DMZ launches Toronto’s first sales accelerator program

TORONTO, April 13, 2017 – The DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University has launched Playbook, Toronto’s first sales accelerator program for tech startups.
Created to close the gap on the coast-to-coast scaleup issue facing small and mid-sized Canadian companies, the intensive six month revenue growth and sales execution program targets high-impact tech startups looking to infuse growth with a structured, scalable and repeatable sales process.

“It is particularly important to focus on scaleup support for homegrown tech startups that have a sustainable competitive advantage and contribute to Canada’s innovation economy,” said Abdullah Snobar, executive director of the DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University. “The DMZ Playbook program not only provides fast validation and tailored strategies for sales traction, but also helps attract and retain talent needed to bring leading Canadian startups to the global stage.”
The program uses tactics and methodologies designed by a diverse group of esteemed coaches and advisors to provide startups with the tools and networks needed to add world-class client execution to their sales strategy.  

“The DMZ’s Playbook program provides invaluable guidance during the sometimes challenging period of a startup’s transition from product-market fit to scale-up and growth,” said Hussam Ayyad, director of startup services at the DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University. “From creating an effective pre-call plan to providing each startup with an acting vice-president of sales; the customized, structured and hands-on approach of DMZ’s Playbook reflects the realities of selling in today’s business climate.”

Over the last five months, the pilot version of the Playbook program has helped startups double or triple their MRR (monthly recurring revenue), increase customer retention and even grow new US customer acquisition.

“It was great to receive an effective strategy and ongoing support from some of the leading experts in sales, growth and marketing,” said Sam Seo, co-founder and CEO of LiveGauge. “The DMZ’s Playbook program created a thriving, high-performance community that contributed to scaling our company to this stage of our business.”

The DMZ’s Playbook accelerator will provide startups:

• Three program mentors acting as a VP of sales, growth and marketing for each startup 

• Tactics to build, execute and refine an effective go-to-market strategy

• Exposure to venture capitalists and angel investors 

• Structured and recurring quarterly executive coaching meetings with industry experts and DMZ advisory council members 

• Weekly workshops from program mentors and tech community experts (VC’s, serial entrepreneurs and sales leaders, etc.) 

• Designated work space in the heart of downtown Toronto 

• Applications for the DMZ’s Playbook’s accelerator program are due May 14 2017. For more information, eligibility and to apply, visit dmz.torontomu.ca/programs/playbook.
   

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About DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University:
The DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University is one of Canada’s largest business incubators for emerging tech startups. It is the top-ranked university incubator in North America and third in the world, and helps startups succeed by connecting them with customers, advisors, influencers and other entrepreneurs. Since launching in 2010 it has incubated over 282 startups, raised $306 million in seed funding, and has fostered the creation of more than 2,681 jobs.