The DMZ at Ryerson University, is one of Canada’s largest business incubators and accelerators for emerging tech startups. It creates an environment where startups can focus on scaling their business, and helps them by connecting with customers, advisors, influencers and other entrepreneurs.

The DMZ is ranked the number one university-based business incubator in the world by UBI Global in 2017/2018. It is much more than a workspace, its mission is to build a community of experts, influencers, entrepreneurs, advisors and customers to fuel startup success and put more Canadian businesses on the map.

The DMZ helps high-potential startups to grow and scale to world-class tech businesses. Its startups operate in an environment that supports success with access to investors, target customers, industry-leading experts and community events.

Since its launching in 2010, the DMZ has incubated over 340 startups, raised over $447 million in seed funding, and has fostered the creation of more than 3370 jobs.

The service offer of the DMZ contains an accelerator program focused on startup growth, and three pre-accelerator programs dedicated to beginning enterprises and entrepreneurs.

The DMZ Accelerator helps top startups to growth. Pre-accelerator programs help startups with a minimum viable product, build early sales, marketing and product development traction and prepare them for the growth accelerator. The pre-acceleration programs consist of DMZ Sandbox and DMZ Validator.

The DMZ Sandbox is a talent and startup creation program. It helps emerging entrepreneurs to refine their business idea and develop the skills necessary to build a strong foundation needed to build a leading and competitive Canadian tech business. The DMZ Validator is a market validation and traction program for already existing startups.

DMZ Accelerator

The DMZ Accelerator helps top entrepreneurs to go from startup to scale-up. The growth accelerator is an intensive four-month sales execution program, designed for high-potential tech startups looking to grow and scale their business. It features access to world-class mentors, result-driven programming and designated workspace in Toronto startup ecosystem. The accelerator program includes four major business areas: coaching, customers, capital, community.

Coaching

• Access to the best-in-class sales, growth and marketing experts who will work as part of the startup team, to guide strategic milestones for its business.

• Exclusive 1:1 coaching with experts in marketing, fundraising, product development, pipeline management and talent acquisition.
• A Program Lead dedicated to supporting the company’s weekly growth needs and requests.
• Founder/CEO peer-to-peer learning where founders learn from each other, share their best practices and hold each other accountable.

Customers

• Accessing growth opportunities and create a custom sales playbook that will increase customer acquisition, grow revenue and help startups secure strategic partnerships.

• Work with experts to boost sales, strategic partnerships, customer acquisition and retention and product positioning.
• Introductions to network of customers and corporate partners across North America.
• Direct access to prospective customers and partners in select U.S. markets through the annual DMZ Roadshow.

Capital

• Access to the DMZ global network of over 400 early-stage VCs and angel investors for funding and pitching opportunities.

• Contact with fundraising professionals to help startups find the right fundraising strategy, build a strong pitch deck and navigate the investment landscape for the next fundraising.
• Direct introductions to the DMZ network of North American investors and angels.
• Funding opportunities in select U.S. markets through the annual DMZ Roadshow.

Community

• Access to a unique community of advisors, partners and tech talent. Startups work in the heart of Toronto alongside other high-performing companies in a collaborative and competitive sales environment.

• Access to networking, speaking and demo opportunities at Canada’s largest tech and startup events.
• Access to a community of over 300+ industry-leading startup and later-stage founders who will share frequent validation, the best practices and startup growth advice.
• Support to help startups develop a winning talent acquisition strategy and build their team.

DMZ Sandbox - Talent creation

DMZ Sandbox workshops offer courses and training designed to empower tomorrow’s business leaders. They help from creating a lean business model, to designing the first website and they provide access interdisciplinary and hand-on opportunities to master skills in management, development and marketing. Main DMZ programs in this pre-accelerator area are: Entrepreneurship Clinic, FounderX, and Craft + Consult.

• Entrepreneurship Clinic. One-on-one drop in sessions for entrepreneurs looking to refine their business ideas and understand the fundamentals of the lean canvas model with help from seasoned DMZ and industry experts.
• FounderX. A tailored opportunity to shadow esteemed Canadian startup founders during a typical work day in order to gain hands-on mentorship and access to a broad open network.
• Craft + Consult. A six-week intensive training program to help aspiring consultants learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, technology and gain a comprehensive overview of the industry through industry insight.

DMZ Sandbox - Startup creation

DMZ Sandbox entrepreneurs have access to resources and mentorship opportunities that will help turn their innovative business ideas into a long-term business. Services include:

• Customers. Understanding the wants and needs of an ideal customer that is critical to building a successful business. Monthly workshops with leading experts who will help clients understand their customer and marketplace.
• Capital. Seminars and personal meetings with investors will help clients understand the investment landscape and how to raise capital. Selected applicants will also have access to the DMZ Sandbox Student Grant program.
• Community. Access to over 300 startups, founders and tech experts, networking events and free growth programming.
• Coaching. Program experts in marketing, product development, lean canvas business models and financing work closely with clients to help refine their business concept through bi-weekly detailed consultations.

Selection criteria

This pre-accelerator program is dedicated to emerging entrepreneurs who want to turn their business idea into reality. Interested applicants must have:

• An innovative business idea that utilizes technology to solve compelling industry problems
• At least one full-time founder dedicated to the business
• A driven, coachable and collaborative leadership team
• Established customer validation (market size, market trends, detailed customer interviews)
• An initial version of product markup
• An industry-leading solution and the potential to join DMZ’s pre-accelerator program or Ryerson’s Zone Network.

DMZ Validator

The DMZ Validator is a market validation and traction program. Over the course of 8 to 12 months, pre-accelerator startups have access to exclusive programming and work closely with experienced professionals. They have access to tailored services:

• Customers. Refine the product or service to meet the needs of customers through hands-on product development and market validation programming.
• Capital. Meet and network with leading VCs and angels to pursue funding opportunities and better understand what investors look for in a business.
• Community. Connect with North America’s top tech entrepreneurs to immerse yourself in a dedicated and tight-knit community comprised of peers, investors, advisors and partners who will help startups validate their product.
• Coaching. Work with the best-in-class mentors who have built scaled and sold businesses around the world. Access and work with experienced and well-connected entrepreneurs who are ready to help startups learn, test, connect, de-risk, adapt and grow.

Selection criteria

The DMZ Validator is intended for Canada’s most-promising and high-impact tech entrepreneurs who want to scale their business. Selection criteria are:

• A business dedicated to solving a compelling problem using innovative technology
• At least one full-time founder
• A driven, coachable and collaborative leadership team
• A product in market with paying customers
• The potential to grow and scale to join the DMZ growth accelerator.

The DMZ is located in Toronto. In this city's startup ecosystem, there is a highly-educated and globally-connected talent pool and a fine offer of support programs that foster innovation and collaboration. The DMZ works together with a world-class network of mentors, partners and startups. The worldwide partnerships span 70 international partners in 20 countries.

https://dmz.ryerson.ca