Waterloo’s newest on-campus entrepreneurship program: Velocity Start
Velocity Start has everything from maker space to startup coaching. Register now for its kickoff event
Velocity Start has everything from maker space to startup coaching. Register now for its kickoff event
By Katrina Schigas Marketing and Strategic CommunicationsUniversity of Waterloo students who want to learn about entrepreneurship and collaborate with like-minded people won’t have to go far to find a space to study, create, and access resources such as startup coaching and workshops.
Velocity Start, housed in a 6000-square foot space on the second floor of South Campus Hall, opened on January 11 to address the growing needs of students who want to discover their entrepreneurial talents. Intended to be the first stop on campus for people interested in entrepreneurship, Velocity Start is not limited to just entrepreneurs, and all resources are free and open to anyone regardless of faculty or background. It adds another dimension to the rich ecosystem of entrepreneurship resources and supports for Waterloo students.
“Velocity Start is the entry point for any students who want to explore entrepreneurship,” said Mike Kirkup, director of Velocity. "We want to equip prospective entrepreneurs with the mentorship, tools, and collaborative environment needed to develop their ideas, in order to inspire and support the next wave of world-class startups out of Waterloo.”
The new program is a good reminder to students that entrepreneurship isn't just for engineers. Jona Cho, a Waterloo English student and founder of FotoFox, said her arts education is a great advantage in the startup community.
“Because I don’t have a traditional business or technical background, the way I see and approach problems is different. In a way, my creative nature and artistic bent give me the audacity to try new things, to keep asking questions, and to just go for it,” said Cho.
The space includes:
On top of providing a physical space for students to explore entrepreneurship on campus, Velocity Start offers weekly workshops and mentorship resources to give students and entrepreneurs the skills and experience to start and grow their business. These include
An informal Velocity Start Programs Kickoff event will be happening on January 20 at 5:00 p.m., followed by Find Your Kick A** Idea at 7:30 p.m., with an official Open House to be taking place later in the Winter 2016 term.
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The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.