From improving access to clean drinking water to advancing space sustainability, student innovators from across the University of Waterloo showcased bold ideas with the potential to solve some of society's most pressing challenges during the Spring 2026 Quantum Valley Investments® Problem Pitch Competition Finals.
Hosted by the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, the QVI® Problem Pitch Competition challenges students to identify meaningful problems, validate their significance, to support the development of innovative, evidence-based solutions. Rather than beginning with an idea, students start by deeply understanding a real-world challenge; a foundational entrepreneurial mindset that emphasizes solving problems people genuinely face.
Congratulations to this term's winning team, Star Rangers, whose innovative approach to affordable, sustainable propulsion systems for small satellite missions impressed the judges and earned them the title of Spring 2026 Quantum Valley Investments® Problem Pitch Competition champions.
Meet the Spring 2026 finalists
Star Rangers, Competition Winner
Members: Tania Lai, Chantel LeClercq, Jiya Makwana and Jessica Barboza
Star Rangers tackled the growing challenge of orbital congestion and increasingly stringent space sustainability regulations. As the number of satellites launched into orbit continues to rise, small satellite missions face mounting barriers due to the high cost and complexity of existing propulsion systems.
The team's solution focused on making propulsion technology more affordable and accessible for startups and research teams, helping lower the barriers to entry while supporting a more sustainable future for the space industry.
Problem Pitch team Star Rangers
DiaCare
Members: Phoebe Li, Peyman GhavamiNejad and Katelyn De Poli
DiaCare addressed the daily realities faced by individuals living with Type 1 Diabetes.
Their work focused on reducing the cognitive burden of managing blood glucose levels and simplifying the complex technology required for ongoing disease management, with the goal of improving quality of life for those living with the condition.
Problem Pitch team DiaCare
Sandcastle
Member: Nicholas Cheng
Team Sandcastle explored the longstanding issue of access to clean, potable water on First Nations reserves.
The project examined opportunities to improve water accessibility and reliability through innovative, community-focused solutions to address one of Canada's most persistent infrastructure challenges.
Problem Pitch team Sandcastle
Growth Partner AI
Member: Vivian Wang
Growth Partner AI focused on one of the biggest challenges facing early-stage startups: making critical business decisions with limited evidence.
The venture aims to help founders identify the right customers, priorities, and growth strategies earlier, reducing wasted time and resources while increasing the likelihood of long-term success.
Problem Pitch team Growth Partner AI
Learning from experienced entrepreneurs and innovators
Finalists presented their ventures before a panel of accomplished entrepreneurs, innovators, and commercialization leaders who evaluated each team's understanding of the problem, including the context, history, scale and analysis of previous attempts to solve the problem.
This term's judges included:
- Francis Wang, entrepreneur, researcher, and founder of FW.VISION. Francis has more than a decade of experience building and leading software companies in the renewable energy sector, including a $75 million acquisition by GE Vernova. His work today focuses on hybrid intelligence, futures research, and innovation ecosystem design.
- Kulsum Ali, master’s student in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo's Waterloo Microfluidics Lab, Biomedical Engineering alumna, and member of the Winter 2026 Problem Pitch winning team. Her experience includes medical device prototyping, microfluidics, biosensor development, and point-of-care diagnostics.
- Ira Bowering, entrepreneur, executive, educator, MBET student, and ARC Program Coordinator. Ira supports PhD researchers in commercializing deep technology innovations while bringing decades of leadership experience across multiple industries and international markets.
Their thoughtful questions, industry perspectives, and constructive feedback challenged each finalist to strengthen both their understanding of the problem and entrepreneurial thinking.
The Conrad School congratulates Star Rangers on winning the Spring 2026 Quantum Valley Investments® Problem Pitch Competition and applauds all the finalists for developing thoughtful, innovative solutions to important real-world challenges.
Sincere thanks to Francis Wang, Kulsum Ali, and Ira Bowering for generously sharing their time, expertise, and insights with this term's competitors.
Competitions like the Quantum Valley Investments® Problem Pitch continue to demonstrate that successful entrepreneurship begins not with an idea, but with a deep understanding of the problems worth solving.
Spring 2026 QVI Problem Pitch Competition Finalists
Problem Pitch Spring 2026 judges from left to right: Ira Bowering, Kulsum Ali, and Francis Wang.
Problem Pitch Spring 2026 winning team Star Rangers and competition judges.
