EVENT
Build your fundraising foundation, then earn your chance to pitch at the 2027 Women Innovation Summit for up to $150,000 in investments.
March 2027
Toronto, Canada
What's in store.
DMZ’s flagship event for women founders, the Women Innovation Summit, returns again in March 2027 for its 5th annual event.
At the heart of the Summit is a pitch competition where top women founders will pitch live to the Canadian tech ecosystem for up to $150,000 in investments from DMZ Ventures.There's one way onto that stage in 2027 and it starts this fall. Selected applicants will join an Investor Readiness Bootcamp to sharpen their fundraising strategy and finances, with select founders pitching live at the Women Innovation Summit in Toronto in March.
More details on the Summit, including the date and venue, will be announced early 2027. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know.
Pitch for up to
$150,000 in investments.
We’re calling on Canada’s most promising women tech founders to
showcase bold ideas, scalable companies and real-world impact.
Bring your vision. Amplify your story. Connect with investors,
industry leaders and ecosystem allies.
Your path to the Women Innovation Summit.
Apply to the Women Innovation Summit
Submit your application by September 25 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Successful applicants will be notified by mid-to-late October.
Get investment ready
Up to 40 women founders will take part in the Investor Readiness Bootcamp by FemTech Breakfast Club, which consists of 3 virtual sessions on November 3, 5 and 10.
Pitch at the Summit
The top 10 founders from the Bootcamp will be selected to pitch live at the Women Innovation Summit in March 2027.
Investor Readiness Bootcamp.
Up to 40 women founders selected will take part in FemTech Breakfast Club’s bootcamp to become investor ready. Sessions are 3 hours and take place virtually on November 3, 5 and 10.
Financial fluency
Refine your model, balance sheet and P&L with expert guidance.
Pitch and storytelling
Refine your story and test it live with VCs.
Fundraising readiness
Strengthen your data room, cap table and IP strategy.
Women Innovation in the spotlight.
Explore the stories, milestones and defining moments from the Women Innovation Summit.
Our impact by the numbers.
awarded to women founders
at the 2026 summit.
attendees at the
2026 summit.
awarded since WIS
launched in 2023.
attendees we've welcomed
at WIS since 2023.
I came into this feeling like an underdog, but I believed in what we were building. The coaching, investment and visibility from this experience have allowed us to bring July Health to more Canadians, faster.
Julie Mai
Founder and CEO, July Health & WIS
1st Place Investment Prize Winner
Our partners.
Meet the champions behind this year’s Women Innovation Summit.
INVESTOR Readiness Partner
SUPPORTING Partner
INVESTMENT PARTNER
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Partner with us.
Interested in partnering with DMZ to back our flagship women entrepreneurship event?
Delaram Amani, Programs Lead
This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
Frequently asked questions.
The Women Innovation Summit is open to women founders and co-founders based in Canada who are building technology-enabled businesses and preparing to raise capital.
Up to 40 finalists will be invited to take part in the Investor Readiness Bootcamp. From there, the top 10 founders from the bootcamp will be selected to pitch live at the Women Innovation Summit in Toronto in March 2027.
Applicants should be:
- A woman founder or co-founder in a leadership role
- Building a technology-enabled business that solves a clear problem
- Preparing to raise capital in 2027
- Available for the virtual Bootcamp sessions on November 3, 5 and 10, 2026
- Available to pitch in person in Toronto in March 2027, if selected as a top 10 finalist
- Open to feedback and ready to actively participate in the program
Applications will be assessed based on the company’s stage and traction, market opportunity, scalability, technology, fundraising readiness and the strength of the founding team.
The Summit is taking place in March 2027 in Toronto. The date and venue will be announced in early 2027.
Key dates are as follows:
September 25 (11:59 PM EST): Applications close.
October 23: Up to 40 women founders will be notified.
November 3, 5 & 10: Up to 40 women founders will take part in the Investor Readiness Bootcamp by FemTech Breakfast Club.
Jan 2027: The top 10 women founders will be notified.
March 2027: The top 10 women founders will pitch at the Women Innovation Summit.
The application focuses on understanding you, your company and your readiness to raise capital. You’ll be asked to share:
- Founder details, company basics, description of your tech solution
- Your company stage, annual revenue and business model
- The amount of dilutive and non-dilutive capital you have raised to date
- Your 2027 fundraising plans, including the round you are raising
- Details of your raise, including your target amount, investment instrument, committed capital, valuation cap and intended close date
Terms will be negotiated following the competition, subject to due diligence. Investment recipients will receive guidance on term sheet negotiation.
Women entrepreneurs bring incredible innovation and talent to the startup world, yet they often encounter systemic barriers to funding, resources, and representation. DMZ’s Boosted Support for Women Founders helps bridge this opportunity gap by providing tailored programming, mentorship, and access to capital for women-led tech startups.