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

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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.

Beyond interest rates: How Metronome is changing the conversation on homeownership costs through budgeting

With interest rates projected to drop, the buzz around housing affordability is louder than ever. Most of the focus has been on the benefits lower mortgage rates bring to buyers, but the reality is that affordability doesn’t end with the mortgage for homeowners. It’s just the start.

Through its platform, Metronome helps homeowners and buyers calculate and understand what it truly costs to own a home and how to plan ahead. A shockingly 57% of homeowners say they would have approached buying a house differently had they realized the true cost of homeownership.

The reality is, lower rates might make homeownership feel more within reach, but the hidden costs that come after—including maintenance, property taxes, utilities and surprise repairs—can quickly turn a new home into a serious financial burden.

At DMZ, we’re committed to empowering startups that support Canada’s housing industry. From consumer technology that supports financial planning for homeowners to platforms that provide real estate developers with data to build faster, we believe strengthening our housing space will take innovation and startup solutions from across the board. 

How being house poor impacts more than just homeowners.

Being house poor creates significant challenges for the housing industry. Homeowners often feel stuck, unable to move for better jobs or lower living costs because they can’t afford the transition. At the same time, high demand for affordable housing drives up prices, pushing more buyers out of the market and increasing competition. This makes it harder for the industry to accurately address supply and demand, keeping affordability out of reach for many.

In Canada’s priciest markets, some folks are forking over up to 60% of their pre-tax income to keep a roof over their heads. Experts suggest not spending more than 30% of your income to avoid becoming house poor, meaning a ton of Canadians are seriously feeling the pinch. 

So, what actually comes after the interest rate?

This is where Metronome steps in. A DMZ Incubator startup, Metronome is rethinking how Canadians approach homeownership. By helping users forecast required replacements, maintenance, and repairs and the associated costs, the platform turns hidden expenses into manageable plans, giving homeowners confidence and control.

Homeownership isn’t just about mortgage payments—there’s the upkeep to think about too. Experts say you should budget 1–4% of your home’s value each year for maintenance, repairs, and replacements. For the average $800,000 Canadian home, that’s $8,000–$32,000 annually, on top of taxes, insurance, and utilities. 

As costs continue to rise, staying organized and proactive is key to protecting housing investments. Metronome’s centralized dashboard simplifies homeownership by empowering homeowners to: 

  • Stay organized: Securely store all your important home documents—warranties, receipts, insurance policies and more—so you always feel in control.
  • Plan ahead: Create a personalized maintenance plan to tackle upkeep tasks with confidence, avoiding costly surprises.
  • Save money: Get alerts for policy renewals and access competitive quotes to ensure you’re always getting the best rates.
  • Predict expenses: Gain a clear picture of your expected home-related costs for the next five years to budget effectively.
  • Protect your home: For as little as $700 a year, access protection plans that cover appliances, your furnace, AC, and more, preventing unexpected repairs from derailing your finances.


“Buying a home is exciting, but the first few years can be overwhelming with unexpected expenses and maintenance demands,” says Paul Crowe, CEO of Metronome. “Every home is unique, which is why generic budgeting advice falls short. Metronome provides tools, guidance, and predictive insights to take the guesswork, and the stress, out of homeownership.”Interest rate drops are exciting for buyers, but they’re only part of the story. The real conversation needs to include the hidden costs of owning a home and how we can make it easier for Canadians to navigate them.

We know innovation is key to tackling Canada’s housing challenges. Tech can streamline processes, create transparency and give everyone in the ecosystem better tools to make informed decisions. 

Want to learn more about how Metronome is making homeownership easier? Head to trymetronome.com.

 

Want to scale your startup with the same support Metronome is receiving? Check out DMZ’s Incubator program and see how we can help you grow. 

 

Five real-world problems that led to breakthrough business ideas

Behind every startup, there’s a unique story that showcases the grit, vision and creativity of its founders. From personal struggles to unexpected opportunities, these entrepreneurs have transformed their challenges into innovative solutions, shaping their companies along the way.

