Waterloo’s newest on-campus entrepreneurship program: Velocity Start

University of Waterloo students who want to learn about entrepreneurship and collaborate with like-minded people won’t have to go far to find a space to study, create, and access resources such as startup coaching and workshops.

Velocity Start, housed in a 6000-square foot space on the second floor of South Campus Hall, opened on January 11 to address the growing needs of students who want to discover their entrepreneurial talents. Intended to be the first stop on campus for people interested in entrepreneurship, Velocity Start is not limited to just entrepreneurs, and all resources are free and open to anyone regardless of faculty or background. It adds another dimension to the rich ecosystem of entrepreneurship resources and supports for Waterloo students.

“Velocity Start is the entry point for any students who want to explore entrepreneurship,” said Mike Kirkup, director of Velocity. "We want to equip prospective entrepreneurs with the mentorship, tools, and collaborative environment needed to develop their ideas, in order to inspire and support the next wave of world-class startups out of Waterloo.”

The new program is a good reminder to students that entrepreneurship isn't just for engineers.  Jona Cho, a Waterloo English student and founder of FotoFox, said her arts education is a great advantage in the startup community.

“Because I don’t have a traditional business or technical background, the way I see and approach problems is different. In a way, my creative nature and artistic bent give me the audacity to try new things, to keep asking questions, and to just go for it,” said Cho.

The space includes:

• A lounge and workspace with comfortable couches, chairs, and work tables
• Three large meeting tables, which can be booked for groups that are coordinating entrepreneurial-related initiatives
• A 650-square foot maker space, offering the use of 3D printers and hand tools for students who want to build physical products
• An adjacent cafeteria, South Side Marketplace, which is expected to open in March and will offer some of the best food on campus

On top of providing a physical space for students to explore entrepreneurship on campus, Velocity Start offers weekly workshops and mentorship resources to give students and entrepreneurs the skills and experience to start and grow their business. These include

• 17+ workshops, panel discussions, and brainstorming sessions per term, covering topics such as creating a business model, customer validation, pitching, and how to build a science startup
• Coaching and mentorship from Velocity startup founders, providing guidance as students discover their startup idea and begin to build a business
• Problem Labs led by Larry Smith, offering a researched overview and insight into technologies, marketplaces, companies and issues in order to help identify big problems worth solving

Register for kickoff event now

An informal Velocity Start Programs Kickoff event will be happening on January 20 at 5:00 p.m., followed by Find Your Kick A** Idea at 7:30 p.m., with an official Open House to be taking place later in the Winter 2016 term.