News

Virangi Shah, a first-year PhD student in Entrepreneurship and Organization at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, has achieved a remarkable milestone in her academic journey. Her paper, accepted at the prestigious Administrative Sciences Association of Canada (ASAC) 2025 conference, marks an exciting achievement for the rising scholar and exemplifies her drive to make a significant impact in the field of entrepreneurship.

The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business at the University of Waterloo is thrilled to announce that Dr. Marc Hurwitz has been named a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Teacher Award (DTA) for 2025. 

The DTA is the highest accolade for teaching awarded by the University of Waterloo. Professor Marc Hurwitz’s selection for this prestigious honor speaks to his deep dedication to fostering student success, his innovative approach to teaching, and his profound influence on students both inside and outside the classroom. 

The Conrad School has a unique history with this award, having had three faculty who were previous winners: Dr. Larry Smith, Dr. Howard Armitage (founder of the Conrad School), and Dr. Wayne Chang.

Dr. Victor Cui, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Global Strategy at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, published an opinion piece in the Globe and Mail this week on the global trade war now roiling world economic markets.

The Problem Lab’s Problem Pitch Competition Finals, hosted and sponsored by the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, is set to showcase innovative student-driven solutions to pressing global challenges. 

The competition, which focuses on solving significant issues through research and entrepreneurial efforts, offers a grand prize of $7,500 to the team that demonstrates the most in-depth understanding and creative solution of their selected, impactful problem.

Ibukunoluwa Elebute (Ibukun), a part-time student in the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program, has been making waves in the health tech industry with startup CELLECT.

Ibukun, who brings nearly a decade of experience in healthcare technology and holds a background in biomedical engineering (BEng and MSc), has long been committed to driving innovation in underserved communities. Before joining the MBET program, she founded the STEMite Zone Fair, which has grown to become Africa’s largest science fair aimed at nurturing young innovators across the continent.

But it’s not just about past accomplishments. Since partnering with fellow University of Waterloo student CT Murphy in September, Ibukun has co-founded CELLECT, a ground-breaking startup focused on transforming diagnostics through menstrual blood collection. The startup is tackling an important challenge in healthcare, offering an innovative approach that could change the way diagnostic testing is conducted.

At the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, innovation is not just a buzzword—it’s the foundation of everything we do.

As we look toward the future, we are thrilled to spotlight some of the exceptional students in our community who have been featured in the University of Waterloo's Global Futures: Innovation Update 2025.

These students are making waves with groundbreaking ideas that could change the world. From tackling food waste to advancing medical diagnostics, these individuals are showing that the future of entrepreneurship is in good hands.

We are thrilled to congratulate Dr. Janet Boekhorst, Conrad Research Excellence Chair and Associate Professor at the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, for being selected as one of the winners of the 2023-2024 Faculty of Engineering Teaching Excellence Award!

Professor Boekhorst’s commitment to fostering innovation, engagement, and transformative learning experiences for students strengthens the future of entrepreneurship and business education at the University of Waterloo.