Waterloo students and entrepreneurs are visionaries who build careers and businesses from the ground up, creating new ventures and leveraging disruptive technology.
How do we ensure this legacy of success?
With the support of our alumni in Canada and abroad, the Dean of Engineering has created a first in Canada – the Engineer of the Future Fund – a pool of discretionary micro-seed funding for budding entrepreneurs at Waterloo Engineering.
Funding requests may include, but are not limited to Capstone Design projects; direct expenses related to product development, including materials and supplies, prototype development, IP and patent registration.
We recognize our student entrepreneurs can pivot faster with fewer entanglements, if they have the resources.
The Engineer of the Future Fund is intended to “incubate early” – funding viable student projects in the critical startup phase. It can be used for whatever will make the biggest impact when the timing counts.
If you have a product idea or a product in development, can identify a target market, and can outline your or your team’s unique competencies related to the development or commercialization of your idea, you may be eligible for funding from The Engineer of the Future Fund. Learn more about some of the past recipients.
Important: Priority will be given to those projects that have a positive impact on advancing the human condition through innovative engineering. If your project will make a real difference in the lives of people in a lasting way, it will be given preferred status for funding. Each project submitted for funding consideration will be reviewed and evaluated according to this criteria. Official student design teams are not eligible to receive these funds.