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Pre-Incubator.
A 6-month program for market validation.
IN PERSON OR REMOTE
Download the Pre-Incubator info package
Go from having your first customers to running a business.
But how do you actually do that? If you (like hundreds of founders we’ve worked with) have realized that building the product isn’t actually the hardest part, then the Pre-Incubator program is your perfect next step.
Taking a tailored approach to support each startup, the Pre-Incubator is focused on providing you with custom training to ramp up your customer acquisition efforts and turn your business into a sales-generating machine.
Your venture’s not a side hustle anymore...
You’ve got the beginnings of something game-changing, but you’re dealing with competing demands on your time, not to mention the fear that you’re building the wrong thing. Growth and scale seem like a pipe dream.
That’s why we created a container where you can refine your sales strategy and achieve market validation with our experts by your side.
- Keep your autonomy; run the day and manage your time independently.
- Tap into real accountability; cue our experts who act as your guiding hand to achieve your sales goals.
- Focus on your biggest growth challenges; our network of experts and resources will help you take the next step
So, what’s this actually going to look like?
Bi-weekly EiR sessions
Monthly Program Lead meetings
Monthly founder talks
Sales training
Pitch practice
Bi-weekly EiR sessions
Founders meet bi-weekly with their designated DMZ Expert-in-Residence (EiR). These sessions are designed to leverage our EiRs expertise to support founders in achieving their sales objectives through ongoing guidance and advisory.
Monthly Program Lead meetings
Founders will meet with their designated DMZ Program Lead on a monthly basis. Program Leads will act as the founder’s main point of contact in the program and ensure founders are getting the support they need when they need it.
Monthly founder talks
Every month founders will attend a virtual meetup with other founders in the program to share knowledge, business progress and challenges. These sessions will be led by EiRs or DMZ alumni founders who can offer guidance and their unique perspective during the talks.
Sales training
Founders will complete a mandatory two-part virtual sales training in the first month. Part 1 involves a session where founders come prepared to discuss their sales challenges in a group setting. Part 2 will be a series of 1:1 sessions with a sales focused EiR to dive deeper into the startup’s specific sales strategy and needs.
Pitch practice
Throughout the program founders can join monthly pitch practice sessions with our pitch coaches. Founders are encouraged to apply any feedback to continue fine-tuning their pitches throughout the program.
What you will get
BI-WEEKLY EIR SESSIONS
You don’t have all the answers, and that’s a-ok.
Founders meet bi-weekly with their designated DMZ Expert-in-Residence (EiR). These sessions are designed to leverage our EiRs expertise to support founders in achieving their sales objectives through ongoing guidance and advisory.
BI-WEEKLY EIR SESSIONS
You don’t have all the answers, and that’s a-ok.
Founders meet bi-weekly with their designated DMZ Expert-in-Residence (EiR). These sessions are designed to leverage our EiRs expertise to support founders in achieving their sales objectives through ongoing guidance and advisory.
SALES BOOTCAMP
It’s not always easy cracking the sales code.
Understand the strategy and sales skills needed to drive customer acquisition. Founders undergo a bootcamp within the first month of the program involving group and 1:1 tailored sales training, followed by comprehensive pitch practices.
DMZ WORKSPACE
Believe it or not, your barista needs some breathing room.
Enjoy day-pass access to DMZ’s headquarters in the heart of downtown Toronto with full-service amenities, meeting space, office snacks and more.
MEMBER BENEFITS
A dollar saved is a dollar earned.
Get $470K+ worth of business perks from 80+ partners and service providers, from AWS to Google Cloud to Apollo.
PRIVATE ACCESS
The nerdiest VIP passes in town.
Exclusive invites to industry networking events, conferences, community socials and workshops to learn from and connect with the right people.
GUIDANCE & TRAINING
Because YouTube’s not cutting it at this stage.
Startups join bi-weekly 1:1 sessions with their designated EiR and get access to 12+ hours of curated on-demand content designed to support other areas of their business.
Shahrzad Mirjahani &
Sheida Mirjahani
Co-Founders, Flowjin
and women founders:
Startups with a Black or woman founder receive:
- A $5K grant upon sales training completion
- Access to additional support and perks beyond the program’s standard benefits
FOUNDERS BLACK
FOUNDERS
Yemi Ifegbuyi
Founder, Cozii Technologies
The Pre-Incubator is for tech founders ready to turn their product into a business
APPLICATION CRITERIA
We look for savvy startups and founders who will get the most value out of our programming and connections and have the potential to hit their target goals under DMZ mentorship.
