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The ultimate founder-focused roadmap for Toronto Tech Week 2025

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The ultimate founder-focused roadmap for Toronto Tech Week 2025

This year, Toronto is going all out to support home-grown tech. If you’re a founder attending this year’s Toronto Tech Week, you probably know that which events you attend and how you plan ahead can truly make or break your overall experience. 

Toronto Tech Week isn’t just another series of socials, it’s a launchpad for new connections, partnerships, insights and opportunities to scale. Whether you’re looking to raise, scale, hire or simply learn, the right game plan can make all the difference.

At DMZ, we know what founders need because we work with them every day. That’s why we’ve created a founder-first checklist to help you maximize every minute of Toronto Tech Week.

Your founder’s checklist to getting Toronto Tech Week ready.


Scan your socials.

You’ll be making new connections fast, so make sure your LinkedIn and other public profiles highlight your most recent wins. Pin your company website and key links to the top so people can learn more after they meet you.

Refine your pitch.

Would you buy what you’re selling? Make sure to practice your elevator pitch that communicates what you’re building clearly and confidently.  Bonus points if you have a shareable pitch deck or one-pager you can share with them on the fly! Check out our step-by-step guide to nailing a pitch deck here.

Prepare your calendar.

To get the most out of your week, plan ahead but don’t overpack your schedule. Leave room for impromptu meetings and the kind of unexpected conversations that often lead to big breakthroughs. Think about your goals: Looking to connect with investors or learn from seasoned founders? Your calendar should reflect your priorities. Make sure to check out the full calendar of events. Here are a few we’ve got our eye on:

  • TechTO’s Off the Record exclusively for tech founders who are building. They’re sharing behind-the-scenes truths from founders with $30M+ in average revenues. ​​Learn from those who’ve scaled to learn what it really took to get there.
  • Together with BDC Thrive Venture Fund, our Women in Tech Breakfast will spotlight women founders who are pushing the boundaries of AI. Leaders from Private AI, Monark and NextGen Sound will share how generative AI is redefining product development, customer acquisition and more. 

 

Scout out speakers and fellow attendees. 

Know who’ll be in the room before you walk in. You never know who you can bump into. Insightful questions and thoughtful connections go a long way—especially with potential partners or investors. A little research can turn a casual intro into a meaningful conversation that opens doors long after the week wraps.

Be ready to follow up.

What you do after the event is just as important as during. Great conversations deserve more than a forgotten LinkedIn request. Set aside time in the days following to reconnect with the people who stood out: the investor who asked a sharp question, the founder whose journey resonated or the potential customer who showed interest. Pro tip: jot down a few keywords or context after each interaction so your follow-up feels personal, not transactional.

Growth doesn’t happen overnight and neither do the best connections. Toronto Tech Week is your chance to plant the seeds that will fuel your next chapter. Show up curious. Be intentional. And carry that same energy back into your business long after the week wraps.

We’ll see you out there—building, connecting and making moves.

DMZ has your back beyond Tech Week. Our Tech Talk Newsletter shares founder insights, events and opportunities—straight to your inbox. Subscribe at dmz.to/techtalk.

 

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.

How Humi empowers founders at DMZ: Early-stage essentials and HR support

DMZ has always been more than just a workspace for Kevin Kliman, co-founder of Humi – it’s where transformative connections happen. As DMZ emerged as Toronto’s entrepreneurial hotspot in 2014, Kevin crossed paths with his future co-founder Matt Loszak. And that new connection would lead to the creation of one of Canada’s leading HR tech companies.

Today, Humi is giving back to the ecosystem where it all began – becoming a Partner-in-Residence at DMZ and offering comprehensive payroll, HR, and tech solutions to local startups.

“DMZ is a leader in Canada when it comes to building community for early-stage tech entrepreneurs,” says Kevin. “Our ambition is to bring this type of partnership to communities across Canada, so starting with DMZ made perfect sense.”

Humi’s platform enables founders to focus on growth

For early-stage startups, managing HR and payroll processes can be a significant drain on resources. That’s why Humi launched their Innovation Partner Program at DMZ – helping to eliminate HR issues so founders can focus on what matters most: building their business.

“In the early stages of building a company, there are certain things that you should spend time on and certain things that you shouldn’t have to,” Kevin explains. “The regulatory nuances around employing people is not where a company should be spending their time. And so we provide them with our platform for free to start, giving them the ability to spend their time on other things.”

