Dream Maker Ventures (DMV)

Dream Maker Ventures (DMV) focuses on empowering underrepresented founders, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+, and immigrant entrepreneurs, through its Diversity Fund. Based in Toronto, DMV was launched as the investment arm of Dream Maker Corp in 2015. The fund predominantly targets early-stage tech companies across Canada and the U.S., particularly in sectors like AI, blockchain, consumer tech, and enterprise software. With notable investments in companies like Hopper and SecondCloset, DMV is committed to making strategic early-stage bets, typically at Seed and Series A stages. Their approach prioritizes inclusive leadership teams, as they believe diversity drives higher profitability. Although their check sizes vary, they can go up to $75 million depending on the opportunity. DMV doesn't usually lead rounds but brings invaluable mentorship and international connections. Founders can connect through various incubators or accelerators, and the firm is well integrated within innovation ecosystems. Isaac Olowolafe, the founder, and the team are known for fostering an entrepreneur-first environment. Startups seeking funding are encouraged to pitch via their website and can expect a thoughtful, slow vetting process that aligns with DMV’s goal of supporting game-changing tech and diverse leadership.