The DMZ (Toronto Metropolitan University)

DMZ
Company typeBusiness incubator
FoundedApril 2010
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario, Canada
Websitedmz.torontomu.ca

The DMZ is Toronto Metropolitan University's business incubator for early-stage technology startups.

The incubator was launched under the name Digital Media Zone in April 2010, a year after then-president Sheldon Levy announced his intention to make digital media a top priority for the university.[1][2]

In February 2011, the DMZ opened a new workspace within its downtown hub.[3] In April 2015, the incubator was rebranded as "DMZ".[4]

In 2015, DMZ was ranked the best university-based business incubator in North America by UBI Global[5] and in 2018 UBI Global gave it the number one ranking in the world, jointly with The SETsquared Partnership in the United Kingdom.[6] Since it began the DMZ has helped 300 startups that have raised nearly $400 million and created in excess of 3,000 jobs.[7]

In January 2021, the 11 year old DMZ announced that it was preparing to launch an 18-month incubator programme for startups. The DMZ will take up to 2.5 percent equity in exchange for in-kind services rather than charge for a membership and assess fees. The accelerator programme, designed to scale up startups, has been eliminated; the last cohort finished in December. Sandbox, Women Founders Fast Track, and Black Innovation programmes continue to be offered. The new incubator will focus on pre-revenue companies working to build a viable product. Some companies from the accelerator programme have been asked to apply to the new one. The new programme is expected to launch on March 1, 2021, and DMZ executive director Abdullah Snobar said their plan is to support 40-50 companies by the end of 2021.[8]

  1. ^ "Ryerson as a City Builder". The Empire Club of Canada. 2009-03-05. Archived from the original on 2011-11-05. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  2. ^ "Ryerson helps budding inventors". Metro News. 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  3. ^ "DMZ A GIFT FOR ENTREPRENEURS". THE EYEOPENER. 2011-04-05. Archived from the original on 2011-10-11. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
  4. ^ "Ryerson University's tech startup incubator rebrands as DMZ on fifth anniversary". Financial Post. 2015-04-16. Archived from the original on 2015-04-27. Retrieved 2015-04-20.
  5. ^ "Three Canadian University Incubators Ranked Among World's Best". Techvibes. 2015-11-26. Archived from the original on 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
  6. ^ "Ranking: Top Business Incubator - Managed by University - 2017/2018 | UBI Global". UBI Global. 2018-02-23. Archived from the original on 2019-11-14. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
  7. ^ "Ryerson, U of T, York startup launchpads ranked among top university business incubators, accelerators". cbc.ca. Archived from the original on 2018-02-27. Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  8. ^ "DMZ returns to early-stage focus as hub eliminates "crown jewel" accelerator program". NetaKit. Archived from the original on 2021-01-26. Retrieved 2021-02-27.