Humi offers DMZ companies free access to their platform for the first year. Startups that take advantage of Humi’s additional services, such as health benefits or SR&ED tax credit support, can continue using the platform at no cost.

Beyond HR Software: Humi’s Comprehensive Support System

Humi’s services extend beyond just providing HR software. The company has integrated additional features into its platform that are crucial for startups, including:

  • SR&ED tax credit support, leveraging the employment data already in their system to streamline the application process
  • Health benefits administration that integrates seamlessly with their platform
  • Comprehensive payroll management tools
  • Employee onboarding and documentation systems

Woman sitting down looking at laptop
“A lot of startups tend to accrue organizational debt early on because they accidentally run things in ineffective ways, like sidestepping contracts or not tracking vacation time,” Kevin notes. “So if we can help entrepreneurs to reduce the risk and hardship of employing individuals, I think that’s a massive win.”

Our Mutual Commitment to Canadian Innovation

Humi focuses on serving small and medium-sized businesses in Canada, which aligns perfectly with DMZ’s mission of amplifying the success of startups. Humi’s platform is designed for businesses with up to 500 employees, specifically targeting companies that form the backbone of local communities.

“What makes Humi particularly awesome is that our customers are part of our community,” says Kevin. “We work with businesses that have an impact in the cities and towns where we live. Making employment better for people across Canada. I love it.”

This enthusiasm was on full display during Kevin’s recent visit to DMZ Innisfil, where a brief visit evolved into an impromptu “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session with regional entrepreneurs. The mix of businesses in attendance – from tech startups to local restaurants – highlighted just how diverse the entrepreneurial spirit is in smaller Canadian communities.

“There were so many startups that weren’t standard tech businesses,” reflects Kevin. “You could see common themes emerging across different experiences and challenges, and the entrepreneurial energy was so positive. It doesn’t matter whether you’re building an app or running a burger joint – at the end of the day, it’s about the culture of people building something meaningful.”

How You Can Connect with Humi through DMZ’s Community

Beyond providing their platform, Humi actively engages with the DMZ community through:

  • Regular office hours with founders
  • Event sponsorships, including DMZ’s annual Women Innovation Summit
  • Mentorship sessions across Canada, including DMZ Innisfil
  • Partnerships and founder support initiatives


For Kevin, this involvement is about giving back to the type of community that supported his own growth: “I’ve spent a ton of time with early-stage entrepreneurs. For years, I’ve wanted to give back to the communities that have supported my success in the ecosystem. We’re at a scale now where we can activate these types of partnerships, which is really amazing.”

DMZ companies interested in learning more about Humi’s platform and services can reach out to their DMZ Program Lead for more information about accessing these benefits.

Want access to game-changing perks like Humi’s HR support? Apply to DMZ’s Incubator program and give your startup the edge it needs to grow.

Meet five innovators redefining Canada’s housing market

With skyrocketing rental prices, delayed construction and a lack of affordable community housing, Canada’s housing landscape is in urgent need of a shake up. Fortunately, entrepreneurs from across the country are stepping up to tackle these challenges head-on through CMHC’s Housing Supply Challenge.

While their approaches vary, these companies share a common mission: to make housing more sustainable, accessible and affordable for all Canadians. From reimagining construction workflows to creating affordable, eco-friendly communities, their efforts are paving the way for a better future.

Let’s meet the changemakers from the CMHC Housing Supply Challenge who are transforming Canada’s housing market.

One Bowl: Transforming housing for first nations communities.

One Bowl is a First Nations-led social enterprise dedicated to creating culturally appropriate, affordable and high-quality housing solutions for First Nations communities.

By working directly with communities, housing managers and councils, One Bowl serves as a collaborative partner, ensuring every project reflects the unique needs and traditions of the people it serves. Beyond housing, One Bowl is committed to driving economic growth, offering skills development and training and empowering First Nations entrepreneurship. Their mission is simple: provide high-quality homes and build a better future together with First Nations communities.

Promise Robotics: Revolutionizing construction with AI.

Promise Robotics is transforming how homes are built using AI-powered robotic systems, making construction more efficient and affordable. Launching in Summer 2025, its new 60,000-square-foot Calgary facility will produce up to 1,000,000 square feet of housing annually.