At DMZ, we’ve witnessed countless founders take their ideas from concept to reality, overcoming obstacles and creating impactful businesses. We wanted to profile five startups and highlight how these founders share one common trait: they identified a problem and had the tenacity to build something great to solve it.

From guitar strings to studio kings: How a musical gap year led to Soundspace.


Richard Anderson, Founder and CEO of Soundspace, is a prolific guitar player who knows exactly how costly it can be to pursue your passion. Before entering an MD-PhD neuroscience program, Richard decided to take a gap year at the Berkeley College of Music. He began looking for spaces to record his songs, but found the process extremely expensive for any solo artist. While chatting with studio owners, Richard identified a gap in the recording industry: high demand from creatives and low utilization of studio spaces.

His desire to bridge the gap by making creative spaces more accessible propelled him to create Soundspace. Built by a team of like-minded music buffs, Soundspace is available across the United States to book your next studio session, rehearsal or podcast.

Health hack hero: How giving women a smarter system for health, without sacrificing style, led to Loba. 


Kate Bouchard, Founder of Loba, transformed her personal struggles into a thriving business. After being diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome and uterine fibroids, Kate found herself juggling frequent visits to the doctor. Managing multiple medications and supplements with different dosages, she realized there wasn’t a practical or aesthetically pleasing, tech-enabled solution for organizing pills.

That’s when the idea struck her: women deserve a product that makes managing pills an enjoyable experience—without feeling like they’re pulling out grandma’s pill organizer. With her background in advertising and the support of healthcare professionals, Kate set out to create just that and Loba was born.

Data dreams: How tapping into corporate chaos founded SmartConcil.

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SmartConcil’s founder, Victor Salinas García, is a system engineer from Mexico with a long history of developing solutions for financial institutions. In 2017, one of Victor’s clients needed help with automated data consolidation. Surprised that a tool was not already out there, Victor saw an opportunity to build it himself.

After moving his company to Canada, he transitioned his service-based company to a product-focused startup. Today, SmartConcil is an internal auditor for mid-sized and large corporations to automate data collection, analysis and classification.

Out-of-office, not out of luck: How email woes inspired Snoooz.ai

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Snoooz.ai was born from a pivotal moment in Founder Chitresh Singh’s journey as a Customer Success Manager, where missing a single email nearly cost his team a $30,000 renewal. With multiple team members out of office, a frustrated client escalated the issue, pulling in executives and risking valuable relationships. This wasn’t just an operational oversight—it was a wake-up call.

Chitresh realized people shouldn’t have to choose between work and taking a break. So, he developed Snoooz.ai, an AI-powered email assistant that sends personalized, context-aware auto-replies and loops in designated team members on critical opportunities and escalations. Today, Snoooz.ai empowers hundreds of businesses across 60+ countries by delivering timely, personalized out-of-office email responses, seamlessly bridging the gap between personal well-being and professional success.

From career fair to founder: How a bold leap of faith paved the way for Talin


In his third year at Toronto Metropolitan University, Julian D’Angelo randomly stumbled upon a DMZ career fair. He met the CEO of Optimity, who a week later asked Julian to work for them as a sales representative. To everyone’s shock, Julian agreed and only took one university course a semester for six years to pursue a startup career. He then became the Head of Growth at Ross Intelligence and ran a fractional consultancy. During that time, Julian noticed one key challenge all startups faced: the inefficient and manual world of staffing.

This led to Julian taking the plunge to create Talin, an automation platform designed to streamline operations for recruitment agencies. Building Talin has shown Julian the highs and lows of the startup journey. From being stuck in his basement working side gigs to pay the bills, to raising $800k in a pre-seed round, Julian says that watching the Talin team grow is “the best feeling in the world”.


Looking to take the next step as a founder? Head to dmz.to/programs to learn more about what program is best for you.

Founders, here’s your 5-step solution for building bold brands with newkid

When newkid joined DMZ’s ecosystem in May, they had a clear mission: to help Canadian startups develop their brand identity in a way that makes an immediate impact. 

