DMZ2027 deadline, funding, equity and how to apply
Toronto Metropolitan University's incubator, founded in 2010. 18-month Incubator with no fees and a small equity stake. Applications open year-round.
- No cash investment
- Funding
- ~2.5%
- Equity
- 18 months
- Program length
- Dates TBA
- Applications
About DMZ
DMZ is the startup incubator of Toronto Metropolitan University. It opened in April 2010 as the Digital Media Zone and took the DMZ name in 2015. It sits in downtown Toronto above Sankofa Square.
DMZ focuses on venture-backable, software-driven startups. UBI Global ranked it the top university-based incubator in the world in 2018, shared with SETsquared in the UK. Its main program is the Incubator, an 18-month program for startups scaling up and preparing to raise capital.
DMZ charges no fees and takes no board seats. Instead it uses an equity model. DMZ Ventures, a for-profit company owned by the university, holds a stake in each Incubator company.
5% equity in exchange for in-kind services. Any returns go back to the university to fund DMZ. Cohorts are small, at no more than 10 companies, and start twice a year in spring and fall.
Applications are open year-round, and the next intake is the Spring 2027 cohort. Startups can join in Toronto or virtually. For earlier teams, the 9-month Pre-Incubator focuses on first sales and includes a chance to pitch for $25,000.
25 billion.com.
What DMZ looks for
DMZ focuses on venture-backable, tech-driven startups, mostly software. The Incubator is for companies that already have traction and want to scale and become investor-ready. The Pre-Incubator is for earlier teams turning traction into revenue. Founders must stay engaged, attend check-ins and mandatory mentoring sessions, and take part in events. DMZ has dedicated programs for underrepresented founders, including Black and women founders, and a PropTech stream with GroundBreak Ventures.
How the DMZ program works
The Incubator runs 18 months and onboards companies twice a year, in fall and spring. Each cohort has at most 10 companies. Onboarding includes a cohort kickoff, desk space at DMZ Toronto, a Milestone Meetup with peers, a goal-setting session with a Program Lead and an advisor, and speed meetings with Experts-in-Residence.
During the program, founders get one-on-one mentoring in product, sales, marketing and HR, internal pitch reviews, investor meetings, founder talks and workshops. In-house fractional legal counsel through the Startup Legal Support Centre helps cut legal costs. DMZ's international network supports expansion abroad.
Members must attend regular check-ins and mandatory mentoring and planning sessions. At the end, companies graduate at a Milestone Meetup and join the alumni network for life. The 9-month Pre-Incubator runs two intakes a year, virtually or in person, and focuses on closing first customers.
How to apply to DMZ
- 1Choose the Incubator if you are scaling and preparing to raise, or the Pre-Incubator if you are still closing first customers.
- 2Apply online on the DMZ program page. Incubator applications are open year-round.
- 3If selected, take a screening call with the DMZ team.
- 4Go through deep-dive sessions and due diligence interviews.
- 5Accept the formal offer, agree the equity terms and join the next spring or fall cohort kickoff.
Startup perks after acceptance
Accelerator startups qualify for most startup credit programs. These are the ones founders claim first.
Notable DMZ alumni
Companies that went through or were backed by DMZ.
DMZ vs similar accelerators
| Program | Funding | Equity | Location | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMZ | No cash investment | ~2.5% | Toronto, Canada | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Creative Destruction Lab | No cash investment | No equity | 17 sites including Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Seattle, London, Paris, Berlin, Melbourne | Next deadline not announced yet |
| Wayra (Telefónica) | Up to $5.8M | Minority stake | Madrid | Rolling admissions |
| EIC Accelerator | Up to $2.9M | None on grant | EU | November 4, 2026 (8 days left) |
| PearX | Up to $2M | ~7% | San Francisco Bay Area | Rolling admissions |
| Dreamit Ventures | Up to $1.5M | Not published | New York | Rolling admissions |
DMZ FAQ
When is the DMZ application deadline?+
DMZ has not announced its next deadline yet (Spring 2027 Incubator cohort; applications open year-round). We check the official site every month and update this page when dates are published.
Does DMZ take equity?+
Yes. DMZ uses an equity-based model instead of charging fees. DMZ Ventures, owned by Toronto Metropolitan University, holds a stake in Incubator companies. When DMZ launched its 18-month Incubator in 2021, it said it would take up to 2.5% equity for in-kind services. DMZ says it does not take board seats, and returns go back to the university.
Does DMZ give funding?+
The Incubator does not include a cash investment. Its value is mentoring, legal support, workspace, perks and access to more than 3,000 investors and mentors. The Pre-Incubator includes a chance to pitch for $25,000, and some partner programs give grants, such as Backing Canadian Small Businesses with $10,000 grants from Amex Canada.
Can I join DMZ remotely?+
Yes. The Incubator is offered at DMZ Toronto with a virtual option, and the Pre-Incubator can be done virtually or in person. In-person members get a designated desk at DMZ in downtown Toronto. DMZ also has partner sites, including DMZ Caledon, launched with the Town of Caledon.
Sources: dmz.torontomu.ca, dmz.torontomu.ca, dmz.torontomu.ca, dmz.torontomu.ca, dmz.torontomu.ca, en.wikipedia.org