At a Glance

Program Name: DMZ Women Innovation Summit 2026 – Women Founder Pitch Competition.

Funding Type: Investment capital plus fundraising, visibility, and ecosystem support for women-led tech startups.

Funding Amount: 10 finalists pitch for a pool of 150,000+ CAD in investments, with additional non-dilutive support and exposure for the wider finalist cohort.

?Application Deadline: February 5, 2026, for pitch applications; finalists are selected ahead of the March 19, 2026 Summit.

Program Focus: Showcasing Canada’s most promising women tech founders and supporting them to become investor-ready through a Fundraising Bootcamp, national PR, and a live pitch stage aligned to the All In theme.

Location: Downtown Toronto, Canada, with virtual Bootcamp sessions and in-person pitch finals on Summit day.

About the Program

The Women Innovation Summit is DMZ’s flagship women-in-tech event, designed to drive systemic change in the innovation ecosystem by bringing founders, funders, corporate leaders, policymakers, men, and allies together under the All In theme.

The centerpiece is a national pitch competition where 10 women founders compete live on stage for 150,000+ CAD in investments, backed by DMZ Ventures and partner investors.

Program Benefits

Funding Support: Access to a 150,000+ CAD investment pool for the 10 stage finalists, with DMZ Ventures and partners providing capital to fuel growth.

Founder & Venture Support: The top 25 finalists join a structured Fundraising Bootcamp (3 x 3?hour virtual sessions) focused on refining pitch, strategy, data room readiness, financials, and valuation.

Network & Visibility: National exposure via DMZ’s channels, media opportunities, and direct access to 200+ ecosystem leaders, investors, and partners during the Summit.

Eligibility Criteria

Women tech founders leading scalable, high-potential tech or tech-enabled companies with real-world impact.

Startups ready or preparing to raise funding, with a compelling story, clear traction or roadmap, and strong alignment to an inclusive innovation agenda.

Founders open to investor engagement, feedback, and participation in the Fundraising Bootcamp and Summit activities.

Application Timeline

Applications Close: February 5, 2026 – founders must complete the online application form to be considered for the Top 25 and Top 10.

Summit & Pitch Finals: March 19, 2026 – the Top 10 pitch live at the Women Innovation Summit in downtown Toronto in front of 200+ ecosystem leaders.

Apply Here

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