Future Cities Innovation Challenge Kick-Off

Ready to make a real impact in the future of cities and communities?

Monday, June 8, 2026 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm EDT (GMT -04:00)
Future cities innovation challenge

$15,000 in cash prizes up for grabs!

Ready to make a real impact in the future of cities and communities? Join the Future Cities Institute and Velocity for the Future Cities Innovation Challenge!

‍Who: All University of Waterloo students. No experience necessary!
What: A two-week challenge to flex your creativity and problem-solving skills
When: June 8-19, 2026
Why: Your ideas could contribute to the creation of more resilient cities and communities.

What’s in it for you?

  • Team up: Collaborate with fellow students to tackle real-world problems in a variety of problem spaces.
  • Make friends: Connect with like-minded peers and grow your network.
  • Learn from the best: Gain insights and mentorship from housing industry experts from across the country.
  • Innovate: Discover groundbreaking ways to create evidence-based scalable solutions that build more resilient communities and cities.

Note: You don't need to have a team to register; you can register as an individual.

How can you be part of it?

Kick-off Event:

🗓️ Monday, June 8.

⏰ 4:00 - 6:00 p.m

📍 University of Waterloo campus. (Exact location TBD)

Info and team formation session: Dive into the problem spaces, challenge schedule, prizing, and everything you need to get started.
Food and refreshments: Enjoy a light dinner while meeting your team and gearing up for the challenge!