opportunities they face at this early stage of development,” said Dr. Jeff Smirle, Executive Director at Capital BioVentures. “The progress we’ve seen from these companies, including their transition into RIDGE, reinforces the importance of providing focused, therapeutics-specific support at the right time. With ASCENT26, we’re excited to build on that success with another exceptional group of Canadian companies as they prepare for their next value inflection points.”

ASCENT26 combines expert-led sessions, workshops, office hours, one-on-one executive coaching, strategic investor engagement and tailored feedback. The curriculum is organized across three core areas — Corporate Development, Product Development, and Financing & Operations, and is designed specifically for pre-seed and seed-stage therapeutics companies. ASCENT26 will culminate with an in-person pitch event on February 1, 2027, giving participating companies an opportunity to present their businesses and connect with investors and industry leaders.

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“The program provided a solid foundation for Atorvia to advance scientifically, obtain tailored expertise, prepare to fundraise, and ensure corporate readiness for future growth,” said Jane Lapon, CEO of Atorvia and member of the inaugural ASCENT cohort. “The attention to detail is outstanding and, being specifically tailored for therapeutics companies, it delivers in ways other programs simply cannot.”

ASCENT26 is supported, in part, by the Government of Canada through funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).

Together, the ASCENT26 companies represent a diverse cross-section of Canada’s emerging therapeutic innovation ecosystem, spanning multiple provinces and scientific approaches.

is a not-for-profit wet-lab accelerator located in Ottawa that offers early-stage funding and resources to Canadian companies. The organization provides access to specialized drug and corporate development professionals, as well as high-quality laboratory space, equipment, and non-dilutive funding.