Focus: Creating space and opportunity for innovation
Three Waterloo students, Engineering’s Adrian Simone, Masters of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology student Rania Al-Sheikhlv, and Science’s Krystal Yang, worked with faculty advisor Brian Ingalls to create MicroBuild, a company that uses recycled aggregate and a natural microbial process to form the bio-brick. This masonry unit that is lighter and more durable than standard bricks providing an important new carbon-neutral raw material solution.
This project showcases Waterloo’s innovation ecosystem. Simone began working on the idea for a more environmentally friendly construction material while on a co-op work term in the construction industry. A second co-op term, an Enterprise co-op term with the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, allowed the team to further develop their enterprise. Competitions with Conrad and Velocity provided an opportunity to hone concepts and raise interest. Faculty advisors with experience in commercializing research innovations provided leadership and guidance. Finally, Velocity Science provides space, mentorship, collaboration opportunities, and access to potential investors and customers
In September 2022, Simone and Al-Sheikhlv were announced as a national runner-up in the 2022 James Dyson Award competition. Simone will be speaking on a panel of early-stage start-ups at Waterloo’s Innovation Ecosystem event and MicroBuild will return to Velocity Science to continue working.
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