With more than 850 alumni worldwide, the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program at the University of Waterloo’s Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business has built a powerful global network of founders and innovators. Many of whom continue to launch new ventures long after graduation.
The MBET program is intentionally designed for individuals who want to build, scale, and lead in fast-moving, technology-driven environments.
The program supports:
-
Future tech leaders shaping AI, digital transformation, and emerging technologies
-
Builders ready to own product management end-to-end
-
Entrepreneurs and founders preparing to launch, scale, or commercialize new ventures.
MBET alumni typically follow one of three pathways.
Building and scaling ventures
Powering innovation from the inside
Entrepreneurial thinking at scale
Entrepreneur: building and scaling ventures
Many MBET students enter the program with a venture, or discover one during their studies, and continue building after graduation.
Notable alumni-founded ventures include:
-
Noah Buchman, MBET '09: Founded fintech company Propel Holdings that later went public on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
-
Amr Abdelgawad, MBET '17: A University of Waterloo undergraduate alumnus who joined MBET and co-founded FluidAI (formerly NerV). The company has secured $15M in Series A funding and developed an AI-powered system to detect postoperative complications earlier, improving patient outcomes.
-
Ashley Keefner and Shane Kilpatrick, MBET '18: Co-founders of Membio Inc., a company focused on more efficient cell manufacturing by replicating human biological systems with technology. Membio was acquired by ABEC in 2024.
-
Esteban Veintimilla, MBET '22: Another University of Waterloo undergraduate alumnus who later joined the part-time MBET program. Esteban and his team founded 1Mentor, a career navigation platform that maps skills to career goals. The company was acquired by QS in 2024.
Everything I was learning [in MBET] had real and tangible outcomes — and I could really see immediate results.
My startup would not have been possible without the MBET program. [It] helped me turn my idea into a viable business. I was able to prepare myself for the ups, downs and pivots that a new venture goes through, while being able to test my idea.
Ecosystem partner: powering innovation from the inside
Not all MBET alumni build startups of their own - and that’s by design. Many choose to work within the entrepreneurial ecosystem, supporting founders and innovation-driven organizations through strategy, program delivery, and leadership roles.
In Waterloo, organizations like Velocity and Communitech, both founded by tech entrepreneurs, have become natural homes for MBET graduates. Alumni also contribute across Canada’s broader innovation ecosystem.
Representative roles held by MBET alumni include:
-
Assistant Director, iCube, University of Toronto
-
Program Execution Lead, DMZ
-
Business Development and Commercialization Manager, Ontario Centre of Innovation
-
Director, Longo Centre for Entrepreneurship
-
Founder and Manager, ELLA Accelerator, York University
-
Head of Design, OneEleven
MBET gave us the opportunity to fail with some of our ideas in a protected environment that helped us succeed when it really mattered, later.
Corporate innovator: entrepreneurial thinking at scale
MBET alumni also thrive inside established organizations, where they lead new products, launch new business lines, and drive innovation initiatives within complex, global environments. Drawing on skills in customer discovery, product strategy, commercialization, and change management, graduates help organizations move faster, test ideas more effectively, and scale innovation with discipline.
Alumni have gone on to roles at organizations such as Deloitte, Google, Amazon, Salesforce, and other multinational firms, applying entrepreneurial thinking to high-impact challenges across digital transformation, emerging technologies, and new market development.
MBET allowed me to take a break from eight years in consulting, gain a new skill set and explore new ideas.
The program challenged me to think critically, embrace uncertainty, and push the boundaries of innovation.
Entrepreneurship is not a straight line
Many MBET alumni demonstrate that entrepreneurship is rarely linear. The program equips graduates with transferable skills that support pivots, reinvention, and long-term career growth.
- Christianna Ioannou, MBET '23: Began her MBET journey working on group benefits, shifted into retail inventory optimization, and is now transforming academic grading systems, demonstrating adaptability and problem-solving across domains.
- Swati Singh, MBET '22: Credits the MBET program's hands-on experience in marketing, pitching, and financial strategy with enabling her to launch her own yoga wear brand, even though it wasn’t her original idea when entering the program.
- Stephanie Nyarko, MBET '18: Now a Senior Product Manager and career coach, Stephanie frequently credits MBET with building the foundation of her career.
I was always somewhat of an entrepreneur, but the MBET program helped me to define my skillsets through the validation process. MBET teaches you not just the theory behind entrepreneurship, but also the practical skills that you need to succeed in the real world. Every course is a chance to solve problems, commercialize ideas, and gain the specialized knowledge needed to succeed in a fast-changing entrepreneurial landscape.
The entrepreneurial path is not always linear, but the MBET program teaches you to stay resilient, stay curious, and keep pushing forward. Embrace every opportunity for hands-on learning, and don’t be afraid to test new ideas. The resources, mentorship, and networking you gain will be invaluable as you grow as an entrepreneur.
A global network of builders and leaders
Whether launching startups, strengthening the innovation ecosystem, or driving change inside global organizations, MBET alumni continue to shape the future of technology and entrepreneurship worldwide.