Three with Waterloo Engineering ties make Forbes' list

Among the Canadians recognized on Forbes’ third annual 30 Under 30 rankings are three successful entrepreneurs connected to Waterloo Engineering.

Eric Migicovsky, a 2009 Waterloo systems design engine

ering graduate and the CEO of Pebble Technology, was named to the list released earlier this month.  Migicovsky, 27, launched the most successful Kickstarter project of all time with his Pebble smart watch, raising over $10 million in just 38 days.

"Pebble, which displays smartphone notifications via Bluetooth, sprang from his irritation with an ever-chirping smartphone,” writes Forbes.

Ted Livingston, who studied mechatronics engineering at Waterloo from 2005 to 2009, is part of the ranking as well.  Livingston, 26, is the co-founder and CEO of Kik Interactive Inc., an innovative smartphone messenger service that has 100 million registered users.

Livingston has given back to the university by donating $1 million to help launch the VeloCity Venture Fund that provides student ventures with financial and other support.

Also included on the Forbes’ list is Douglas Lusted, the CEO and co-founder of WestonExpressions.

Lusted, 21, is a Waterloo business and environment student who has been part of the university-wide Enterprise Co-op program overseen by the Faculty of Engineering’s Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business.

He launched WestonExpressions, a technology corporation providing hardware and software innovations for the out-of-home advertisement industry. He won the University’s Innovation Showcase and VeloCity Venture Fund in his second year, which led to the development of the Linkett Interactive Digital Signage System. The Linkett device equips existing televisions and digital signs with motion and mobile capabilities, enabling highly targeted, on-the-spot promotions to consumers passing by.

Crediting Capstone design project experience

Migicovsky credits Waterloo Engineering’s Capstone design projects for giving him the skills to create his Pebble smartwatch. “I can’t imagine what it’s like going through engineering without working on something like Waterloo’s fourth-year engineering projects,” he said in a 2012 interview. “If I hadn’t had the background where I was working on short four-month schedules and building things, I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing now.”

Overall, 450 30 Under 30 Leaders, mostly from North America, were chosen by Forbes in 15 categories, including tech, finance, social, games, science, education, media, marketing and more.

“These founders and funders, brand builders and do-gooders aren’t waiting for a proper bump up the career ladder,” wrote Forbes. “Their goals are way bigger — and perfectly suited to the dynamic, entrepreneurial, and impatient digital world they grew up in.”