Covid-related projects among four to win online contests

Four teams founded or co-founded by Waterloo Engineering students successfully pitched their business ideas to founders of local startups in two competitions held remotely this week.

Two received $5K in the Concept challenge, similar in format to Velocity’s virtual Fund Pitch Competition.

Aqua-Cell Energy, launched by Keith Cleland, a chemical engineering master’s student, and supported by two chemical engineering professors, is developing affordable, large scale batteries that use saltwater to store renewable energy for continuous solar and wind power.

Lumos, co-founded by Lucas Wen Tang, a mechanical engineering student, is looking to improve human well-being through sleep technology and neuroscience. Tang is working alongside an interdisciplinary team of doctors and engineers.

Pandemic-focused projects

Two teams of students each won $3K to develop their projects in Concept’s Pandemic Challenge Fund.

Decomp, co-founded by Gabriel Saunders, a  student in Engineering’s Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology program, along with other Waterloo students, is  creating an organic waste disposal solution targeted to the increasing number of single-use plastic products including masks, gloves and take away containers. 

OpenRace, co-founded by Matthew Cianci, a management engineering student, is working on a virtual running app with a feature designed to connect event organizers with runners remotely while in person races are suspended.  Full story