A one-day event dedicated to standout women in tech.
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025
Women Innovation Summit 2025
8:00AM
Women of the Year Breakfast
Women of the Year Breakfast
We're kicking off the day with a breakfast event brought to you by BDC Capital's Women in Technology and Thrive Venture Funds to announce winners of DMZ's 2025 Women of the Year award. Join us to hear from a panel of influential women who are driving innovation in their respective verticals and network with the community.
10:30AM
Roundtables
Roundtables
These roundtables offer a platform to share knowledge and foster connections between startup founders, investors, corporate leaders, government representatives, non-profit visionaries and other key stakeholders. Sessions will delve into candid and thought-provoking conversations that provide actionable insights to empower women in tech.
1:00PM
Pitch competition
Pitch competition
Get an insider’s look at the next generation of game-changing women entrepreneurs and watch 10 women founder finalists take the stage to pitch for over $150,000 in cash investments, courtesy of The Firehood and DMZ Ventures. Plus, hear notable women speakers and network with investors, corporates, government representatives, non-profit partners, and more.
Apply to join an exclusive event to meet the top 10 finalists!
Frequently asked questions
What does the Women Innovation Summit entail?
DMZ’s Women Innovation Summit is taking place on Thursday, March 6, 2025, and will incorporate several events throughout the day, celebrating women entrepreneurs and providing a platform for women tech founders to pitch for investment. The events include a breakfast, afternoon roundtables and a pitch competition. If you'd like to attend, please indicate your interested by "applying" to each event via Luma, and our team will confirm your registration as soon as possible. Get started here.
How are DMZ’s Women of the Year selected?
Nominations for 2025 Women of the Year award opened December 2, 2024 and closed January 19, 2025. Nominees are reviewed by DMZ and an external Steering Committee. Nominations are evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Impact and Influence
- Has the nominee made a meaningful impact in a community, group, or sector through technology?
- Does their work deliver clear outcomes, such as solving challenges, benefiting others, or advancing the field?
- Leadership and Contribution
- Does the nominee inspire and guide others through exceptional leadership?
- Have they contributed significantly by mentoring, advocating for diversity, or fostering collaboration?
- Achievements and Ongoing Initiatives
- Are they actively engaged in initiatives that drive meaningful change and progress?
- Could this award help them achieve greater milestones in their journey?
- Professional Presence and Alignment
- Do their achievements demonstrate expertise and influence in their field?
- Does their work embody the values of innovation, leadership, and community impact?
Who can apply to pitch at the Women Innovation Summit? How are pitch finalists selected?
Women tech founders with a functional MVP and business dedicated to solving a compelling problem using innovative technology. Applications were open to women tech founders across Canada until January 19. See full applicant eligibility here.
Applications are reviewed by DMZ, an external Steering Committee and investment partners (The Firehood and DMZ Ventures). Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Product stage
- Scalability
- Leadership proficiency
- Market assessment
- Technological capabilities
What are the important timelines for the Women Innovation Summit Pitch Competition?
Here are the important timelines for the Women Innovation Summit Pitch Competition:
December 2, 2024: Applications open
January 19, 2025: Applications close at 11:59 pm
First week of February: Top 10 and top 25 finalists are notified
February 10-24, 2025: Top 25 finalists receive 2 pitch advisory sessions
March 6, 2025: DMZ’s Women Innovation Summit
The top 25 finalists are invited to DMZ’s HQ for the Women of the Year Breakfast and daytime roundtable discussions and networking opportunities with fellow women entrepreneurs, partners, investors and mentors.
All applicants are invited to attend as a guest for the $150K Pitch Competition and following networking portion of the Summit
What is the Steering Committee’s role for the Women Innovation Summit?
The Women Innovation Summit Steering Committee is comprised of industry leaders from a variety of verticals within business and technology. Their role is to ensure a wide range of perspectives, experiences and ideas are considered to reduce bias and facilitate an equitable review process of women-founder pitch finalists and Women of the Year award recipients.
The Committee’s feedback and insights are shared with The Firehood and DMZ for their consideration. For any additional information, please reach out to dmz@torontomu.ca.
How does DMZ support women entrepreneurs all year round?
Women entrepreneurs are redefining industries and driving global innovation. At DMZ, we’re proud to amplify their impact by providing tailored resources and specialized support through our Women Innovation Programs. From emerging founders to seasoned entrepreneurs, women at DMZ gain access to unique opportunities designed to accelerate their growth and success. Whether you’re just getting started or have an established startup, you can tap into specialized support through our Women Innovation Programs. Learn more here.
Partners
Hear from the organizations who helped make last year’s Summit a success.
