Create your startup

Are you a problem solver? Do you want to make an impact? The University of Waterloo offers many opportunities to help you learn more about entrepreneurship, and get your venture started.

The first entrepreneurial venture out of the University of Waterloo started in the Faculty of Mathematics. WatCOM is just one of the many entrepreneurial ventures out of the Faculty. We are also the first Faculty to create the role of Associate Dean, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

In addition to Waterloo's unique intellectual property (IP) policy that allows you to own everything that you create, we have resources for you within the Faculty, here at the University, and throughout the Region.

Faculty of Mathematics

In 2019, as a step to meet the Faculty of Mathematics strategic objective to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among inclined students and faculty members, the Dean created a new associate dean title: Associate Dean, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The current AD, Innovation and Entrepreneurship is Professor Charles Clarke (math-ie-ad@uwaterloo.ca). Find out more about this role.

We are currently:

• Conducting a study to find new ways to encourage students and researchers to start an entrepreneurial venture. (Read about one course where students design IoT devices to benefit society.)
• Sponsoring StarterHacks which encourages new hackers to make an impact and potentially start a business. (Read about the 2020 hackathon.)

Velocity

Waterloo’s Velocity program supports student entrepreneurs through a variety of events and programs, as well as an incubator for early-stage, pre-seed startups.

You can:

• Participate in programs to help build and grow your entrepreneurial ideas 
• Develop your business more quickly with labs and a workshop
• Compete for early-stage funding with the Velocity $5K Pitch Competition
• Get the office support you need as you're ramping up
• Be part of a community

Enterprise Co-op

Want to work as your own boss? Take advantage of the Enterprise Co-op (E Co-op) program. You can use a work term to create and oversee your own business, as well as:

• Access workshops, seminars, and presentations from successful entrepreneurs
• Receive support from full-time, professional staff
• Grow your ideas using space in the Communitech Hub, located in Downtown Kitchener next to companies like Google and D2L

Visit the program page for information on deadlines, important dates, additional details, and how to apply.