big river technologies attracts first-class talent to solve complex enterprise challenges.
I knew I wanted to use what I had learned at the University of Waterloo in terms of urban planning and cities, and infuse it with green and with a new way of shaping and appreciating our urban environment. I had started seeing cities in a different way and was keen to share this vision and inspire others with the potential.
Nadayar Enegesi (BCS '13)
Alumnus, Faculty of Mathematics
> Co-Founder, Andela
With an acceptance rate of only 0.8 per cent, CNN has called African IT company Andela, one of the most selective programs in the world and “…harder to get into than Harvard.”
The University of Waterloo’s flagship entrepreneurship program, Velocity, is launching a startup investment fund in March. The fund will connect early-stage startups to the capital they need to grow their business while offering investors a simple way to invest in a diversified portfolio of startups from Canada’s most productive incubator.
The new fund will replace the grant system used to sponsor the awards for the incubator’s tri-annual Velocity Fund Finals (VFF) pitch competition at Waterloo. The winning startups will receive a minimum investment of $25,000 through the fund.
The University of Waterloo’s flagship entrepreneurship program, Velocity, is launching a venture fund that aims to connect early-stage startups to the capital they need.
The new AngelList-powered venture fund, which will invest in startups in sectors ranging from software to biomedical, will launch this Spring. It will give investors a simple way to invest in a diversified portfolio of early-stage startups supported by Waterloo’s Velocity Garage. Since launching 10 years ago, Velocity has helped launch 300 companies who have collectively raised over $850 million in funding.
Chris Eliasmith
Professor, Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Engineering
> Co-Founder, Applied Brain Research inc.
> Director, Centre for Theoretical Neuroscience
The notion that robots could possess something akin to a human brain seems like science fiction.
Rachel Thompson BSc' 15
Alumnus, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
> Founder, Marlena Books
One in five Canadians has cared for someone living with dementia. They have also experienced stress, stigma, and difficulty finding the right services and support for those they love.
Karima Ladhani (BMath ’10) began her journey in the public service and health sector as a volunteer at various institutions devoted to improving public health outcomes while an undergrad at Waterloo.
Driven by interdisciplinary approaches to health, and a commitment to helping mothers and children, she founded Barakat Bundle a curated bundle of life-saving solutions and health education to support mothers and their newborns and prevent infant and maternal mortality in South Asia.
From manufacturing and industry, consumer technology, healthcare and more, at least 11 of Waterloo’s alumni and former students have earned spots on the 2019 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. These 20-somethings are shaking things up in the areas of robotics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI), app creation and life-saving technology. The list, which represents innovative minds from Canada and the United States, stretches across 20 categories for a total of 600 people.
Meet the 11 alumni and former Waterloo students taking home top honours in seven different industries.
Alumni Council member and alumnus Vikas Gupta (BSc ’91) is the co-founder and CEO of AVARA, a company creating innovative technology to enable compelling and immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences that transport people to unique places, moments, and interactions around the world that are far beyond their imagination.