“After lots of success with startups from Silicon Valley, LA, and New York, it’s become more meaningful for us to contribute to tech from Canada,” says Matthew Donne, Founder and Creative Director at newkid. “We’re based in Toronto and want to work with communities making great things here, like DMZ, who are preparing startups to compete on the world stage.”

With their dynamic approach to storytelling and deep understanding of branding, newkid is an essential partner for DMZ founders who want to stand out in competitive markets. Here’s how they guide startups to build a strong brand identity, step by step.

1. The ‘newkid’ moment: Who are you?

The name ‘newkid’ comes from a feeling we all know too well – as the new person, full of excitement and nervousness, wondering: Am I going to be a nobody, or somebody?

For DMZ founders trying to make their mark, newkid helps them overcome these early-stage jitters by determining who they are as a young company. The first step is to capture their big ambitions in a simple, clear sentence. Because every brand needs to be memorable and easy to grasp – whether it’s for a potential investor, new customer or even their tech-inept mom.

2. Finding your purpose: Why are you here?

Knowing why your startup exists is just as important as the product you’re creating. Startups at DMZ can’t make progress without a purpose – and they need to have a clear understanding of the full scope of their target market, from investors and clients to customers and users.

newkid helps founders tell their story in a way that makes their audience immediately understand why they’re necessary, which involves thinking deeply about key customer questions. Who is their product for? And what problem are they solving?

3. Making visuals that stick: How do you look?

A strong brand is more than just a logo slapped on a website. Startups need to create a holistic visual identity that effectively communicates their story.

Everyone’s got a cousin who can make a cheap logo, but newkid challenges founders to dig deeper. Is your visual identity powerful enough to hold its own on a global stage? Is it legitimate enough for investors to take you seriously? newkid helps startups think through every visual element through a complete design system – including typefaces, colours, imagery, graphics and more.

“You lose a ton of credibility when your deck looks like PowerPoint template #1. Visual perception is really important and dictates so much of the response on the other side,” says Matthew. “This is often overlooked by startups in B2B situations, who think they can skimp out on visuals because it’s all about the product. But you can definitely lose longstanding clients over amateur visuals, when someone else outcompetes you with a sharp design system.”

newkid’s branding guidelines for American client, Commonplace

4. Defining your voice: How do you speak?

In today’s crowded market, startups are often tempted to take shortcuts by describing their product using artificial intelligence; or even copying the language and tone of other businesses in their sector. But newkid stresses the importance of developing your own unique voice and brand language that feels authentic to your business.

newkid’s team ensures that startups don’t fall into the trap of recycling generic phrases. With several seasoned copywriters on staff, they help founders create a language system tied directly to their brand – crafting the most impactful words and stories to clearly communicate their value to customers.

5. More than just digital: How do you act?

Finally, a brand isn’t just about words and images on a digital screen – it’s also about how you behave in the real world. newkid works with startups to ensure their brand is reflected in their actions, whether it’s the way their team interacts with customers or how they present themselves in meetings.

From company culture to events, every interaction is an extension of the brand. Does your office have a vibe that matches your brand? Do your sales calls reflect the same energy as your website? newkid helps startups define and align all these touchpoints, ensuring that every aspect of the brand feels cohesive and reinforces the company’s core identity.


newkid’s branding for Canadian clothing company, KOTN


The result: A unified brand that makes an impact

The journey for startups at DMZ can be challenging, especially when different team members and mentors bring varying ideas into the mix, leading to a brand identity crisis – a mismatch between words, visuals, and strategy. This lack of clarity can erode confidence and credibility, especially when founders try to pitch their idea or attract investors.

newkid’s approach is about avoiding these pitfalls. By working directly with founders, they create cohesive, powerful brands that speak with one voice and one vision – ensuring that startups are ready for the spotlight, whether it’s in Toronto or the global market.

“newkid is in the business of first impressions. We help startups be seen as put together and meaningful as a brand,” says Matthew. “People see so much more every day. Millions of things across different channels. So there’s less time for people to put all the pieces together. Which makes it more important than ever to be singular across all channels to appeal to investors.”

If you’re looking for new ways to unlock your brand’s potential, sign up for newkid’s 5-part hybrid workshop series with DMZ including the following sessions:

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