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 anyway.
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 the 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.”
The Zero Experience: from 30 Students to 5,000+
Zero’s mission? Give students a practical, engaging first step into innovation, even if they don’t have an idea yet.
What started as a pilot for a few dozen students at the University of Waterloo quickly grew into something much bigger:
- 5000+ participants across Canada (from high school students to working professionals).
- Expanded to multiple universities nationwide.
- Featured guest speakers including a NASA Mission Commander and UN advisors.
Meanwhile, students from the Zero Experience have gone on to win the Problem Lab’s Problem Pitch Competition, kickstarted everything from successful careers to exciting startups, and become leaders in the University of Waterloo’s innovation ecosystem.
In 2025, The Zero Experience and its creators, Holden and Jackson, were named to Forbes 30 Under 30s Class of 2025.
Where students can start
For students considering University of Waterloo and Conrad innovation programs, Holden offers this advice:
“If you don’t have an idea yet, or feel like you’re not an innovator, start with the Zero Experience,” he encourages. “It’s the perfect first step, directly training you to compete in the Problem Pitch, join Conrad courses like BET 300, and figure out a more impactful career path.”
What’s next for Zero Experience?
Holden and Jackson aren’t slowing down. Zero continues to evolve, focusing on:
- Always refining the program to make it shorter, faster, and more impactful.
- Expanding access to more schools and communities across Canada.
- Partnering with the Conrad School to connect students to opportunities like the Problem Pitch Competition and BET 300.
“Zero is kicking off its Fall programming soon,” Holden shares. “We can’t wait to welcome more University of Waterloo students and help them take their first step into innovation.”