Entrepreneurship

Two students at desk covered in computers and cables in dimly lit room

Surrounded by game-changing ideas and people, it’s easy to feel inspired at Waterloo. Here, at Canada’s number-one university for founders, you'll find learning and entrepreneurship go hand in hand.

With unlimited access to free resources, you have everything you need to take your ideas to the next level: coaching, mentorship, funding, for-credit courses, workshops, pitch competitions, high-end tools and equipment – and, most importantly, people who believe in your potential.

Own your ideas

If you come up with an idea during your time at Waterloo, it's yours to develop. We're here to help, of course, with incubators, mentorship, funding, and more!

Incubators: turn your ideas into action

Our incubators provide you with access to workshops, networking, one-on-one coaching, funding, mentorship, and student creator spaces.

Velocity

Velocity, our flagship entrepreneurship ecosystem – helps you grow your venture at every stage and level of experience

Pitch competitions – win funding to help advance your business idea

Velocity Foundations – learn about important issues while building an innovative mindset

Social incubators

Grebel Peace Incubator – help to build a more just and peaceful world

Greenhouse – for students who want to create social or environmental change

Flint Hub – Indigenous students can explore entrepreneurship and contribute to the growth of Indigenous economies

Student holding textbooks looks at the camera

It all started with an innocent question while Aileen was on a co-op term in Ottawa. "Where can I get my hair done?" The Environmental Engineering student’s search for a nearby hairstylist who knew how to work on afro-textured hair turned into a much bigger quest — a journey to entrepreneurship and the launch of her tech startup, BeBlended.

Make entrepreneurship part of your degree

Want to learn about entrepreneurship but not ready to launch a business? You can take courses through the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business as part of your Waterloo degree.

Add a minor to your degree

  • Entrepreneurship minor (or option if you're in Engineering)
  • Indigenous Entrepreneurship
  • International Trade
  • Management Studies
  • Social Innovation

Waterloo's minors →

Use co-op to gain experience

Bridging Entrepreneurs to Students – junior co-op students work with early-stage startup companies who don't have the resources to hire full-time staff

E-co-op start your own business while earning a co-op credit

Velocity garage

Waterloo's Velocity incubator provides support for students and startups and is ranked as one of the world’s top university-linked incubators.

Facilities to fuel your creativity

There's an incredible range of hands-on opportunities waiting for you at Waterloo.

Student design teams

Have fun and get experience with our 20+ student-led design teams working on solar cars, robots, rocketry, submarine racing, autonomous cars and sailboats, and more.

Canada's largest student hackathon

1,000+ hackers from around the world come to Waterloo for a hackathon like no other. At Hack the North, discover a community of like-minded hackers, connect with world-class mentors, and build because you love to build.

Go in depth with year-long projects

In many programs, you can complete a year-long project of your choice as part of your final year. Many students use their projects to explore potential careers, to start their own company, or as good training for a Master's degree.

Maker spaces

Get access to Architectural Engineering Maker Space (high-end digital fabrication tools), Velocity Digital (space to unleash new software, electronic, and medical technology ideas), and Velocity Science (access to instrumentation and consumables, mentorship, and technical advice).

Remote video URL

With the help of courses, mentors, and our facilities, Waterloo graduate Richard Yim developed a robot that can safely destroy landmines which are buried in former war zones around the world.