An all-star lineup of Canadian entrepreneurs, business executives and tech leaders are set to guide DMZ’s strategic direction as the influential global startup ecosystem continues its international expansion.

DMZ’s 2024 Advisory Council is comprised of visionary leaders in the worlds of sports, entertainment, business, technology, artificial intelligence and more who will ensure DMZ remains agile to the ever-evolving tech landscape and at the forefront of global entrepreneurial support. 

Creating the perfect team

Now in its fourteenth year, DMZ has grown from a small-scale Toronto innovation hub to the only Canadian Incubator to have been ranked #1 globally. Today, DMZ operates as a global startup ecosystem, and the more than 1,000 startups it has helped fuel and grow have collectively raised $2.69 billion in funding.

Abdullah Snobar, DMZ’s executive director and the chief executive officer of DMZ Ventures, said DMZ’s advisory council “A-team” were selected by executive search firm Arlington Partners International for their broad range of experience, track record of “transformative change” and commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. 

“They bring different perspectives, ideas and approaches, which is exactly what we need as we continue to look beyond the horizon,” he says. “Their varied experiences in different industries and markets will help us navigate the complexities of global expansion with a more holistic approach, [and] will also drive innovation within DMZ by introducing new ways of thinking and problem-solving.”

A group of global visionaries 

Joining the council are television host, singer and NACO ambassador Keshia Chanté; Canada Basketball president and CEO Michael Bartlett; AI customer service automation company Ada CEO and co-founder Mike Murchison; Marshall Goldsmith Group executive coach Nabeela Elsayed; Amex Canada president and CEO Brett Mooney; BMO Financial Group chief digital officer and head of Canadian products for North American personal and business banking Matthew Mehrotra; Rakuten Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn; Mejuri CEO Noura Sakkijha; Federation of Canadian Municipalities CEO Carole Saab; Pierre Boutin, Volkswagen Group Ireland CEO and group managing director; Toronto Metropolitan University incoming chancellor Donette Chin-Loy Chang and Shopify vice-president of global partnerships Ritu Khanna.

Globe and Mail editor in chief David Walmsley, Independent Director Peter Bowie, Toronto Metropolitan University president and vice chancellor Mohamed Lachemi and George and Helen Vari foundation executive director Agnes Hilkene are also returning to the advisory council. 

As DMZ embarks on a new chapter of growth and continues its international expansion, the council will help the global startup ecosystem establish and deepen its strategic partnerships across the innovation ecosystem to create more opportunities for startups. They will also be focused on supporting underserved and underrepresented founders within the ecosystem, and refining DMZ’s services, Snobar said.

Bowie says DMZ’s strength lies in its unique value proposition of robust support for entrepreneurs and a commitment to staying ahead of industry trends. “We will work to amplify DMZ’s impact, ensuring that it not only meets the current demands of the innovation economy but also anticipates the future needs of the startups it serves.”

Khanna says she was “incredibly excited” to join the advisory council and use her passion for innovation to support promising entrepreneurs. “Being part of this dynamic environment is thrilling because it offers the chance to contribute to an ecosystem that is at the forefront of technology and business,” she said.

Murchison says he was eager to leverage his decade of work developing AI solutions and solving complex operational challenges to help startups “develop solutions that are both technologically advanced and deeply attuned to their users.” 

Mehrotra, reflecting on the importance of sustainable innovation and BMO’s track record of digital innovation, says he’s excited to join DMZ’s council “to help innovative, purpose-driven startups grow and scale their businesses based on an understanding of how sustainable innovation happens in a large organization.”

Chanté — who got her start as a singer at age 13 and has worked in music, television and entrepreneurship — says that as a woman of colour she’s particularly passionate about supporting diverse entrepreneurs and helping them “overcome the unique challenges they face. Being part of a forward-thinking team at DMZ allows me to leverage my experiences and advocate for inclusivity and empowerment within the entrepreneurial community.”

Amex Canada’s connection to DMZ stretches back years, Mooney notes. The two co-developed a small business grant program that he said he’s gratified to see has helped many entrepreneurs grow their businesses. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to lend my own expertise to help drive the growth of such an important incubator.”

DMZ launched its inaugural advisory council in 2016. Their strategic support helped to turbocharge DMZ’s growth and forecast the needs of the startup community.

To learn more about DMZ and the 2024 advisory council, click here.