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.
Frustrated with not being able to read on the go standing in a grocery store lineup or elsewhere, Ivan Yuen decided to create an app that lets him do just that – and millions of others as well.
The 2000 Waterloo computer engineering alumnus co-founded Wattpad 13 years ago to entertain and connect the world through interesting and personal stories shared online.
More than 350 people were on hand in November for a celebration of timely support and impressive success at the 2019 Waterloo Engineering Awards Dinner.
In addition to hundreds of graduate and undergraduate students recognized for excellence in their academic and extracurricular endeavors, additional funding was announced for four student startup companies through the Engineer of the Future Fund.
The idea of designing and building a modern new machine to produce old-school vinyl records came totally out of left field for James Hashmi.
Equipped with a 2007 degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Waterloo, he’d spent years establishing a career in medical technology, not traditional manufacturing.
Sisters Alexandra (BA ’10) and Rosemary Horwood (BA ’12) have lit up the financial services sector over the last decade. The proud Arts alumni credit Waterloo’s co-op program with giving them a head start in their career. Since joining the workforce, the two of them have earned top honours from Wealth Professional Canada, including the 2017 Advisor Rising Star Award for Rosemary and, for Alexandra, the 2019 Canadian Advisor of the Year.
Now, Alexandra and Rosemary are sharing investment advice with their fellow Waterloo alumni as part of Financial Literacy Month.
Three companies founded by University of Waterloo alumni are the fastest growing technology companies in Canada and a total of 11 Waterloo startups were in the Top 50 of the 2019 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 ranking.
The list highlights Canadian companies’ growth and commitment to innovation between 2015 and 2018. The average three-year growth rate of the Fast 50 winners is 1,689 per cent. The three top Canadian companies are:
NERv Technology, which is based out of the Velocity Garage in downtown Kitchener, won the Entrepreneurship World Cup (EWC) following a startup boot camp and several rounds of competition in Riyadh.
Launched by alumni Youssef Helwa (BASc ’15, nanotechnology engineering, MASc ’17, electrical engineering) and Amr Abdelgawad (BASc ’16, nanotechnology engineering, MBET ’17), the company is developing a device to proactively detect leakage of gastrointestinal fluid into the abdominal cavity after surgery.
Two Capstone Design teams earned a significant financial boost as winners of this year’s Palihapitiya Venture Creation Fund competition created to help transform projects into successful startups post-graduation.
When it came to launching a successful business, Cam Mills didn’t always do things by the book. The co-founder and COO of Terrene charted his own path as he built, scrapped and rebuilt his growing company.
After a full career with IBM, Brian Hyodo (BASc ’74) retired at the age of 55.
“Then I found out that I hated retirement,” he explains. “I sat at home thinking, ‘I have got to do something.’”
Five years later, he began an unexpected second career as a farrier, placing shoes on horses and donkeys and helping to straighten their crooked legs. It’s a rewarding career move that also tapped into his engineering background.