American Express x DMZ Joint $10,000 Small Business Grant: Deadline May 19
121| 122| 123| 124| 125| 126|American Express and DMZ (Toronto Metropolitan University's incubator) have teamed up for a round of 'Amex Backing Small' grants—100 spots total, $10,000 each, non-repayable. Whether you run a bubble tea shop, a trading company, or a small renovation crew, you're eligible if your annual revenue is under $1.5 million—deadline May 19.
127| 128|What is this $10,000? Does it need to be repaid?
129|No repayment required—it's a pure grant. The money can go directly into your company account with no restrictions on use. You can use it to pay three months' rent, catch up on credit card debt from the pandemic, or buy equipment to upgrade your storefront. Unlike Ontario's digital grants, there's no requirement to commit to digitalization or submit a pile of completion reports.
130| 131|Is DMZ mentorship worth it?
132|100 companies receive funding and also gain access to DMZ's mentorship network—for many Chinese-Canadian business owners, this support may be worth more than cash. Someone helps you clarify customer channels, inventory management, and even export processes for free.
133| 134|Is my company eligible?
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- Registered and operating in Canada: either federal or provincial registration is fine 137|
- Annual revenue under $1.5 million: based on the most recent fiscal year 138|
- Able to legally sign contracts: has a normal business account, not involved in bankruptcy liquidation 139|
Deadline May 19, How to Apply?
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- Go to the DMZ website and fill out the form (torontomu.ca/dmz/amexbackingsmall) — it takes about 20 minutes 144|
- Explain clearly why you need the money — be honest, don't use a template 145|
- Set a phone reminder right after submitting — 100 spots will be gone instantly 146|
149| Book a Free Consultation → 150|
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