Welcome to Black Innovation Launchpad


About

Are you a Black entrepreneur looking for curated content developed with your needs in mind? The DMZ’s Black Innovation Launchpad is for you. This platform is jam-packed with expert curated content sourced from Black founders and industry professionals to assist you in acquiring the skills and expertise needed to galvanize your entrepreneurial journey.

Eligible Canadian citizens have the opportunity to meet with a  DMZ Expert-in-Residence upon program completion. 

This program has been subsidized by the generous sponsorship of SheaMoisture 

Testimonial

"Launchpad creates spaces and pathways for Black and women founders to break into tech. I had never thought I would find an entry point into this sector and felt that if I did, I would compete with many others whose voices and faces were predominantly heard and reflected in the tech industry.


However, I’ve had the opposite experience with DMZ! They gave me tools to help carve my path and connect with my industry peers, with whom I have never felt in competition and who supported my early-stage solution. At every event I have attended, I have walked away with a wealth of knowledge and many new contacts turned friends.


As a racialized woman in tech, I feel supported and encouraged to keep being active in this space no matter how difficult the learning curve has been. I thank Launchpad, specifically Jamelia, for working alongside me every step of the way to bring not only my ideas but dreams to fruition."


- Ashleigh Addison, PMP


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What to Expect

  • 1

    Chapter 1: Starting Up

    • Welcome to Black Innovation Launchpad by Abdullah Snobar, Executive Director of the DMZ

    • Pre-Course Survey

    • Your Business Model

    • Priority Setting

    • Marketing Your Business
  • 2

    Chapter 2: Your Finances

    • Acquiring Funding from the VC Perspective

    • Fundraising: VC and Founder Perspective

    • Leveraging Grants
  • 3

    Chapter 3: The Road to Expanding Your Network

    • Seeking Out Mentorship in the Tech Space

    • Networking, Productivity and Time Management

    • Finding a CTO

  • 4

    Chapter 4: Expanding Your Business

    • Growth Strategies and the Significance of Timing

    • Hiring for your Team and Attracting Great Talent

  • 5

    Chapter 5: What's Next?

    • Congratulations on completing Black Innovation Launchpad by Abdullah Snobar, Executive Director of the DMZ

    • Next Steps and Resources

    • Your quick feedback, please!

About the DMZ

The DMZ is a world-leading startup incubator based at Toronto Metropolitan University that equips the next generation of tech entrepreneurs with the tools needed to build, launch, and scale highly impactful startups. By providing connections to customers, coaching, capital, and a community, the DMZ’s customized approach helps innovators reach the next milestone in their entrepreneurial journey – whatever that might be. Through its award-winning programming, the DMZ has helped more than 750 startups raise $1.85 billion in capital and create 4,800+ jobs. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada with globally-accessible programming, the DMZ has a widely-recognized international presence with offices in Vietnam, India, and the U.S., and partnerships across North America, Latin America, Africa and Asia.

So what are you waiting for?

Start your journey now and enroll in the Black Innovation Launchpad for free

Get started now