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.