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Group shot From left to right — Larry Smith, Felix Arndt, Hayley So, Sharlene He, Nicholas Cheng, Monica Tsang.
Saturday, August 2, 2025

Problem Pitch Competition Finals: Spring 2025

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). 

Dr. Nada Basir headshot
Thursday, August 7, 2025

New research explores stalled identity transitions and how women navigate fertility treatments in the workplace

Dr. Nada Basir, Associate Professor at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, is the lead author of a forthcoming Feature Article in the Journal of Applied Psychology (JAP) — one of the Financial Times Top 50 academic journals in the world. 

The paper, titled “Disrupted Selves in Transition: How Women Navigate Fertility Treatments in the Context of Work,” co-authored with Dr. Jamie Ladge (Boston College) and Dr. Serena Sohrab (Ontario Tech University), examines how deeply personal experiences can shape, and at times unsettle, one’s professional identity. 

Ameya Kale MBET headshot
Tuesday, August 5, 2025

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

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. 

problem pitch promo
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


Register today to secure your spot on Friday, August 1!

Cropped head shot of Sharlene
Wednesday, July 23, 2025

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

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 Ifeyani_headshot
Thursday, July 17, 2025

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

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.

Holt, Christopher
Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Celebrating Excellence in Teaching

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.

headshot_Nikki McDonald_women's hockey UWaterloo
Monday, July 14, 2025

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.

Students enjoying food at a Conrad Blender
Friday, July 11, 2025 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)

Conrad Blender ft. Guest Speaker Ryan Gallagher

Join us for a Conrad networking meetup with students from the Conrad E Co-op, BETS, BET 300, and MBET programs.

We’re excited to welcome Ryan Gallagher, CEO of Scribenote, an Enterprise Co-op alumni and winner of the Problem Pitch Competition, as our invited speaker. Ryan will share insights from his entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned while building his startup.

This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow students, alumni, and members of the Conrad community.

Register today! Spots are limited.

Felix Arndt Headshot
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

The Conrad School welcomes new director Dr. Felix Arndt

Entrepreneurship scholar and global leader joins the Conrad School to advance innovation and interdisciplinary growth.

The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business is excited to welcome Dr. Felix Arndt as its new director, effective July 1, 2025. A global leader in entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainability, Dr. Arndt brings deep academic expertise and a proven track record of turning research into real-world impact.

We are thrilled to have Dr. Arndt lead the Conrad School into its next chapter of growth, global engagement, and interdisciplinary innovation.