Alumni

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.

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.

Hayley So, long black hair, royal blue cardigan, staris in bacground

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.

Wednesday, September 10, 2025 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Student Entrepreneur Networking Lunch

Join us for a dynamic lunchtime gathering at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business on Wednesday, September 10 at 12:00 noon.

This is your chance to connect with fellow students who are building ventures, hear from recent alumni founders, and exchange ideas about the entrepreneurial journey. Whether you’re already working on a startup, curious about launching your own venture, or simply eager to meet like-minded innovators, this event is for you!

Enjoy great conversation, fresh inspiration, and a delicious lunch—on us!

Come for the food, leave with new ideas and connections.

Limited spots available: register today!

We are official event hosts with Waterloo Tech Week 2025, a celebration of what’s been built here, and what’s still to come. We’re building something great together. September 8-11, 2025. waterlootechweek.ca

Group shot From left to right — Larry Smith, Felix Arndt, Hayley So, Sharlene He, Nicholas Cheng, Monica Tsang.

On Friday, August 1, 2025, the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business proudly hosted and sponsored the Waterloo Ventures Problem Lab's Spring 2025 edition of the Problem Pitch Finals competition.

The Problem Pitch Competition challenges students to deeply understand and articulate a significant problem before proposing solutions. This approach fosters strong analytical and research skills, with funding awarded to support venture research and development (R&D).

For Ameya Kale (MBET '22), entrepreneurship began not in a classroom, but in the kitchens of home chefs across India. After launching a home-cooked meal delivery platform, he found himself captivated by the startup world, but acutely aware of how much more there was to learn.

“I was drawn to the Waterloo region’s vibrant startup ecosystem and the MBET program’s reputation for blending academic insight with real-world application,” he says. “I wanted to immerse myself in a community where I could learn how to navigate early-stage ventures more effectively.”

Ameya’s goal coming into the program was clear: find his footing in a product-focused role, help shape solutions from the ground up, and connect with other founders to better understand the entrepreneurial journey.

Friday, August 1, 2025 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Problem Pitch Competition: Spring 2025

Join us for the Problem Lab's Problem Pitch Spring 2025 Competition hosted and sponsored by the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business.

The Quantum Valley Investments® Problem Pitch competitions challenge students to research an important problem and pitch their research to a panel of judges. Funding of $7,500 is awarded to support the student team that demonstrates the most thorough understanding of their chosen problem to develop a solution.

The Student Teams FINALISTS are:
$Billion Problem category

Citrus - A. Amechi, Engineering
Falcon - I. Tan, Environment, D. Hood, Mathematics, M. Zhang, Engineering
Evolv - N. Cheng, Science

Open Problem category

ClickNShare - H. So, Health
The Trust Gap - A. Salsali, A. Garcia Polo, Engineering
Systemic Financial Infrastructure - J. Jin, Mathematics

The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business is proud to announce that Professor Sharlene He has been awarded a 2025 Insight Development Grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) for her project, “The Psychology of Innovation with Generative AI: Understanding Human Ideation Processes.”

Silas Ifeanyi came to Waterloo with industry experience and a passion for entrepreneurship. Through BE 600: Management and Leadership at the Conrad School, he refined his leadership style and now applies those lessons every day as an Engineering Educational Developer at the Pearl Sullivan Engineering IDEAs Clinic.

From leading student teams to driving innovation in nanotechnology and MedTech, Silas is a prime example of how technical expertise + entrepreneurial mindset = real impact.

The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business in the Faculty of Engineering is proud to share that Professor Chris Holt has been named a recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Performance Award!

This award is a reflection of the energy, drive, and passion Professor Holt brings to the classroom. His dedication to student learning, his ability to make complex concepts accessible, and his commitment to fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment make him a standout educator at Waterloo.

Alumni

Remembering Professor Wayne Chang

Professor Shavin Malhotra’s research on government contracting published in the Journal of Management

How Hayley So turned a classroom idea into ClickNShare

Student Entrepreneur Networking Lunch

Problem Pitch Competition Finals: Spring 2025

Foundations of a founder: MBET alumni Ameya Kale on learning to build what matters

Problem Pitch Competition: Spring 2025

Professor Sharlene He awarded 2025 SSHRC Insight Development Grant for research on human creativity and generative AI

From the classroom to campus impact: how BE 600 helped shape Silas Ifeanyi’s leadership journey

Celebrating Excellence in Teaching

Engineering Website Help