Green entrepreneurship

Direction: Embed sustainability within entrepreneurship

University of Waterloo has longstanding strengths in innovation and entrepreneurship, with multiple programs that help founders start new companies and organizations.

Waterloo’s innovation ecosystem, including Velocity, the Conrad Centre for Entrepreneurship, GreenHouse, and more, is uniquely positioned to help new companies plan for the long-term sustainability impacts, regulations, and market needs that they will face as they scale. 

GreenHouse, the University of Waterloo’s social impact incubator based at United College, continued to be a hub for environmental and climate-focused student ventures throughout 2025. These ventures were supported through the GreenHouse Social Innovators in Training program, as well as the Youth Climate Action Fund, a new municipal partnership with the City of Kitchener and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Indicators

Person having an idea bubble with leaf and lightbulb line icon
4 student-led projects supported by the Sustainability Action Fund

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Academic mission

Operational practice

Campus engagement

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Actions and accomplishments

Presentation from Alt Protein Project start-up
GreenHouse team in United College great hall

Historic green entrepreneurship actions and accomplishments

2021

  • Hired the Green Innovation Program Developer to enhance student learning across the green innovation ecosystem and catalyze an external network of sustainable entrepreneurs 

2020

  • Launched the Climate Change Fund to provide support to entrepreneurship efforts that were tackling climate change mitigation and adaptation

2019

2018

  • Partnered on the launch of the evolvGreen collaborative workspace for clean economy entrepreneurs in the new evolv1 building, in cooperation with Sustainable Waterloo Region, the Accelerator Centre, the City of Waterloo, and Wilfrid Laurier

2017

  • GreenHouse social innovation incubator opened its new space in the building addition at United College (formerly St. Paul's)
  • Velocity expanded its entrepreneurship support by launching Velocity Start @ Environment

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