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.
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.
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What you
can expect.
Gain mentorship, partnerships and the tools to scale while connecting with investors, policymakers and innovators solving Canada’s housing challenges.
Over $1M in partner discounts, including Google Cloud, and Notion.
Flexible participation – join remotely or in person. Weekly commitment of 1-2 hours.
Legal support for contracts, agreements, and compliance.
Six months of office space at DMZHQ in downtown Toronto with access to top-tier amenities.
Office hours and tailor-made support mechanism from NGen and CivicAction.
Engage in industry-leading events like FCM Annual Conference and Toronto Tech Week.
Exclusive workshops, networking events, and tailored advisory.
Direct access to investors, government stakeholders, and industry leaders.
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 powerhouse portfolio.
Meet our Experts-in-Residence.
Meet the experts guiding our accelerator — hands-on mentors offering insights, support, and real-world connections that scale.
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.
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Who can benefit from our courses?
Students in housing, design & policy
Housing advocates
Urban planners & Designers
Homebuilders & Developers
Manufacturers & Suppliers
Construction professionals