Co-op and Experiential Education

In the world of startups, the University of Waterloo’s incubator Velocity is a giant. Velocity has helped launch over 300 companies with a remarkably vast array of business models and technologies that have received more than $1 billion in investment. It supported the creation of some of 2019s fastest growing startups and most recently launched Concept, a campus-focused pre-incubator to further encourage students to learn about scaling their ideas into a business.

It didn’t take long for Calvin Veenkamp to get his feet wet on a 2019 co-op term in the Netherlands.

The second-year environmental engineering student spent four months wading in and out of the inter-tidal zone of the Oosterschelde near the Yerseke, a small town where the main industry is shellfish cultivation.

From chip-resistant windshields to streamlining access to education, the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 list highlights five entrepreneurs with University of Waterloo connections. Take a look at the innovators who are shaking up some of the world’s most competitive industries, one product at a time.

Chong Shen

Banner image courtesy of Loran Scholars Foundation. Chidi Umenwofor-Nweze, far right, stands with all of Waterloo's current Loran Scholars.

Earlier this year, Waterloo opened its doors to thousands of new students, one of whom was Chidi Umenwofor-Nweze, a 2019 Loran Scholarship recipient whose educational journey from the ice-capped mountains of Iqaluit to a small village in India has given her the ability to thrive as a young leader and make a positive impact in her communities.

Startup companies at the University of Waterloo's flagship entrepreneurship programs have generated more than $2 billion in revenue and around 7,500 jobs over about a decade, according to a major new report by Deloitte Canada.

Landon Jennings was 14-years-old when her life changed forever.

A freshman in high school, the then grade 9 student had to recount experiences she never wanted to think about again.

“I remember being called out of class to the principal’s office,” says Jennings. “Someone close to me slowly became a monster in front of my eyes as I was forced to replay images I tried to forget.”

Back when I was studying Global Business and Digital Arts at the University of Waterloo, I had to complete an internship in my third year in order to graduate. Knowing this, I worked my butt off all through my first and second year to build job experience, a social media following, and a meaningful network by the time I had to apply. I remember coming into it feeling ahead of the game with sky-high expectations and definitely an inflated ego.

Rukshan de Silva (BES ’14, MEDI ’17) received a top honour at the Planning Institute of Australia’s (PIA) National Awards for Planning Excellence.