Canada needs better housing solutions fast, and the founders working through DMZ's Centre for Housing Innovation (CHI) are building them.
CHI launched this year as a partnership between DMZ, GroundBreak Ventures, CivicAction Leadership Foundation and Next Generation Manufacturing Canada. The goal? Simple. Connect housing and proptech founders with the mentors, capital and industry partners they need to actually move the needle.
In just six months, founders in the first cohort of the program’s accelerator have raised millions, grown revenue tenfold, and built $100M pipelines — proof that housing innovation can scale.
What founders get from CHI
Direct access to decision makers
The program puts founders in front of mayors, municipal planners, major contractors and investors – the kinds of decision makers who can greenlight a pilot project or write a cheque.
Real pilot opportunities
Through our network of municipal partners like the Town of Caledon and the Town of Innisfil, founders get chances to test their solutions in real markets with real budgets.
Industry connections
DMZ enables direct connections with companies like Pomerleau, Desjardins, and Home Depot, providing opportunities for not only mentorship but also innovation partnerships as leading enterprises digitize operations.
Capital support
With GroundBreak Ventures as an active investor in the program and a network of housing-focused capital providers, founders don’t just get advice – they get the funding to scale fast.
The results speak for themselves
Cabn: From startup to scale-up in months
Cabn joined CHI earlier this year and has since increased revenue by 10x. They raised a Series A round with direct support from GroundBreak Ventures and are now forecasting over $100 million in annual recurring revenue. The company showcased at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Annual Conference, where they built connections that led to partnership discussions with the Town of Caledon, Vinci and Home Depot.
LandLogic: Turning meetings into deals
LandLogic connected with key decision makers at the Town of Innisfil through CHI and is currently in discussions to launch a pilot project this winter. They raised $1 million toward their $2 million target, including a $250,000 investment from OCI. They closed their largest client deal in August and now have zoning data across 35 jurisdictions. According to their team, they had the “most productive summer they have had since their inception.”
More founders, more momentum
Pakville has generated over $70 million in project proposals for its eco-engineered construction panels, reflecting strong market interest in construction solutions that cut build times from months to weeks while reducing costs by 35 percent.
Adaptis is working with major asset managers, building owners, and developers, including Brookfield, to plan cost-effective upgrades and new designs. The platform has onboarded over 600 buildings, helping one customer unlock nearly $12M in added value while hitting net-zero targets ahead of schedule.
What's next
Our second accelerator cohort starts in November. We're looking for founders building solutions that directly impact housing productivity, whether that's construction tech, materials innovation, regulatory tools or supply chain improvements.
We’re serious about helping founders build companies that can actually solve Canada's housing challenges at scale.
Applications for CHI Accelerator Cohort 2 close September 30. Ready to help solve Canada's housing challenges at scale? Apply now or subscribe to DMZ's Tech Talk newsletter for updates.
