Governor General inspires a new generation of student startups

If you ask the Governor General of Canada if he has any advice for young entrepreneurs, he will tell you this: “Minds, like parachutes, work best when open.”

Speaking on the importance of innovation and the role of future leaders in Canada, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston met with students in the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (MBET) program at the Conrad Centre on May 17.

Among the questions fielded by the vice-regal was how young entrepreneurs can make their communities smarter and more caring places.

“Share your expertise,” he said. “You may not realize this but you’re pretty impressive people and have very special skills; you know how to get things done. Use your skills in areas where you can make a difference.”

Johnston also shared stories of his time as Waterloo’s president, and how the Conrad Centre began to take shape. Recalling his very first President’s Council meeting in 1999, Johnston acknowledged the enthusiasm that Howard Armitage, founder of the Conrad Centre, had for turning the existing entrepreneurial spirit into a teachable program at Waterloo. That enthusiasm and vision resulted in a program unlike any other.

“This program is truly unique,” said Johnston. “[Howard] took the ball and he ran with it. He ran with it brilliantly, and here we are.”

Jake Deutsch, MBET student and founder of Consensys, a digital platform to connect politicians to their constituents, said interest from Canadian leaders, such as the Governor General, is “absolutely crucial” in attracting future entrepreneurs to the region and supporting the next generation of innovators.

“The innovation community here is unmatched. The reputation that this institution and this city has around the world is unbelievable,” said Deutsch. “The Governor General’s attendance today really helps to cement our reputation. And having [His Excellency David Johnston] speak to [Howard's] role in establishing The Conrad Centre was very nice to hear.”

From left, Mike Stork, chair of the Accelerator Centre and member of the University of Waterloo Board of Governors; Paul Salvini, chief executive officer of the Accelerator Centre and associate vice-president of research commercialization at the University of Waterloo; His Excellency David Johnston, Governor General of Canada; Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo; Ken Seiling, regional chair, Region of Waterloo.

Prior to visiting the Conrad Centre, Johnston attended 10^th anniversary celebrations for the Accelerator Centre, where he spoke about Waterloo’s “remarkable spirit of collaboration” as a crucial part of the culture of innovation.

“It’s the wonderful spirit of collaboration that makes this community the best ecosystem for startup companies in the world,” he said. “All of the elements of creativity and curiosity, of learning and talent, of diversity and collaboration, and of daring in the very right sense . . .  that’s here in this Accelerator Centre, that’s here in this park, that’s here in our learning institutions; it’s so pure in this community of Waterloo.”

Accelerator Centre has been offering office space, mentorship, and startup services to emerging tech companies since 2006 when it was launched as a partnership between University of Waterloo and federal, provincial, regional, and municipal governments. It has since graduated 51 companies from the program, and added a second location at the University of Waterloo’s Stratford campus.