The annual Forbes 30 Under 30 list is shining a spotlight on the exciting contributions of Faculty of Engineering alumni. These young entrepreneurs are making waves in diverse fields, from the green energy revolution to smart manufacturing.
The influential list uncovers emerging business leaders who are set to make a difference. Faculty of Engineering associated founders were featured in multiple categories detailed below:
Energy and Green Tech
Aida Mollaei (PhD ’2024, civil engineering), co-founder, Adaptis Technologies
Adaptis Technologies is a carbon optimization platform that has secured over $7 million in funding. The startup has evaluated more than 400 buildings, enabling clients to save millions of dollars while preventing 145,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
Education
Holden Beggs (BASc ’2020, nanotechnology engineering), co-founder, The Zero Experience
The Zero Experience is a nonprofit with a mission to impart entrepreneurial skills to students at post-secondary institutions. The program emphasizes starting from scratch, showing young innovators what it takes to get a great idea of the ground.
Food and Drink
Jeffrey Chu (BASc ’2018, chemical engineering), co-founder, Yuugi Izakaya
In collaboration with chef Yuki Tanaka, Chu has opened Toronto's first Japanese sports bar, a café by day and bar at night, and is developing a boutique hotel set to open in early 2025.
Manufacturing and Industry
Dylan Conway (BASc ’2020, systems design engineering) and Jim Zhu (BASc ’2020, computer engineering), co-founders, Squint
Squint develops AI-powered software that automates data entry, manages equipment and creates training plans for manufacturers. The company has secured $19 million in funding from top investors.
Go to Waterloo students and alumni named among Forbes 30 Under 30 for the full story.