Breaking barriers in the startup ecosystem

How the DMZ is building innovative, tailored programming for entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds

In the 12 years since its launch, the DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University has grown to become the top-ranked tech incubator in the world. In that time, the DMZ has helped 745 startups raise more than $1.85 billion in funding, providing early-stage founders with the mentors, networks, resources and support they need to flourish on their business journeys. 

Supporting founders who may otherwise not have access to these resources has been a core part of the DMZ’s mission from the very beginning, with diversity, equity and inclusion embedded into every facet of its work, from programming design and execution to marketing and communications efforts. 

It’s why one of its core values is “equity over everything,” and it’s through that approach the DMZ has been able to help so many entrepreneurs from overlooked communities find success, witnessing first-hand the difference specialized support can make in breaking barriers. 

The underrepresentation of Black and women founders has been a longstanding issue in the startup ecosystem, and even with the recognition of this disparity, remains a stubborn scourge. The challenges these groups encounter when they are starting and growing a business are well-documented, including barriers to accessing support programs, venture capital and potential customers—all problems that have only worsened with the onset of the pandemic. The disparities can be traced to a variety of systemic factors, not least of which is the fact that the majority of VC funders are white and male. 

The Black Innovation Programs, launched in May 2019, and Women Founders Programs, which were initiated as early as 2015, were developed with the recognition that founders from these backgrounds and experiences face challenges not encountered by their white male counterparts. 

These program streams offer specialized mentorship and peer-to-peer support, in addition to the broad resources and programming offered to all DMZ founders.  

“When you offer support that is tailored to founders and entrepreneurs who are from diverse backgrounds, it makes a world of difference for their business journey. It’s never been more obvious as to how often the systems in our society neglect underrepresented communities, and we want to help bridge those gaps and ensure founders from those communities are given the chance they deserve to thrive,” says Tina Mbachu, Black Innovation Programs Lead at the DMZ. 

Both streams offer a series of programs for founders, providing startup support at every step of the early-stage entrepreneurial journey, from those dipping their toes into the ecosystem to founders who aren’t sure how to develop their nascent business ideas, and founders who are ready for a more intensive and immersive experience to grow their business. 

The Launchpad program supports entrepreneurs who are just starting out with access to a library of free online resources they can tap into on their own time and at their own pace, providing them with key resources and helping them to build and cultivate the networks they’ll need along their journey. The Bootcamp, which recently grew from a six-week program to 16, helps early-stage founders validate their business ideas and build a roadmap for implementation. 

The DMZ’s flagship Incubator program is an 18-month mentorship and support program that propels startups into their next stage by helping them increase sales, raise funds and successfully scale their growth. 

Over the years, the DMZ’s equity streams have helped nearly 800 Black founders and 400 women founders at all stages of the business journey — from personal founder development, to business ideation, product development, sales growth, and scaling.

“We have the opportunity to play a strong role in the ecosystem and make an impact with this work. We want to see more founders from diverse backgrounds not only enter the ecosystem but flourish in it. This work is crucial not only to support underrepresented founders in building their ventures but also to create a more inclusive innovation ecosystem that is more welcoming to founders from diverse backgrounds,” says Abdullah Snobar, the Executive Director of the DMZ and CEO of DMZ Ventures. 

That’s why the DMZ’s programming and services are designed with a founders-first mentality, ensuring content, coaching mentorship and resources are actively helping founders build and scale their businesses. Having built an impressive reputation and reach, the DMZ does this by leveraging its network of industry leaders, experts and seasoned founders who know what it takes to build strong business foundations and scale successfully.

“We want to continuously set the bar higher, elevating the experience for more founders from more diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, and in turn, help elevate the startup ecosystem at large,” adds Snobar. “It’s been incredible seeing the difference these programs have made, and we’re excited for what the future holds.”