The DMZ is funding $10,000 in micro grants for Greater Toronto Area high school students (across grades 9-12) to support the building of a tech related project.
The $10,000 will be split up into 20 individual $500 micro grants.
The grants can be used for something you’re working on in school, but they don’t have to be. You decide how you want to spend your money.
If you have an idea for a personal project, side hustle, or hobby that you want to build, but money is holding you back, you should apply for these grants.
Of the 20 micro grants, 10 will be available specifically for students who identify as Black.
These micro grants are not loans, or scholarships. This is your money that you get to use to build with 😎
You are entering a skills based economy. Developing the habit of building real projects and communicating evidence of those projects is one of the most important things you can do in 2025 to set yourself up for success.
<aside> ✍️
(click the triangle to reveal the content)
| Start Date | End Date | Deliverable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ~~Stage 1 Submission | |||
| Review~~ | |||
| (Recording above) | |||
| Stage 2 Submission | |||
| Review | May 1, 2025 | May 25, 2025 | Pitch Deck submissions are reviewed |
| Winning Submissions Emailed | May 30, 2025 | May 30, 2025 | Congrats! |
| Winning Submissions Announced Externally | June 17, 2025 | June 17, 2025 | Let’s go |
We will be assessing:
It’s recommended that you create one slide for each category in the Content section.
| Category | What we are looking for |
|---|---|
| Project Idea | You clearly explain what is is that you’re planning on building. Be specific. |
| Your Why | You clearly explain why you want to build it. Why are you excited about it? Be specific. |
| Skill Development | You clearly explain which hard and/or soft skills you will be developing in the process. Be specific. |
| Use of Funds | Where the $500 would be going. The more specific, the better. |
| Optional | Anything else you think we should know about. |
| Category | What we are looking for |
|---|---|
| Enthusiasm | We want to fund exciting ideas, by people who are excited to build them. Transfer that enthusiasm. |
| Visual | Crisp, high quality images. If text is used, it is used sparingly and intentionally. |
| Communication | You are not reading from a script. You are speaking at a normal pace, with confidence. |
| Professionalism | Present yourself as someone who should be taken seriously. Don’t use slang. |
| Category | What we are looking for |
|---|---|
| Feasibility | We want to fund projects that will actually get built. |
What can you tell/show us to give us confidence that if given the money, you will build it? |
Stage 2 Pro Tips
Stage 2 FAQs
Stage 2 Helpful Resources
GMT20250408-203953_Recording_1712x868.mp4
https://www.loom.com/share/a3e659e9aef940c4ac366c66b26fb3cc?sid=74a42a13-7912-4644-9fd0-2fc898b53e32
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1tEGF5BYfM
Are you a student interested in joining DMZ Basecamp 👆 summer 2025 program? Applications are now open. Learn more and apply here.
Basecamp is DMZ's free startup incubation program designed to catapult ambitious students (like you) into the tech world. Over the years, Basecamp has supported 365 students and created 151 new startups that use technology to solve compelling industry problems.
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 1800+ startups in raising $2.78 billion in capital and has created over 25,000 jobs. Headquartered in Toronto, DMZ operates a global network of hubs spanning 10+ countries, enabling entrepreneurs to access diverse markets, collaborate internationally and drive global innovation.