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TORONTO, ON – July 21, 2026 – Toronto Metropolitan University’s DMZ and NBA All-Star Pascal Siakam awarded $50,000 to emerging EdTech startups developing innovative solutions to strengthen K–12 education and prepare youth for an AI-driven future.
Presented during the second Siakam EdTech Engine Accelerator Demo Day at Deloitte in downtown Toronto, the event showcased seven high-potential startups spanning K–12 innovation and AI upskilling for youth. Coral Talk, Stemin AI, Classwise, ThinkingThroughAI, Enya Learning, Training Ground.ai and CoLab Education pitched their solutions live to an audience of teachers, school board representatives, education leaders and members of Canada's innovation ecosystem.
Three startups emerged as grant recipients selected by a panel of expert judges, including program Co-Founder, Pascal Siakam.
- Classwise - an AI-powered assessment platform that helps educators grade faster, deliver rubric-aligned feedback and gain real-time insights to better support student learning, received $30,000 and the opportunity to pilot their solution with the YMCA of Greater Toronto, Girls in STEM Academy and École secondaire catholique Père-Philippe-Lamarche.
- Training Ground.ai - an AI-powered learning platform that helps students build literacy, numeracy and career-ready skills through personalized, culturally relevant learning experiences, received $15,000.
- CoLab Education - a professional collaboration platform that connects educators, school leaders and education partners, making it easier to share resources, collaborate and drive innovation across K–12 education, received $5,000.
Building on the success of its inaugural year, the second cohort expanded the program's mission beyond K–12 education to also support startups helping young people develop the AI skills needed for tomorrow's workforce. Launched formally in February 2025, the program is delivered through a partnership between the PS43 Foundation and DMZ. The accelerator provides founders with the mentorship, industry connections and real-world testing opportunities needed to bring education innovations into classrooms.
"At PS43, we’ve always believed that giving young people access to the right opportunities can change the course of their lives," said Pascal Siakam, Founder of PS43 and NBA Champion. “The Siakam EdTech Engine shows what’s possible when founders come together with a shared commitment to helping young people succeed, and I'm excited to see the impact these startups continue to make in classrooms and communities.”
Throughout the program, founders accessed DMZ programming, coaching and hands-on workshops and tapped into the resources and mentorship provided by Google for Startups to help refine their products and market strategies. The Siakam EdTech Engine Accelerator Demo Day was made possible through the support of the City of Toronto and TD Innovation Partners, whose sponsorship helped bring the event to life. Through PS43’s network, startups also collaborated with education partners including the YMCA of Greater Toronto, Girls in STEM Academy and École secondaire catholique Père-Philippe-Lamarche, gaining valuable feedback, mentorship and real-world connections to help strengthen their solutions and expand their impact in classrooms across North America.
“As AI continues to reshape education, startups have an important role to play in helping schools adapt and prepare students for what's next. They're able to move quickly, test new ideas and work alongside educators to solve real challenges in the classroom,” said Abdullah Snobar, Executive Director of DMZ and CEO of DMZ Ventures. “That's why we're proud to partner with Pascal and the PS43 Foundation to give founders the support, connections and opportunities they need to build solutions that will shape the future of learning."
Classwise, which received the top grant of $30,000 and secured pilot opportunities with the YMCA of Greater Toronto, Girls in STEM Academy and École secondaire catholique Père-Philippe-Lamarche said access to DMZ's founder community was one of the program's most valuable benefits.
"We really leveraged the benefits DMZ provides, especially the network of founders and the camaraderie it creates. We're still early stage, so learning from founders who had a bit more runway about how they got funding and found customers was a big deal for us," said Derah Onuorah, Founder of Classwise.
“We didn't know there were so many people building in EdTech. Because it’s notoriously difficult, it was encouraging to see other founders working to solve the problems we have in education. It was a big motivator for us to keep going.”
Startups building the next generation of Canadian technology are invited to apply to DMZ's Fall 2026 Incubator cohort. Applications are open until September 1. Visit dmz.to/programs to learn more.
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Media Contact
Luvy Hardy
DMZ
luvy.hardy@torontomu.ca
About DMZ: DMZ is a tech incubator and startup ecosystem that fuels entrepreneurship in Canada and beyond. Through its award-winning programs, DMZ empowers founders to scale high-impact ventures, helps students develop entrepreneurial mindsets and equips professionals to thrive in today’s fast-moving economy. By offering tailored support, world-class resources and expansive networks, DMZ nurtures bold ideas, drives business growth and creates global economic impact.
To date, DMZ has supported 2680+ startups in raising $3.18 billion in capital and has created over 25,400 jobs. Headquartered in Toronto, DMZ operates a global network of hubs spanning 15+ countries, enabling entrepreneurs to access diverse markets, collaborate internationally and drive global innovation.
About PS43: The PS43 Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that finds unique ways to make a difference in the lives of children through education. Through digital and technology, STEAM, life skills, and mentorship our goal is to teach children and give them an advantage in society. The PS43 Foundation is guided by one basic principle: DREAM BIG.
