Build ventures. Drive innovation. Lead change.
The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business is the academic engine for entrepreneurs. Affiliated with Canada’s most innovative university, we provide students with hands-on experiences in innovative commercialization and strategic start-up success, helping them thrive as the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders.
Undergraduate
Enhance your undergraduate degree by joining Conrad School's specialized programs, experiences, and courses.
Graduate
Commercialize your ideas and earn your master's degree or complement your studies with graduate offerings.
News
Remembering Professor Wayne Chang
The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business joins the University of Waterloo community in remembering Dr. Wayne Chang, an inspiring teacher, mentor and entrepreneurial champion whose optimism, creativity and compassion shaped generations of students and founders.
An associate professor and coordinator of the Enterprise Co-op (E Co-op) program, Wayne was known for his infectious positivity and unwavering dedication to helping others realize their potential. His influence continues to define the culture of creativity, collaboration and confidence at the Conrad School.
Professor Shavin Malhotra’s research on government contracting published in the Journal of Management
Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business research faculty member Professor Shavin Malhotra has co-authored a paper accepted to the Journal of Management, one of the Financial Times (FT) Top 50 journals.
The paper, titled “Risk Sharing in Government Contracting: Strategic Alliances as Safeguards in Government Supplier Relationships,” explores how firms that rely on U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contracts manage the unique risks of doing business with powerful government buyers.
Fall 2025 Problem Lab Pitch Competition
The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business is proud to host and sponsor the Problem Lab’s Fall 2025 Problem Pitch Competition Finals, where Waterloo students showcase their research-driven approaches to tackling today’s most pressing challenges.
Unlike traditional pitch competitions that focus on solutions, the Problem Pitch challenges students to dig deeper, spotlighting their ability to understand the root of a significant problem. This emphasis on problem analysis is what often sparks the most transformative innovations.
Finalist teams will present their research to a panel of industry leaders and alumni for a chance to win $7,500 in prize funding.
Blog
How Hayley So turned a classroom idea into ClickNShare
When Hayley So, a Kinesiology student in the Faculty of Health, competed in the Spring 2025 Problem Pitch competition, she walked away with $7,500 in R&D funding to advance her startup,ClickNShare. The platform aims to make creative equipment like cameras and devices easier and more affordable to access, helping students and creators alike share their tools and talents.
Where are they now: how Conrad School undergrad alumni built Zero Experience and shaped the future of innovation
When Covid-19 hit and students started losing their co-op placements, two Conrad School BET 300 students and Problem Pitch alumni Holden Beggs and Jackson Mills teamed up to give their peers experience anyways.
That idea changed everything. It became The Zero Experience, an all-online program that has now reached over 5,000 learners worldwide and been recognized in Forbes 30 under 30 Class of 2025.
“Zero was born from our experiences with the Problem Lab, entrepreneurship at Conrad, research across national labs, and too many side projects to count,” says Holden. “We saw common threads in successful innovation, but also a big gap: there was no true first step for students who didn’t yet have ‘a great idea’ or didn’t feel like innovators.”
Skating into startups: how athletics shaped my entrepreneurial path
Meet Nikki McDonald, a student in the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET) program at the University of Waterloo and a powerhouse on and off the ice.
In our latest blog, Nikki shares how her journey as a student-athlete shaped her path to entrepreneurship. From battling imposter syndrome to co-founding NextPlayNetwork, a platform that helps student-athletes transition into professional success, Nikki's story is all about clarity, persistence, and adaptability.
“Purpose goes beyond entrepreneurship and athletics; it’s the reason behind long hours and hard sacrifices.”
Read her full journey and what it takes to build a venture — and chase championships — at the same time.