Skip to Main Content
The Review

DMZ welcomes Incubator Cohort 9 companies

Announcements

Monthly Archives: May 2025

DMZ welcomes Incubator Cohort 9 companies

We’re proud to welcome the newest cohort of startups joining the DMZ Incubator: a bold mix of founders building solutions that challenge the status quo and push innovation forward.

Handpicked from hundreds of global applicants, these companies stood out for their vision, traction, and potential to disrupt industries.


Some highlights of this cohort: 

  • Proudly Canadian: Every startup is Canadian-built, with at least one founder based in Toronto, showcasing our continued commitment to supporting homegrown innovation.
  • Women-led excellence: Several companies are led or co-led by women founders, reinforcing our focus on backing diverse leadership in tech.
  • AI-powered disruption: Many companies in this group are leveraging AI to transform traditional sectors — from hiring and enterprise automation to music marketing and parking infrastructure.
  • Industry diversity: This cohort spans a wide range of sectors, including real estate, HR tech, music marketing, parking infrastructure, and enterprise SaaS, proving that Canadian innovation is anything but one-dimensional.

Over 18 months, these startups will receive tailored support to scale their products and grow their customer base, along with guidance to navigate global market entry. Founders will benefit from one-on-one mentorship with experienced entrepreneurs and operators and gain access to a trusted network of investors, legal experts, and professional advisors.


Meet the startups shaping the future of tech: 

 


ARKI is an AI-powered system of record that utilizes internal data to accelerate future construction projects.

NextGen Sound is an automated marketing platform that allows creators and teams to automate ads, build mini-sites, collect fan data, and run SMS/Email campaigns — all in one place.


Lighthouse uses advanced AI and NLP to instantly screen thousands of resumes, helping you to identify top candidates in seconds. Say goodbye to manual sorting and hello to faster, smarter hiring.


Loop Parking is revolutionizing the urban parking experience with the power of AI. Loop Parking uses real-time detection technology to identify parking occupancy and violations—streamlining enforcement, reducing traffic congestion, and driving smarter, more sustainable city living.

Ezofis

EZOFIS simplifies complex business workflows through an AI-infused, low-code platform that automates processes, accelerates innovation, and drives efficiency. We empower businesses to move beyond traditional limitations and turn ideas into outcomes—faster and smarter.

 

Get to know more about our Spring ‘25 cohort of startups by visiting DMZ’s Current Startups page. Are you an early-stage tech founder interested in growing your business? Learn more about how DMZ’s Incubator can help here. 

Pre-Incubator vs. Incubator: What founders really need to know about DMZ programs.

When you’re in the thick of building your startup, the last thing you need is more guesswork. So, if you’re eyeing DMZ’s Pre-Incubator or Incubator Programs and wondering which one’s the right fit—this breakdown is for you.

We’re giving you the founder-focused facts so you can make the call with confidence. In this blog we’ll go over:

  • What the ideal founder profile looks like for both programs
  • How the programs differ
  • Program perks and benefits

 

First things first: where are you on your startup journey?

You know those fun “Which character are you on Friends?” quizzes? This is kind of like that, but for your business. 

Which column sounds more like you right now? No wrong answers here, just different stages of the game.

So, how do the programs actually differ?

Now that you’ve got a sense of which founder each program caters towards, let’s break down what you’re actually signing up for. 

Here’s how the Pre-Incubator and Incubator stack up in terms of commitment, goals and focus.

What business perks can you expect? 

Here’s what you can expect from each program in terms of hands-on help and founder perks:

In the Pre-Incubator, you’ll get:

  • Permanent desk space at DMZ for 9 months
  • $500K+ in business savings (Google Cloud, Apollo and hundreds more)

In the Incubator, you’ll unlock:

  • Permanent desk space at DMZ for 18 months; alumni co-work discounts
  • $1M+ in business savings (Google Cloud, Apollo and hundreds more)

Both programs offer additional support for women and Black founders—think exclusive pitch opportunities, mentorship, funding guidance and elevated visibility through DMZ’s network. It’s not a side benefit—it’s built into the experience.


So, what’s the deal with equity?

We take a small stake, because we’re invested in your success.

DMZ doesn’t charge fees or take board seats. Instead, we take 2% equity for Pre-Incubator and 2.5% for Incubator. Why? Because we believe you’re building something big and we want to help you get there.

Any return we make is recycled back into our community. DMZ Ventures, our for-profit arm, holds our equity in trust and any proceeds are funneled back into founder support, supporting more entrepreneurs through Toronto Metropolitan University’s mission.

No strings. No profit motive. Just real skin in the game.

Wherever you’re at, there’s a place for you at DMZ.

Whether you’re refining your pitch or expanding into new markets, we’ve built these programs to meet you at your stage and push you forward.

 

If you’re testing, refining and landing early wins — learn more about Pre-Incubator here.

 

If you’re closing deals, scaling fast and eyeing investors — learn more about Incubator here.