Five ways to tap into Waterloo’s entrepreneurship ecosystem

Students and entrepreneurial researchers are drawn to the University of Waterloo for its distinctive innovation ecosystem. Whether you're committed to creating social change, developing early-stage inventions or launching a commercial venture that’s poised to make waves, Waterloo offers the right support at every stage of the journey. 

The university fosters entrepreneurship by opening pathways, delivering unmatched experiential education and providing access to leading programs that offer mentorship, funding and connections — all within a collaborative environment. That’s why Waterloo was ranked the number one school for entrepreneurs in Canada by Pitchbook in 2024.  

If you’re sitting on an idea, here are five opportunities that could help you scale the next big success story at Waterloo: 

Velocity 

Velocity is the University of Waterloo’s centre of entrepreneurship, helping students launch ventures with lasting impact. From idea generation to full-time founder careers, Velocity is the best community for students and founders. Its network connections, programs, spaces and expert advisory support to build the skills and mindset needed to succeed. Join a community of more than 600 students building companies for a better future. 

The Innovation Open House, offered as part of Waterloo Tech Week, is happening on September 9, 2025 at Federation Hall. Connect with fellow students and explore the exciting world of entrepreneurship on campus. 

GreenHouse 

GreenHouse is a social impact incubator for students and community members who want to drive social or environmental change. Students build entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial skills while expanding their professional networks. Participants also have access to seed funding through the Social Impact Fund to advance their ventures. Each term wraps up with the Social Impact Showcase, celebrating the accomplishments of GreenHouse innovators.  

Learn more about the impact GreenHouse students make and how to get involved. 

Enterprise Co-op (E Co-op) 

E Co-op, offered by the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, blends two of Waterloo’s strengths: our world-renowned co-operative education program and thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. The program enables students to start and operate their own business while earning co-op credit. As an E Co-op student, you’ll enter the program during your work term and receive ongoing mentorship and feedback on your business development. One standout success is BeBlended, an online marketplace that connects clients with Afro-curly hair textures to stylists who specialize in their hair type — offering a user experience similar to Airbnb. 

Hack the North 

Canada’s largest hackathon brings together more than 1,000 students from around the world to build software and hardware projects from scratch in just 36 hours. Hack the North welcomes all skill levels and provides workshops, mentors, sponsors and hardware to help teams create something great. Now in its 12th year, the event is launching new initiatives to push the boundaries of what’s possible in tech.  

Learn more about Hack the North and how to get involved. 

Socratica 

Founded by Waterloo students, Socratica is a fast-growing organization that gives participants the space and network to create together. Its collaborative events empower students to design, play, build and turn ideas into reality. Socratica’s framework and toolbox have resonated far beyond campus, fueling rapid expansion across Canada and internationally. In just three years, it has become Canada’s (and possibly the world’s) fastest-growing student maker collective.  

Learn more or sign up for one of the weekly co-working sessions.