This expansion is built on the success of their Edmonton facility and Factory-as-a-Service (FaaS) platform, helping builders scale production with AI-driven robotic tooling. Their approach addresses significant challenges in the construction sector, such as labor shortages and stagnant productivity. By automating tasks, Promise Robotics accelerates the building process while enhancing precision and quality. 

Ratio.City. a division of Esri Canada: Empowering smarter housing decisions.

Ratio.City, a proud DMZ alumni, is a cutting-edge platform designed to equip real estate developers, architects and urban planners with the data and tools they need to make informed decisions.

Their solution addresses the common challenges of early-stage planning, such as identifying viable land parcels and navigating complex zoning regulations. By integrating essential data and visualization tools into a single, user-friendly platform, Ratio.City simplifies the planning process, helping users assess project feasibility and move forward with confidence.

Tapestry Community Capital: Unlocking community investment for housing solutions.

Tapestry Community Capital empowers non-profits, charities and co-operatives to fund housing projects by raising low-cost capital through community bonds.

They’ve worked with some of Canada’s largest social enterprises, providing the expertise needed to plan, launch and manage successful community financing campaigns. Their platform and consulting services help housing providers tap into local support, ensuring they can access financial resources to create community-driven housing solutions.

If you’ve ever wandered through Kensington Market to explore its bakeries and eclectic shops, you’ve experienced a neighbourhood preserved by community finance. With Tapestry’s support, the Kensington Market Community Land Trust (KMCLT) raised over $1 million from 165 investors to purchase and preserve affordable housing and commercial space. 

UTILE: Redefining student housing.

UTILE is a social economy enterprise dedicated to creating sustainable, affordable housing for Canadian students. By leveraging modular construction and innovative financial models, UTILE develops scalable solutions that reduce pressure on urban rental markets while promoting academic success and well-being.

Their energy-efficient designs and use of durable materials ensure a minimal environmental footprint, making student housing a catalyst for community development and a sustainable future.

Are you addressing critical issues in Canada’s housing market?


Check out DMZ’s Centre for Housing Innovation at dmz.to/CHI for more details on its accelerator program and training opportunities for housing professionals, manufacturers and entrepreneurs.

Oh Canada: How we’re fighting for homegrown innovation

U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on all Canadian products. And while we brace for economic turbulence, we need to be prepared for what’s coming—it’s going to be tough. In fact, it’s going to get worse before it gets better.

This will impact all Canadians, but from where we sit at DMZ, our tech sector is at serious risk and this will undoubtedly be a moment of reckoning. Canada has world-class talent and technology—now more than ever, we need to bet on Canadian-made tech and ensure that our innovation, jobs and IP stay right here at home.

Launching the Oh Canada Tech Directory, by DMZ.

DMZ is stepping up to support Canadian founders and SMEs by making sure founders have the tools, visibility and advocacy they need to thrive in this shifting economic landscape.

The Oh Canada Tech Directory, by DMZ will serve as the go-to web page for governments, ministries, universities and businesses to find the best Canadian tech companies to meet their needs. Launched today, the directory will offer: 

  • A directory of Canadian tech companies, simplifying procurement for businesses, policymakers and ecosystem builders by connecting them to companies with Canadian ownership, headquarters and intellectual property.

Courses for founders to navigate tariffs.

DMZ is expanding its Skills Academy to equip founders with the skills needed to adapt and succeed. New courses will cover supply chain diversification, including strategies to source materials and partnerships domestically, international expansion and marketing in a tariff-impacted economy and more. 

Working with government to support Canadian made tech procurement.

DMZ is actively working with government and industry leaders to rethink procurement policies and prioritize Canadian-built solutions. The directory will be a go-to resource for policymakers and procurement teams to ensure they are choosing Canadian tech options.

We’re at a turning point. The decisions we make today will shape Canada’s future in the global innovation economy. It’s time to bet on Canadian tech—because when we invest in our own, we all win.

Founders, if you’re building Canadian software, apply now to be featured in the Oh Canada Tech Directory, by DMZ.  

Sports technology gets a power play: DMZ and FSL ramp up partnership

Sports technology is transforming the way we engage with the games we love. 

