Are you making the most of your time at Waterloo?

You're here to learn. But somewhere between lectures and exams, you also want to know: Am I building the skills that matter? Am I building relationships that go beyond the classroom?

The Future Cities Innovation Challenge is your answer to both.

Housing. Affordability. The problem is real. So is your chance to work on it.

Housing affordability is one of the most pressing challenges facing cities today. People are being priced out of communities, and the gap between the problem and real solutions keeps growing. This challenge puts you inside that work, alongside experts and peers who are just as driven to change that.

What is it?

A two-week challenge open to all University of Waterloo students. No experience required. Just curiosity and a willingness to show up.

What you get out of the challenge:

You don't need experience to enter. From there, industry mentors guide you, peers challenge you, and the work teaches you things that add to your course work. The connections you build here are the kind that follow you into your career. Not because you networked. Because you worked on something hard together. All of that in just two weeks.

• Skills you can't learn in a lecture hall
• Stories you can use in interviews
• Connections that go somewhere
• Real work on real problems

$500 guaranteed for every team that completes the challenge, with grand prizes still up for grabs

Note: You don't need a team to register. Sign up as an individual and teams will be formed at the kickoff.

How do you participate?

It starts with showing up. Here is how the challenge unfolds:

Kickoff Event: Monday, June 8 | 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. 📍Black and Gold Room, SLC 2144

This is where it all begins. Dive into the problem spaces, meet your team, and get everything you need to hit the ground running. Light dinner included, because good ideas need good fuel.

This session is mandatory for all participants.

Key Dates to Save

Kickoff Event: Monday, June 8 | 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. 📍Black and Gold Room, SLC 2144 Mandatory for all participants. This is where teams are formed and problem spaces are assigned. ‍

Project Showcase: Wednesday, June 17 | 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. 📍Innovation Arena, 280 Joseph St, Kitchener. Mandatory for all teams that advance to the Top 16.

Final Awards and Presentations: Friday, June 19 | 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. 📍Innovation Arena, 280 Joseph St, Kitchener. Mandatory for all teams that advance to the Top 8.

Throughout the challenge, at least one team member must attend workshops and advisor office hours. These are where the real learning happens, so don't skip them.

Your next two weeks could look very different. The skills, the people, the experience. It's all here.

Questions? Email us
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