DMZ Insiders awards $250,000 CAD in funding to high-potential startups Leasey.AI, Flowjin and Talin, announcing new DMZ Ventures early-stage fund
2024年6月18日 - 7:04PM
Toronto Metropolitan University’s DMZ held its highly
anticipated Insiders Event at the global startup ecosystem’s
headquarters in downtown Toronto. This exclusive showcase featured
a selection of the most innovative high-potential early-stage
startups from DMZ’s portfolio, offering attendees the chance to
witness transformative solutions across various industries.
The eight participating
startups pitched their tech solutions to an invite-only gathering
of esteemed investors, corporate leaders, and DMZ’s global
partners, with the goal of securing investment from DMZ
Ventures’ newly launched corporate fund.
The investment fund,
managed by the for-profit arm of DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan
University, DMZ Ventures, will make up to 10 investments per year,
ranging from $100,000 to $250,000 CAD. The fund will support
promising pre-seed and seed-stage startups, primarily from DMZ’s
portfolio, and is strongly committed to backing underserved
founders.
The startups that
participated at the Insiders Event represented a wide range of
industries, from PropTech and AI to EdTech. Pitch participants
included: Azrah Manji-Savin, CEO and Co-Founder of Syzl; Paul
Greenberg, CEO and Founder of Creatubbles; Juan Leal,
Co-Founder and CEO of Leasey.AI; David Abrams, Co-Founder and
CEO of HILO; Julian D’Angelo, Co-founder and CEO
of Talin; Gloria Oppong, Co-Founder and CEO of Cleanster,
Sheida Mirjahani, Co-Founder and CEO of Flowjin; and Ali Jozi,
Co-Founder and CEO of StructurePlus.
Juan
Leal, Co-Founder and CEO
of Leasey.AI, a platform that streamlines and
automates the leasing process, took home the largest
investment at DMZ Insiders, securing $100,000 CAD. “We couldn’t be
more thankful to DMZ for this opportunity; they’ve believed in us
from day one, and there’s no better partner we could have asked to
back us, said Juan Leal CEO and Co-Founder of
Leasey.AI. “With the funds, we plan
to continue to advance the product and differentiate ourselves in
the market by focusing on product development and customer
acquisition.”
Two additional surprise
investments were made at the event, surpassing the event’s
commitment to awarding $150,000 CAD. Flowjin, an AI-powered
tool that turns long-form video and audio content into short-form
clips for social media was awarded $75,000 CAD, and Talin, an
AI-powered talent acquisition and sales platform for staffing and
recruiting, was awarded $75,000 CAD. All three startups are
actively seeking investment opportunities to fuel their
business.
The launch of DMZ
Venture’s fund expands on DMZ’s world-leading incubator
programming, which includes mentorship, coaching, legal support and
opportunities for global expansion, completing its full-spectrum
offerings for end-to-end early-stage tech startup support.
“Our unparalleled
proximity with our ventures through DMZ’s due diligence sets this
fund apart; no other investors understand their startups as deeply
as we do,” said Abdullah Snobar, Executive Director of
DMZ, CEO of DMZ Ventures. “Each startup we back undergoes
rigorous vetting and earns DMZ’s stamp of approval, which is why
we’re not just backing startups, but winners — founders and ideas
that we truly believe in.”
The Insiders Event also
set the stage for Collision week, North America’s largest tech
conference. DMZ’s presence at Collision includes a booth (E276)
where attendees can engage with startup showcases, network with
corporate and VC leaders, and participate in unique activities,
including photo-ops with DMZ’s giant camel and a chance to win
exciting prizes.
-30-
About DMZA global startup ecosystem, DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan
University equips the next generation of tech entrepreneurs with
the tools needed to build, launch and scale highly impactful
startups. By providing connections to customers, coaching, capital
and a community, DMZ’s world-leading Incubator programs help
innovators reach the next milestone in their entrepreneurial
journey – whatever that might be. Through its award-winning
programming, DMZ has helped more than 830 startups raise $2.69
billion in capital and create 5,100+ jobs. Headquartered in
Toronto, Canada, with globally-accessible programming, DMZ has a
widely-recognized international presence with offices in Vietnam,
India and the U.S., and partnerships across North America, Latin
America, Africa and Asia. Learn more at dmz.to.
About DMZ VenturesDMZ Ventures is the for-profit
investment arm of Toronto Metropolitan University. From day one,
DMZ Ventures supports startup founders by helping them build
foundations, forge connections and fuel growth. DMZ Ventures’ main
areas of focus include: startup equity management for DMZ’s
portfolio companies, the oversight of Zone Startups Network
(accelerator programs based in Vietnam and India) and enabling
Canada’s startup investment landscape through DMZ’s Angel Investor
Program.
- DMZ Insiders awards $250,000 CAD in funding to high-potential
startups Leasey.AI, Flowjin and Talin, announcing new DMZ Ventures
early-stage fund
Luvy Hardy
DMZ
luvy.hardy@torontomu.ca