From apps that offer exclusive content to VR that puts you in the middle of the action, innovation is redefining the sports experience. And it’s not just deepening fan engagement – it’s also opening up new doors for athletes. Wearable tech is helping athletes track recovery and optimize performance, while other tools are leveraging performance analytics to reshape how coaches train their teams.

Across the board, sports tech is creating opportunities far beyond the playing field and the potential is massive. In fact, Canada’s sports tech market is projected to generate $1.44 billion in revenue by 2030. 

With the sports tech industry booming, innovative founders are eager to make their mark. To meet this growing demand, we’re building on our partnership with the Future of Sport Lab (FSL). Our goal? To provide sports entrepreneurs with the expertise, resources and opportunities to succeed in this fast-evolving market.

FSL: The ultimate launchpad for sports founders.

Since launching its incubator program in 2015 with help from DMZ, FSL has become the go-to destination for sports startups. Led by its Founder and Managing Director, Dr. Cheri Bradish, FSL offers mentorship from industry leaders, academics and investors from the Canadian sports ecosystem.

To date, FSL has supported 24 startups that have collectively raised over $100 million in funding. But don’t just take it from us.

“FSL played an instrumental role in supporting The GIST’s early-stage growth by providing us with education and access to a network of Canadian industry leaders. Their forward-thinking approach helped us identify key opportunities to expand our reach and refine our brand strategy, said Ellen Hyslop, Co-Founder of the GIST. “Their support validated The GIST’s credibility in the market and played a key role in our acceptance into the Techstars Comcast NBCU accelerator in Philadelphia, enabling us to expand our operations in the U.S.”

 

“Working with FSL has been truly impactful for our business. It’s the place to be for anyone in sports products or tech in Canada. Throughout programming, I had access to impactful programming and the opportunity to develop and pitch my business to the top leaders in Canadian sports,” said Tina Singh, Founder of Bold Helmets. “Through the contacts made in the program, I know I have the resources I need to continue to expand my product line. I am grateful to be part of the FSL family, and can’t wait to see what amazing things the next cohort achieves.”

How DMZ and FSL will fuel your sports-tech journey.

We’re doubling down on the resources and opportunities that matter most to founders. Here’s what’s coming to give sports-tech founders an even bigger edge:

Elite network: A curated community of top-tier sports-tech innovators. Our rigorous selection process ensures you’ll be surrounded by the best, gaining credibility to attract investors and partners while learning alongside peers who are redefining the game.

Best-in-class coaching: Hands-on mentorship tailored to the unique challenges of the sports-tech space. Our experts are here to coach you through every play, helping you overcome obstacles and scale your business.

Resources to win: Industry-leading mentors, workshops, coworking spaces and connections to industry leading partners like MLSE and Canadian Tire Jumpstart so you can focus on building your startup.

Bigger stages, louder voices: Showcase your startup on major stages like the FSL Summit, Toronto Tech Week and other industry pitch competitions. 

More women, more wins: More opportunities for women-led startups to make their mark in sports tech.

Fuel for growth: With DMZ Ventures’ fund and Relay Ventures in play, startups will have opportunities for investment to grow and scale.

Ready to take your sports-tech startup to the next level?

Canada’s sports-tech scene is booming, and the opportunities to grow are bigger than ever. As Canada’s only program dedicated exclusively to sports innovation, FSL – backed by DMZ – offers unmatched support to help founders scale.

Applications are now open for our 2025 cohort. Don’t miss out on your chance to shape the future of sports innovation. Applications close March 12, 2025. Interested in applying? Visit futuresportlab.com/apply. 

Empowering the next generation of women innovators

Women entrepreneurs are driving innovation, breaking barriers, and shaping the future of business. DMZ’s Women Innovation Summit is dedicated to celebrating and empowering these trailblazers by providing them with the platform, resources, and funding opportunities to thrive.

This year’s Summit will feature thought-provoking roundtables, the Women Innovation Pitch Competition, where women-led startups will compete for funding, and the recognition of DMZ’s Women of the Year award recipients.

Bringing this vision to life takes a strong community. That’s why we’ve brought together a Steering Committee of industry leaders, executives, and corporate partners. Their role is to ensure the Summit reflects the diverse voices and experiences of women in innovation while upholding an equitable and inclusive review process.

Before the Summit kicks off, we want to recognize the incredible individuals shaping this year’s event.

