Fast-tracking the

future of housing.

Driving innovation in housing through expert training and acceleration—backed by national partners and real impact.

Innovating housing for the future.

CHI helps tackle the biggest challenges in housing through bold ideas, training and startup acceleration.

Built by industry leaders

Supported by GroundBreak Ventures, CivicAction and NGen.

Real-world impact

Targeting affordability, sustainability and innovation in housing systems.

Expert-led training

Access advanced learning from leaders in housing and tech.

Startup acceleration

Scale ventures solving urgent problems in the housing space.

Our partners.

The Centre for Housing Innovation is supported by industry leaders and funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

Our mission & vision.

Our vision.

Transform the Canadian housing ecosystem through innovation, technology, and talent.

Our mission.

Connect entrepreneurial, government, and industry leaders to scale innovative solutions and establish global leadership in housing, positioning Canada as a model for others facing housing challenges.

ACCELERATOR

A 6-month boost for your housing solution.

It takes more than a great idea. Our accelerator helps startups grow faster with mentorship, investor access, legal support and over $1M in perks—backed by a trusted network.

Modern residential buildings in a clean urban neighborhood, representing DMZ’s housing-focused accelerator program that supports startups solving housing challenges with mentorship and investor access.

What you
can expect.

Gain mentorship, partnerships and the tools to scale while connecting with investors, policymakers and innovators solving Canada’s housing challenges.

Exclusive Partner Perks

Over $1M in partner discounts, including Google Cloud, and Notion.

Flexible Participation

Flexible participation – join remotely or in person. Weekly commitment of 1-2 hours.

Legal support

Legal support for contracts, agreements, and compliance.

Office Space at DMZ

Six months of office space at DMZHQ in downtown Toronto with access to top-tier amenities.

Tailored Support & Resources

Office hours and tailor-made support mechanism from NGen and CivicAction.

Industry-Leading Events

Engage in industry-leading events like FCM Annual Conference and Toronto Tech Week.

Exclusive Events & Workshops

Exclusive workshops, networking events, and tailored advisory.

Connections to investors and partners

Direct access to investors, government stakeholders, and industry leaders.

Tailored mentorship

Hands-on mentorship from DMZ Experts-in-Residence and GroundBreak Ventures.

Who should apply?

Here are some factors we look for in housing accelerator applicants:

Innovative solution • Tackles housing issues or improves industry productivity.

Stage of growth • Gaining traction and ready to scale in Canada.

Team structure • Full-time founder and coachable leadership team.

Inclusive focus • Special consideration for rural, Indigenous and academic-led startups.

Venture-backable • Positioned for funding in a high-growth market.

Commitment • Available 5-6 hours/month to reap program benefits.

Location • DMZ accepts global founders. Travel required for in-person pitch events.

Our startups.

Meets the startups addressing the biggest challenges in housing.

SKILLS ACADEMY

Training the
future of housing.

Stay ahead in housing and manufacturing with expert-led training designed to spark innovation, boost efficiency and power real industry impact.

New courses: Coming soon!

Instructor leading a housing innovation workshop to a room of adult learners, showcasing DMZ’s Skills Academy training program for founders and professionals in the housing and manufacturing sectors.

Who can benefit from our courses?

Students in housing, design & policy

Housing advocates

Urban planners & Designers

Homebuilders & Developers

Manufacturers & Suppliers

Construction professionals

Upcoming courses & workshops.

Discover the latest courses and workshops designed to help you learn, connect, and grow.

There are currently no workshops scheduled. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when the next courses are posted.