The Conrad School is an immersive educational environment for entrepreneurs. Located within Canada's most innovative university, in a region ranked among the top startup ecosystems in the world, the Conrad School is the academic engine for entrepreneurship on campus, offering programs that are entrepreneurial by design.
Undergraduate
Enhance your undergraduate degree by joining Conrad Schools specialized programs, experiences, and courses.
Graduate
Commercialize your ideas and earn your Masters degree or complement your degree with graduate offerings.
News
Professor Marc Hurwitz receives prestigious Distinguished Teacher Award
The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business at the University of Waterloo is thrilled to announce that Dr. Marc Hurwitz has been named a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA) for 2025.
The DTA is the highest accolade for teaching awarded by the University of Waterloo. Professor Marc Hurwitz’s selection for this prestigious honor speaks to his deep dedication to fostering student success, his innovative approach to teaching, and his profound influence on students both inside and outside the classroom.
The Conrad School has a unique history with this award, having had three faculty who were previous winners: Dr. Larry Smith, Dr. Howard Armitage (founder of the Conrad School), and Dr. Wayne Chang.
Alumni Impact Series: Kevin Ye – Shaping the Future of Elder Care through Entrepreneurship
Kevin Ye’s journey is a testament to the power of entrepreneurship, innovation, and the global connections that the University of Waterloo’s Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business cultivates. As an MBET (Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology) graduate from the class of 2024, Kevin has successfully navigated the entrepreneurial landscape, with impressive achievements in product marketing, venture creation, and startup growth.
Meet Naimah Venezia: Gamifying Financial Literacy for the Next Generation
Blog
Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust: The Magic of Collective Success
"As a child, I believed in the magic of these words, certain that a sprinkle of pixie dust could make anything possible. As I grew, I traded wonder for realism and magic for logic. But somewhere along the way, I realized pixie dust is real, just not in the way I once imagined.
On March 7, an email arrived in my inbox, my paper had been accepted at the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) 2025. A monumental milestone as a first-year PhD student. Yet, the real magic was not in that acceptance. It came later that evening.
At 8:49 PM, another email arrived. My supervisor, Shavin Malhotra, the guiding force behind the paper submission, had shared the news with the entire department. Almost instantly, my inbox came alive, messages of joy, encouragement, and celebration poured in. What had started as a personal milestone transformed into a collective success.
In that moment, I realized pixie dust does exist, just not as a shimmer in the air, but as something far more powerful. It’s the unseen force of people who uplift you, the ecosystem that nurtures you, the mentors who guide you, the staff who support you, and the colleagues who walk beside you, celebrating, encouraging, and making your victories their own".
Winning, Learning, and The MBET Edge: My VCIC Nationals Experience
Sarah Cestnick, a full-time MBET student, reflects on her recent experience at the VCIC Nationals.
"Walking into the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) Nationals, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s one thing to analyze startups in a classroom setting – but pitching investment decisions in front of seasoned venture capitalists? That’s a whole different ball game.
If there’s one thing the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET) program does well, it’s this: it doesn’t just teach entrepreneurship – it immerses you in it.
Most students analyze businesses in a classroom through cases. MBET students sit down with founders and analyze businesses that could change industries. Most students read about venture capital. Student Venture Fund (SVF) students sit in the room with investors to make real investment decisions."
Building on Business: Avery Kelly’s Path from Undergraduate to MBET
Meet Avery Kelly, a current Master of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET) student at the University of Waterloo. Avery graduated in June 2024 with an Honours Arts and Business degree, majoring in Legal Studies.
"Transitioning from undergraduate studies to the graduate-level Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business has been an incredible experience, and I’m excited to share my journey and how it’s shaped my career path.
My introduction to the Conrad School and the MBET program began during my undergraduate years. I took BET 210, a course within the Arts and Business program that really opened my eyes to the world of entrepreneurship and business. The course connected the theoretical business concepts I was learning in the ARBUS program with real-world applications, which sparked my interest in pursuing more business-focused learning.
As I began researching graduate programs at the University of Waterloo, I was drawn to the hands-on learning and the strong integration MBET has with the local KW community. I wanted to ensure that I wasn’t falling behind in terms of work experience, and the MBET program offered the perfect opportunity to develop and apply entrepreneurial skills in real-world settings. I found out more about the program online and even connected with members of the UW Athletics department, which helped me decide that MBET was the right choice for me."