Pascal Siakam-backed accelerator celebrates Canadian K-12 EdTech startups

Google’s downtown Toronto offices took on the energy of a mini science fair as six early-stage companies pitched digital citizenship, real-time formative assessment and early literacy solutions at the capstone Demo Day of the inaugural Siakam EdTech Engine Accelerator. The program—co-founded by Toronto Metropolitan University’s DMZ and NBA champion Pascal Siakam’s PS43 Foundation—awarded $50,000 in grants to its top three ventures, all focused on K–12 teaching and learning, according to a press release from DMZ.

How the accelerator works

Announced in February, the Siakam EdTech Engine is a 12-week accelerator that combines DMZ coaching, Google for Startups mentorship and PS43’s school-board network. It selects six early-stage EdTech firms, offers hands-on workshops and real-world classroom validation, then culminates in a public pitch event in Toronto.

The 2025 Demo Day results

The three other cohort members—Gibbly, Factors Education and Edventive—also showcased progress but did not receive cash awards.

“I founded PS43 because I believe education can transform the lives of youth… watching these startups help students thrive is what it’s all about.”
— Pascal Siakam

“PS43 isn’t just another program; it’s about driving real change with solutions that meet students where they are.”
— Abdullah Snobar, Executive Director, DMZ

Cyber Legends co-founder James Hayes added that the accelerator’s endorsement “provided the exposure every EdTech founder needs to get through procurement hoops,” pointing to upcoming pilots with the Toronto Catholic District School Board and Indiana’s Math & Science Academy West.

Why it matters for schools

• Direct classroom validation. All six companies worked with educators during the 12-week sprint, a requirement intended to ease the adoption barrier many boards cite.
• Targeted problem areas. This year’s winners address digital citizenship, real-time formative assessment and early literacy—three priorities highlighted in recent Ontario and federal policy documents on online safety, data-informed instruction and the science of reading.
  • Cyber Legends supports the province’s emphasis on digital citizenship and online safety, reinforced by the revised Elementary Science and Technology curriculum (2022), which includes explicit expectations around cybersecurity and responsible use of digital tools.
  • Shuriii’s real-time data dashboard complements a focus on data-informed instruction.
  • English Islands, built around science-of-reading principles, responds directly to the Ministry of Education’s 2023 directive requiring boards to adopt evidence-based early reading instruction, as outlined in the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read inquiry and the subsequent policy response.
• DMZ track record. The university-based incubator says its portfolio of more than 1,800 startups has raised over US $2.78 billion and created 25,000-plus jobs, giving participants a gateway to investors.

For superintendents and classroom leaders tracking home-grown innovation, the Siakam EdTech Engine’s first trio of grant winners offers concrete, Canadian-built tools entering live classrooms this school year.

Watch for pilot data by the winter semester—and, as always, verify curriculum alignment and student-data safeguards before bringing any new platform on board!