Meet DMZ’s 2025 Women Innovation Summit Steering Committee:

 

Janet Lin, Vice President, EQ Bank

headshot image of Janet LinA seasoned technology strategist, Janet Lin is passionate about innovation, digital transformation, and fostering diversity and inclusion in the tech and finance space. As a leader at EQ Bank, she champions initiatives that empower women entrepreneurs—not just at the Women Innovation Summit but year-round. EQ Bank’s commitment extends to supporting young women founders through DMZ’s Basecamp program, reinforcing their dedication to creating opportunities and celebrating the achievements of women in business. “As a Steering Committee member for the 2025 DMZ Women Innovation Summit, I am thrilled to help create an empowering space that recognizes the trailblazing women at the forefront of Canada’s innovation economy. Guided by the #InspireInclusion theme, our goal is to ensure the Summit embodies the inclusion and brilliance of women driving meaningful impacts in tech and innovation.”

 

Moshe Mikanovsky, Product Director, RootQuotient

headshot image of Moshe MikanovskyReturning for a second year on the Women Innovation Summit Steering Committee, Moshe Mikanovsky  is a dedicated mentor and product strategist committed to helping founders adopt a product-first mindset. With extensive experience in guiding entrepreneurs, he continues to play a key role in shaping the summit’s impact. “I am very excited to return to support this fantastic event, which highlights and boosts all women leadership in Toronto, Canada, and beyond. Seeing the amazing talent that took part last year, the extraordinary leaders and the companies they are building – but most importantly, witnessing the positive impact they are creating in the world. I am excited to be part of the steering committee again, learning about all this year’s nominees and the problems they are set to solve.”

 

Courtney Lee, VP, People, Humi

headshot image of Courtney LeeCourtney brings incredible expertise to the table, having made her mark as a key member of Humi’s executive leadership team. She focuses on nurturing a positive workplace culture and driving talent development, which is essential for any thriving organization.
“Humi proudly champions Canadian women-led startups, equipping them with the tools and resources necessary to accelerate their growth and elevate industry standards. We empower innovation through our integrated payroll, HR, SR&ED, and benefits solutions and stand behind the incredible women driving transformative change in Canada’s startup ecosystem.”

 

Rivannah Brown, Corporate Associate, Torys LLPheadshot image of Rivannah Brown

As a Corporate Associate at Torys LLP, Rivannah Brown supports emerging companies through key growth stages, including fundraising, equity structuring, cross-border expansion, and M&A. She also advises venture capital and private equity investors funding transformative technologies, positioning herself as a leader in advancing innovation across Canada’s tech ecosystem. Rivannah’s expertise makes her a valuable member of the Women Innovation Summit Steering Committee.

 

Sydney Rankin, Head of Growth, Profitual

headshot image of Sydney Rankin
With a passion for financial strategy, Sydney Rankin helps startups build clear, actionable financial models that drive growth. As Head of Growth at Profitual, she works closely with founders to strengthen their financial intelligence—an expertise that will be invaluable to this year’s Women Innovation Summit Steering Committee. “The path for women founders is often defined by persistent and significant challenges, from accessing capital to breaking into established networks. As someone who works every day to support founders in building clear, actionable financial models, I’ve seen how this support empowers them to raise capital with confidence and trust in their leadership and decision-making ability. I’m thrilled to participate in an event that celebrates the resilience and accomplishments of women founders while creating space for honest connections and learning.”

 

Alex Avendano, co-founder, newkid

headshot image of Alex AvendanoAs co-founder of newkid, a branding studio dedicated to fostering innovation, self-expression, and community, Alex Avendano is passionate about helping founders showcase their unique talents with confidence. She brings this same expertise to the Women Innovation Summit Steering Committee, where she works to amplify the voices and impact of women founders.
“The 2024 Women’s Innovation Summit was the first DMZ event I ever attended. It was incredible to be surrounded by so many intelligent, interesting, and driven founders. I knew I wanted to find a way to support them. Fast-forward to this year: newkid is moving into its second year as the DMZ’s branding-partner-in-residence. As a female founder myself, I’m excited to be part of an event that not only recognizes women, but also helps fuel their companies through connections, industry knowledge, and actual cash investment.”

 

 

Save the date! DMZ’s Women Innovation Summit returns on March 6, 2025. Visit dmz.to/wis25 to learn more and find out how you can get involved.

