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.
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Watch the Rose & Damian Introducing The Micro Grant Opportunity video if you haven’t already. I address it around the 3:30 mark.
The short answer is that as long as it involves technology in some capacity, it counts. It is broad in scope by design.
The only limit is your creativity 😉
Software project? Cool
Hardware project? Cool
Combination of both? Cool
If you feel like some structure could help, think about a problem in your community that you want to help solve. Understand the root cause of why that problem exists. And then think through if/how technology could be used to help solve that problem.
Please also review the Example and Resources sections below to help with your idea generation.
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| Start Date | End Date | Deliverable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 Application Window | Jan 15, 2025 | Mar 18, 2025 | Google Form Submission |
| Stage 1 Submission | |||
| Review | Mar 19, 2025 | Mar 24, 2025 | Submissions are reviewed by myBlueprint. Top 100 submissions will be invited to Stage 2. |
| Stage 2 Application Window | Mar 25, 2025 | Apr 30, 2025 | Pitch Deck Submission |
| 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! |
| Optional: How to Create a Pitch Deck Webinar | TBD | TBD | DMZ will teach students how to create an investment pitch deck. |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUPeYU1wA1I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1tEGF5BYfM
Are you a student interested in joining DMZ Basecamp 👆 summer 2025 program? **Fill out this form to be the first to hear when applications open!**
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.
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Ready to Apply?
🚨 **Access Stage 1 Application Google Form Here** 🚨
**Note: It is strongly encouraged that you draft answers to your questions in another document, like a google doc.
The google form is meant to collect questions; it is not the best medium to draft your responses in.
That will allow you to copy/paste your answers into the form, and receive feedback before you submit.
Here’s a template you can use. Click Make a copy.
I can tell you right now that one line answers will not be successful.
It’s not that you get extra points for using more words, but we’re looking for specificity in your responses, which will be very difficult to demonstrate in short responses.
And it’s easier to go into more detail/depth when drafting responses in a google doc vs a google form.
Please also review the Stage 1 Evaluation Criteria in the How It Works section.
Before submitting, and when asking for feedback, confirm that your responses have addressed each of the criteria.
Take your time with your application.
You got this 💪
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🛠️ Here are some interesting ideas I found on the internet, being worked on by teenagers:
These ^ are just for inspiration. You get to decide what you want to work on. If it includes technology, it counts.
The best advice I can give you is to follow your curiosity, and submit an idea you’re genuinely excited about.
Ideally something that allows you to develop (and document) new skills. Aim for something that pushes you outside of your current comfort zone.
That’s where growth happens.
The project should allow for an outcome where you have created something.
For example:
❌ Asking for a micro grant to buy a video game would not be accepted - yes that’s technology but you’re not creating anything.
✅ Asking for a micro grant to buy a license for the software you need to build a video game. Now we’re talking.