Waterloo Ventures is the central unit for the University of Waterloo on all matters related to innovation, commercialization, entrepreneurship, thought leadership and social impact. Through its work, Waterloo Ventures creates synergies across University activities to enable students, researchers, staff and founders to thrive in mobilizing ideas, knowledge, research and people towards impact. We provide support across the Waterloo ecosystem of technology transfer (WatCo), incubation and entrepreneurship training (Velocity and LiftOff), social impact creation (GreenHouse and the Grebel Peace Incubator), and thought leadership activities.
Waterloo Ventures is in Waterloo’s Office of the Vice-President Research and International. Its strategic priorities include enhancing evidence-based decision-making in supporting commercialization and entrepreneurship, as well as increasing inclusive and equitable practices in innovation.
Velocity
Velocity supports early-stage founders with connections, expertise, product development, workspace and risk-tolerant capital. Our Incubator hosts 60+ startups, while thousands of Waterloo students and researchers get support to explore ideas, build prototypes, and develop businesses. Velocity helps founders build scalable, industry-transforming companies.
WatCo
WatCo provides commercialization services to turn research into viable products and services. Transferring research innovations to the marketplace transforms society, improves quality of life, and boosts business productivity. Waterloo’s unique creator-owned intellectual property policy fosters an entrepreneurial environment, driving lab innovations to market.
Social Impact
The University drives social impact through cutting-edge research, entrepreneurial initiatives, and community engagement. By fostering innovation, providing real-world learning opportunities, and supporting diverse projects, Waterloo addresses global challenges, enhances quality of life, and promotes sustainable development, contributing significantly to societal well-being and positive change.
Thought Leadership
The University contributes to thought leadership through pioneering research, interdisciplinary collaboration and fostering innovation. By engaging experts across fields, hosting influential conferences and publishing impactful studies, Waterloo shapes global conversations, advances knowledge, and drives progress in science, technology and creative activity, positioning itself at the forefront of academic excellence.
"Waterloo Ventures is the focal point that makes the University of Waterloo the acknowledged leader in all aspects of innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization in Canada and will enable innovators, founders, and others to thrive and succeed."
— Karim S. Karim, President, Waterloo Ventures