Growth hack: The ReInvestWealth and Hostaway playbook for smarter scaling

Growth isn’t just about scaling faster; it’s about scaling smarter with the right partners. ReInvestWealth and Hostaway are proving that with their innovative collaboration.

In the fast-paced world of startups, customer acquisition is always a challenge. Traditional inbound and outbound sales strategies require time, money and constant effort. And in a crowded market, standing out is harder than ever. 

That’s where startup-to-startup partnerships come in – an often underutilized strategy to tap into new audiences and drive growth without breaking the bank.

By teaming up with like-minded businesses, startups can leverage complementary strengths, create seamless solutions and deliver value to customers in ways that wouldn’t be possible alone.

What does this strategy look like in practice? We chatted with Behdad Karimi Dermeni, Co-Founder of ReInvestWealth, to explore how his company is taking this approach as ReInvestWealth becomes Hostaway’s first AI bookkeeping software partner – all while making financial management easier for property managers around the globe.

How this partnership fuels growth for ReInvestWealth

ReInvestWealth excels in simplifying accounting with AI-powered technology, while Hostaway helps short-term rental property managers handle listings, bookings and communication across multiple platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo and Expedia. 

With ReInvestWealth’s innovative accounting tools now integrated into Hostaway’s platform, property managers can automate tedious financial work, reducing manual labour and saving time. “The integration seamlessly syncs a Hostaway user’s revenue, expenses, and all other business transactions with ReInvestWealth, eliminating manual data entry entirely,” explained Dermeni.

For ReInvestWealth, this partnership is an instant gateway to Hostaway’s extensive customer base, which oversees over 100,000 properties worldwide.

By embedding their solution within Hostaway’s ecosystem, ReInvestWealth benefits from increased visibility and credibility with a targeted audience. “By integrating ReInvestWealth into existing ecosystems, we simplify financial management for users while efficiently expanding our reach,” said Dermeni. Together, they amplify their impact – a win for both companies and their users.

The win-win for Hostaway

While ReInvestWealth gains exposure and adoption, Hostaway also benefits significantly from this partnership – offering an enhanced value proposition to its property managers.

“Hostaway’s clients mainly struggle with tracking income from multiple booking platforms, reconciling expenses, and managing taxes. ReInvestWealth uses AI to seamlessly automate bookkeeping, categorize transactions and provide real-time financial insights, ensuring they stay compliant and maximize profitability,” Dermeni explained.

The integration solves major pain points for property managers, allowing them to focus on growing their rental portfolios rather than being bogged down by financial admin.

“Our goal is not just to save property managers an average of four hours per month on record-keeping, but also to boost tax deductions by 35%,” Dermeni explained.

By making property managers’ lives easier, Hostaway strengthens customer retention and satisfaction, proving that strategic partnerships don’t just drive growth – they also greatly enhance customer success.

Lessons for startups: How to leverage collaboration for growth

ReInvestWealth and Hostaway’s partnership offers a blueprint for how startups can scale smarter. But while introducing a product integration can offer a quick win-win, Dermeni explained a strong collaboration “requires clear value alignment, seamless user experience and active co-marketing.” Here’s what other startups can learn from his approach:

Find the right partner. Look for a company that serves a similar audience, but isn’t a direct competitor of yours. 

Prioritize real customer value. ReInvestWealth didn’t just integrate with Hostaway for exposure. Their solution removes a major financial management burden from property managers. The value is clear, which ensures strong adoption and retention.

Provide a frictionless experience. ReInvestWealth and Hostaway created a frictionless experience that made it easier for property managers to manage their finances, without having to think about it.

Champion the collab together. Co-market for maximum impact – the best collaborations include joint marketing efforts to drive new awareness and adoption.


The road ahead: more partnerships, more growth

For ReInvestWealth, adoption success in this partnership will be measured by user engagement, subscriptions and retention rates, with a goal of 15% adoption among Hostaway users within six months.

ReInvestWealth’s partnership with Hostaway isn’t a one-off – it’s a model for future expansion. “Through our collaborations with Ownr and now Hostaway, we’ve learned that the key to impactful partnerships lies in addressing real pain points at scale,” explained Dermeni.

The ReInvestWealth and Hostaway partnership is a powerful example of how startups can tap into each other’s expertise and customer bases to fuel growth. Thanks to a valuable referral through DMZ, ReInvestWealth and Hostaway were able to connect, setting the stage for a powerful partnership.

