The DMZ has partnered with the Town of Innisfil, Ontario to help scale tech startups and increase government procurement in the region through virtual programming and resources.
The program, called DMZ Innisfil, already has eight startups in its virtual incubator program. DMZ Innisfil will offer workshop curriculum, mentorship, a venture capital network, and will work to secure expedited government procurement to tech entrepreneurs within Innisfil.
DMZ Innisfil already has eight startups in its virtual incubator program, and applications are open.
“We’re so proud to partner with a world-leading tech startup accelerator like the DMZ,”
said Mayor of Innisfil Lynn Dollin. “With 82 percent of Innisfil leaving town for work every day, and over 90 percent of new jobs being created by businesses less than five years old, we’re really focused on creating and supporting the jobs of tomorrow.”
This is not the first innovative initiative the Town of Innisfil has participated in. In 2017, the municipality teamed up with Uber to pilot public transportation projects that saved the town $73,500. Last year, Innisfil also became the first municipality in Canada to accept cryptocurrency, partnering with crypto startup CoinBerry on a one-year pilot.
With some tech giants like Shopify moving to a permanent remote work model, DMZ is looking to expand its virtual programming by partnering with municipalities to ensure that geographic location is not a factor when it comes to supporting tech startups.
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In April, the incubator also held an online hackathon aimed at facilitating the development of solutions to help address the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today, location isn’t stopping anyone from starting a business,” said Abdullah Snobar, executive director of the DMZ. “We are excited to partner with the Town of Innisfil to develop a new wave of scalable businesses that are proudly outside the traditional metropolitan areas for technology innovation.”
One of the startups participating in DMZ Innisfil is Reliant.to, a proptech company providing an automated solution for Toronto Building Compliance and Building Permits. Applications for the DMZ Innisfil program are currently open.
Image source The DMZ.