Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for the Enterprise Co-op program? 

• All co-op students from any faculty (Arts, Engineering, Environment, Mathematics, Science and Health) are eligible to apply if their status in WaterlooWorks is without any penalties, and they are on-stream for the work term. Regular program students who have been accepted to the Minor in Entrepreneurship program and are scheduled for a non-school term are also eligible to apply. 

Can students take their E Co-op term aborad? 

• All students are required to spend their work term in Canada. 

Does the E Co-opp Program provide advisors? 

• E Co-op students have access to volunteer advisors that are recruited by the E Co-op program coordinator. These advisors are often Waterloo alumni who have entrepreneurial experience, including E Co-op, BET 300, and the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) alumni. 

What are some of the requirements in the E Co-op program? 

• All students are required to attend Ignition Week (five-day startup bootcamp orientation) at the beginning of the work term (more information can be found in the application form). Students are required to submit beginning-of-term goals, objectives, and milestones, which are approved by the E Co-op Coordinator, as well as progress reports every two weeks. Students are required to present at End of Term Presentation Day (full day attendance at the end of work term).

Is the workterm Standard or Flexible work term? 

• The E Co-op workterm is standard only; there is no flexible workterm option.  All E Co-op students are required to start the workterm in Week-01 of the 16 weeks full-time.  No late applications will be considered.

Do I automatically receive an interview after submitting my application? 

• The Enterprise Co-op (E Co-op) program is a competitive application process with a limited number of positions available each workterm.  Only the best written applications will be selected for the interview stage.  There is no automatic interview for all applications submitted.

Is there a process to pre-assess my application form descriptions? 

• Students independently review the application form and complete descriptions of all sections as best they can and are based on their own body of work and research completed on their own.  There is no pre-assessment process to review in advance.  Only the best written applications will be selected for the interview stage.  There is no automatic interview for all applications submitted.

What typical resources are available to support me in the E-Co-op workterm? 

• Students will be supported by a number of resources at Conrad School as well as in the UW entrepreneurship ecosystem, e.g. Advisors, Subject Experts, Coaches and mini-programs are available from the various Entrepreneurship Centres (ECs).  Students will be introduced to a professional network of alumni, startups and entrepreneurs. 

• Conrad School is located on the 2nd floor of Engineering 7 building (E7).  Students are welcome to use the E Co-op/BETS Co-op group meeting rooms available as co-shared workspace during business hours Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. The group meeting room has a capacity for 6 -8 people maximum.

At what stage in the business development process should I apply to E Co-op? 

• The business or not-for- profit idea stages of development should include at least the previous 2–3 months of already completed research and analysis of the problem space you are trying to solve; initial design concepts of your product/solution; and initial users or customers that you have communicated with 1st person to collect feedback comments.

I have co-founder(s); how should I involve them? 

• If your co-founder(s) are eligible for E Co-op, then they can apply as well on WaterlooWorks and specify your name in the E Co-op Application Form. If your co-founder(s) is not applying for E Co-op, then you will be assessed individually for your workterm, and they are not part of the E Co-op program.