Two Waterloo Engineering student teams were among the four winning companies that pitched their business ideas at the Spring 2024 Velocity Pitch Competition and won $5,000 each.
The winning startups — Automax AI and PyroGuard — each delivered a three-minute pitch to a panel of judges in front of a live audience.
Humza Ahmed (BASc ‘27, mechanical engineering) pitched his startup Automax AI, an innovative assistant for real estate appraisers. The startup aims to save time and money by automating the property valuation process, streamlining a traditionally labour-intensive task.
PyroGuard, spearheaded by Drew Davidson (BASc '11, nanotechnology, MASc '16, chemical engineering, PhD candidate in chemical engineering) and Kade Truman (MBET '23), is developing a novel nanomaterial to protect firefighters from cancer. Their innovative technology replaces the carcinogenic moisture barriers currently used in firefighting gear with a much healthier alternative, significantly reducing cancer risks for those on the front lines.
Go to Pitching smart solutions to tackle real-world problems for the full story.