Entrepreneurship

Nick Anapolsky knows something about motivation.

The Recreation and Leisure Studies grad had a storied career in Warriors football, breaking both the provincial and national records for single-season receptions in his final year. Since then, he’s built a successful business and nurtured it through the pandemic. And in an effort to help his clients stay connected and inspired during the lockdown, he attempted — and broke — a Guinness world record.

All six teams that earned $10,000 each at engineering's pitch contest developed creative solutions to challenges ranging from making rock climbing safer to providing spinal cord injury patients with increased mobility.

The winning teams of senior-year engineering students were narrowed down from 10 who took three minutes each to explain their projects to a panel of judges in the Norman Esch Entrepreneurship Awards for Capstone Design contest held remotely on April 8.

Chris Goddard (BA ’01) is the co-founder of Craft Brand Co., a Toronto agency that partners with local brewers to offer globally renowned brews to Ontario beer lovers. In 2019, Craft Brand Co. launched their online store, Bodega, where you can order limited release brews, exclusive offerings and all the classics – and have them delivered anywhere in Ontario.

Every year, more than 4.5 million people need blood transfusions in Canada and the United States. That amounts to about 36,000 RBC units per day for the US alone. Transfusions are needed for trauma response, surgery and cancer care. The medical system relies on a complex system of blood donations to meet that need. Without a sufficient, reliable supply of safe blood, the health-care system comes into jeopardy.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, join us to honour seven alumni who have inspired, empowered and changed lives. Read on to meet women from Waterloo who are making headlines and inspiring the next generation of female leaders.

Two ambitious School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) alumni were bold enough to start a venture amid a tumultuous global economic environment.  

> Adnan Khan (MAcc ’17)
> Fineas Tatar (BAFM ’20)

Banner caption: Artist’s conceptual illustration of the planned Innovation Arena: Julia Nakanishi

The University of Waterloo’s new Innovation Arena has received a $1.5 million gift from local entrepreneur, angel investor and community leader Mike Stork.

The gift supports a $35-million capital project to restore a University-owned warehouse in Downtown Kitchener’s Innovation District. Located at the corner of Victoria and Joseph Streets, the 90,000-square-foot building will be the new home of Velocity, Waterloo’s signature entrepreneurship program.

With the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, organizations everywhere are preparing for the return of cautious and, understandably, concerned office workers.

As social distancing continues for months to come, finding ways to support in-office workers is at the top of every C-suite’s list. 

Nafiseh Nafissi
MSc ’09, PhD ’13
> Executive vice-president of research and development, Mediphage Bioceuticals

In the midst of a surge in COVID-19 cases in fall 2020, hopeful news emerged: Vaccine trials by several large drug makers showed promise.