Quantum Valley Investments® Problem Pitch Competition

1. Choose a problem
2. Conduct a problem analysis using our methods
3. Submit your application
4. Participate in the competiton

This competition is open to teams of 1 to 4 students. We encourage teams to bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds and areas of study. Teams must have a least one current full-time, or part-time, University of Waterloo student (undergraduate or graduate). All members are encouraged to attend Problem Lab and Velocity Campus events during the competition. 

Please see our FAQ page.

Would you like to book a 1:1 meeting with Problem Lab staff to discuss the specific problem you wish to pursue? Fill in the meeting form to connect with a member of the Problem Lab team.

Our methodology for identifying important problems allows you to judge importance objectively and dependably. For each chosen problem, conduct the following analysis:

1. Start looking for important problems in domains you find personally interesting. 
2. Document as many examples of important problems as you can find. 
3. Select a problem for further investigation.

Students can choose to research and pitch an analysis of any problem they wish to. We understand a number of initial inspirations for problems can come from a variety of personal and work-related experiences.  

Students are also welcome to look to the Problem Lab's briefs on Billion Dollar Problem topics when considering a problem to research. Sample topics include:

1. Carbon Capture - The removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere exhibits technical and affordability challenges. 
2. Climate-Driven Environmental Emergencies - The effects of a changing climate put human systems, like infrastructure, at risk. 
3. Discovery Tools - Significant obstacles and limitations to research in biological and physical sciences.
4. Engineered Foods - Changing consumer preferences and nutritional awareness challenges processed food manufacturers.
5. Fitness Technology - Fitness technologies and operators are challenged to attract and retain consumers long-term.
6. Space Technology - Still in its early days, opportunities in space tech are exceptionally wide.

Our methodology for analyzing important problems assists you to analyze a problem thoroughly and efficiently. For your chosen problem:

1. Research the scale of the problem.
2. Research the context of the problem.
3. Research the history of the problem.
4. Critically evaluate the past attempts to solve the problem. 
5. Validate your research and information about the problem with stakeholder and customer interviews.

For additional information and resources, such as interviewing stakeholders, please visit our Notion page

Refer to the Library's guide for conducting research for the Problem Pitch.

If you have any questions, please arrange a meeting with a member of our staff.

Note: This is intended to provide prospective students with a sense of how Problem Pitch participants progress over the course of a semester. During the competition a complete list of dates will be updated here and communicated to participants.

Funding provided by the Quantum Valley Investments® Problem Pitch Competition is to be used for research and development (R&D) toward a solution to the problem identified. Funds must be used within one year of receiving the monies and will be administered through reimbursement of approved expenses. All receipts and documentation from R&D must be provided and purchases must be dated after the conclusion of the competition to be eligible. 

The decision to award one or two competition winners is at the judges’ discretion. Winners may be eligible for additional funding, up to the amount of the initial funding, based on their R&D progress. 

The Problem Pitch Competition is made possible by $300,000 in funding from Mike Lazaridis and Doug Fregin, principals of Quantum Valley Investments® and founders of Blackberry.