For startups looking to scale, the message is clear: don’t go it alone. The right partnership could be the key to unlocking your next stage of growth.

Learn more about the ReInvestWealth x Hostaway partnership: https://www.reinvestwealth.com/post/hostaway-accounting-connection-reinvestwealth-user-guide 


Applications for DMZ’s Incubator are open until February 25. Join an info session to learn more: dmz.to/apply

 

The words we use to talk about women entrepreneurs matter.

Five tips to transform the narrative around women’s impact in entrepreneurship.

Guest post by Liane Coulahan, Director of Marketing and Communications at DMZ

women entrepreneursWhen we talk about women in entrepreneurship, the words we use don’t just describe reality – they shape it. It shapes how a young woman imagines her potential, how an investor evaluates opportunity and how industries identify their next leaders.

So, as our marketing team sat down to plan for our annual Women Innovation Summit, we debated: How do we strike the right balance between acknowledging the real barriers women face and ensuring those barriers don’t overshadow their achievements or dominate the story? Are we doing ourselves a disservice by dedicating so much airtime to barriers?

This distinction matters, because how we talk about women in entrepreneurship influences how the broader ecosystem—like investors, partners and decision-makers—views women-led ventures. If the focus is always on challenges, it can unconsciously signal that women’s businesses are riskier or less viable. But by doubling down on straight-up facts like their wins, impressive pitches and measurable business results, we help shift mindsets and attract the support needed to accelerate progress.

Reframing the narrative.

This year, we’re putting more thought into the language we’ll use at our Women Innovation Summit. Yes, we will still acknowledge that big barriers exist, like women receiving just 4% of venture capital funding last year (yikes.) But… that won’t be the meat and potatoes of the story. 

Instead, we’ll follow up with something like, ‘Imagine the industries we’ll revolutionize as women capture their fair share of VC funding”. See the shift? If you’re working on projects in this space, this blog is for you. Let’s get into it:

Here are 5 subtle narrative shifts to reshape the conversation around women in entrepreneurship.


1) Focus on results, not just barriers.

Lead with the tangible outcomes women entrepreneurs are achieving, rather than focusing on the challenges.

  • Rather than: “Women face countless barriers when starting a business.”
  • Shift to: “Women-led startups deliver higher returns on investment compared to their male counterparts and drive faster growth than their peers.”

2) Highlight progress, not just gaps.

Only speaking to underrepresentation can make progress feel out of reach. It’s just as important to celebrate milestones.

  • Rather than: “Men are twice as likely as women to launch a business in Canada.” 
  • Shift to: “Canada has seen a steady growth in women-owned businesses, with women majority-owning 18% of all businesses in 2023, compared to 15% in 2017.”

3) Showcase solutions, not just problems.

Offer an inspiring call to action rather than only speaking to barriers.

4) Celebrate wins, not just struggles.

Center stories on the extraordinary impact women are making rather than only highlighting the obstacles they’ve faced.

  • Rather than: “Women are underrepresented in senior investment roles within venture capital.”
  • Shift to: “Women-led venture capital firms are driving groundbreaking investments, creating opportunities for the next wave of entrepreneurs.”

5) Show leadership, not just participation.

Show how women entrepreneurs are shaping policy, changing industry norms, and influencing the future.

  • Rather than: “We need more programs to bring women into entrepreneurship.”
  • Shift to: “Women entrepreneurs are influencing policy and reshaping industries to be more inclusive and innovative.”

Why this shift matters.

The truth is, the power of language is real. And how we talk about certain groups affects how they are perceived in our society. As International Women’s Day approaches, we have an opportunity to set a new standard. 

Instead of asking, “What’s holding women back?” Let’s ask, “What’s possible when women lead?” By celebrating women first and foremost as leaders, visionaries and trailblazers, we can hopefully begin to shift perceptions in the areas that affect women entrepreneurs the most. Women entrepreneurs

Join us at DMZ’s Women Innovation Summit.

This year’s Women Innovation Summit is all about spotlighting women in innovation and entrepreneurship. Whether you’re a founder, corporate leader, an ally or a supporter of women-led innovation, this is your moment to get involved. 

Head to dmz.to/WIS to learn how today.

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