Velocity helps students build companies

Velocity Campus news, News

Get to know how our innovation ecosystem can turn your big idea into a startup

By Stephanie Longeway, University Relations

Outdoors at the University of Waterloo, students mingling and walking on the path

You’re probably familiar with the University of Waterloo’s world-renowned incubator, Velocity, but did you know that Velocity also leads student programming and resources on campus? Students exploring entrepreneurship can get support from Velocity at every step of their journey in turning an idea into an early-stage business.

This fall, we will have even more on-campus opportunities with the re-opening of Velocity Science — set to welcome a new wave of student trailblazer’s with a passion for starting a science-based company. We’re also opening the Problem Lab HQ and Velocity Digital creator spaces, in addition to hosting a lineup of in-person events for all skill levels. Students can validate their ideas and develop business strategies through workshops, hackathons, networking, one-on-one coaching and grant funding competitions like the Velocity $5K and more.

Recent Velocity $5K (formerly Concept $5K) startups include The President Braids (spring 2022) and Cauchy Analytics (winter 2022) as well as Maesos Technologies winner of the winter 2022 Problem Pitch.

After winning $5,000 in funding from Velocity this past spring term, founder of The President Braids, Adanna Amechi is excited for what the future holds for her business. “Velocity has the most amazing coaches, they helped me understand what is required of me as a business owner and a startup. They have allowed me to realize that I have so much potential that has been sitting inside me all this time. Most of the things I’ve done this far have been on my own, I’m finally feeling like a part of a community where I’m able to get ideas from people, talk to people and network.”