- An idea dedicated to solving a compelling problem using innovative technology
- A launched MVP
- Early market traction
- At least one dedicated full-time founder
- An in-house tech lead
Founders-first approach
Anyone can have an idea—few have the grit and tenacity to do something with it.
We support the do-ers—the founders with exceptional vision, innate talent, and a coachable spirit—and open the doors you need to succeed.
2,447
businesses incubated and accelerated$2.94B
in funding raised23,043
jobs fostered in ourcommunity
When you have a million and one highly specific questions, our experts are ready with answers.
Meet our Experts-in-Residence
Our Pre-Incubator companies get access to 1 on 1 mentorship with our Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, subject matter experts who can help you take your company to the next level.
Shilpa Mandhan
Customer Success, GTM StrategySultan Mehrabi
FundraisingTai Silvey
Business Development, StrategyTed Killin
Writing & Communications StrategyAlex Thibault
Business StrategyAli Kiassat
Sales and Business DevelopmentAlnur Ismail
Engineering and ProductAndrea Matheson
ScalingAndrew Ricchetti
AI, Analytics, Data ScienceAnthony Ilukwe
UI/UX DesignAnthony Lau
Product, SalesArabi Siva
Marketing & Go-to-MarketBerjesty Kozanoglu
User Experience DesignChris Bardos
GTM & Product-Market FitCorey Peck
Operations & StrategyDan Meshkov
AI and Machine LearningDavid Ceolin
Sales, Growth, Business ModelsDuane Green
Fundraising, Business StrategyFrank Erschen
PitchingGina Bowen
MarketingHackim Farrell
Cybersecurity, ProductIrene Lee
FinanceJaved Maqsood
GTM Strategy and Customer SuccessJenn Nguyen
Product DesignJodi Echakowitz
Public RelationsKaren Hogg
Customer SuccessMandeep Saini
Finance and BudgetingMansi Vagt
Marketing, Brand ManagementMark Angelo
Business Strategy, HealthcareMartin Croteau
StrategyMelissa Malcolm
HR StrategyMichael Low
Sales, Procurement, Operations for SMBsMike Shoss
Product and AIMira Soullen
Marketing StrategyNathan Prescott
Digital MarketingNavin Kaminoulu
GTM & PropTech InnovationNeale Martin
GTM & RevOps StrategyNerys Parry
Real Estate StrategyPrad Sekar
Pitch and StorytellingRafael Antiquera
Growth StrategyShawn Compton
TechnologyShawna Stewart
HR, OperationsShilpa Mandhan
Customer Success, GTM StrategySultan Mehrabi
FundraisingTai Silvey
Business Development, StrategyTed Killin
Writing & Communications StrategyAlex Thibault
Business StrategyAli Kiassat
Sales and Business DevelopmentAlnur Ismail
Engineering and ProductAndrea Matheson
ScalingAndrew Ricchetti
AI, Analytics, Data ScienceAnthony Ilukwe
UI/UX DesignAnthony Lau
Product, SalesArabi Siva
Marketing & Go-to-MarketBerjesty Kozanoglu
User Experience DesignChris Bardos
GTM & Product-Market FitCorey Peck
Operations & StrategyDan Meshkov
AI and Machine LearningDavid Ceolin
Sales, Growth, Business ModelsDuane Green
Fundraising, Business StrategyFrank Erschen
PitchingGina Bowen
MarketingHackim Farrell
Cybersecurity, ProductIrene Lee
FinanceJaved Maqsood
GTM Strategy and Customer SuccessJenn Nguyen
Product DesignJodi Echakowitz
Public RelationsKaren Hogg
Customer SuccessMandeep Saini
Finance and BudgetingMansi Vagt
Marketing, Brand ManagementMark Angelo
Business Strategy, HealthcareMartin Croteau
StrategyMelissa Malcolm
HR StrategyMichael Low
Sales, Procurement, Operations for SMBsMike Shoss
Product and AIMira Soullen
Marketing StrategyNathan Prescott
Digital MarketingNavin Kaminoulu
GTM & PropTech InnovationNeale Martin
GTM & RevOps StrategyNerys Parry
Real Estate StrategyPrad Sekar
Pitch and StorytellingRafael Antiquera
Growth StrategyShawn Compton
TechnologyShawna Stewart
HR, OperationsShilpa Mandhan
Customer Success, GTM StrategySultan Mehrabi
FundraisingTai Silvey
Business Development, StrategyTed Killin
Writing & Communications StrategyThe unexpected benefit our founders rave about?
Community.
When you’re laser-focused with your eyes on the prize, entrepreneurship can be a lonely road. Our alumni founders have established long-lasting friendships with other founders who get it and grown a personal network that has served them years after exiting the program.
