The time to start something is now
Velocity offers programs for all students, researchers and faculty at the University of Waterloo, regardless of level of experience. We can help you at all stages of your founder journey. See our FREE resources listed below and start working with us today!
Not sure and need more guidance? Fill out the form below and a Velocity representative will guide you in the right direction. Receive a response within 3-5 business days.
Join Velocity
From idea to startup
Gain access to connections, practical and authentic business expertise, a deeply supportive network, space to build a team and develop products, and events to inspire and motivate you.
Find us on campus
Come join the Velocity team during one of our upcoming events at Waterloo or drop by one of the 3 on-campus Velocity spaces.
- Velocity digital – SCH 228
- Velocity science – ESC 232
- Velocity central – MC 2037
Upcoming events
Our programs
Cornerstone
Cornerstone is the culmination of the student entrepreneurial process. Test your business ideas by finding and speaking directly with customers.
Validate your business plan and gain firsthand knowledge of your target market while joining a network of founders to share knowledge and resources.
Learn more about Cornerstone
Up Start
Up Start is for Waterloo students and recent graduates who want to transform their work into real world commercial ventures.
Whether you are working on a graduate degree or capstone project, we want to accelerate your success and help you make an impact on the world.
Learn more about Up Start
Velocity Pitch Competition
The Velocity Pitch Competition offers the opportunity for University of Waterloo student-led teams with innovative solutions and high potential business ideas to showcase their hard work and compete for grant funding.
Participants receive valuable feedback, pitching experience, and idea validation from a network of experienced entrepreneurs and Velocity coaches.
Foundations
Transform the way you tackle challenges
Velocity Foundations is a great way to learn about important issues while building an innovative mindset. Over 8-weeks we will explore a big societal challenge and provide expert guidance and innovative tools to find insights and solutions that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Learn more and apply
Velocity Expert Community
With years of practical industry-specific knowledge across diverse sectors, our experts provide targeted advice tailored to your specific needs.
Learn more and book your session
Startup 101
Want to know what an entrepreneurship journey looks like? Need to find funding and unsure of where to start? Startup 101 will kickstart your business knowledge with our simple hour long (sometimes more) themed sessions. Hosted by founders for everyone.
See you IRL. No experience necessary.
Fall Startup 101 event schedule coming soon.
WIN / Velocity scholarship
The WIN-Velocity Scholarship supports research-based master’s students from the University of Waterloo looking commercialize their research and build a deep-tech start-up company.
Selected students will receive support from Velocity and funding from the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN).
Learn more about the WIN | Velocity scholarship
Campus Ambassadors
The Velocity Campus Ambassadors engage, support and connect students with entrepreneurship experiences that help foster ambitious ideas.
Ambassadors are on campus weekly to hand out swag, talk, support & plan events, build community and more!
Apply to become Velocity campus ambassadorResources beyond Velocity
Meet our partners on campus
Velocity works very closely with four other innovation focused partners on campus to ensure that students have access to the right resources at the right time. Learn more about each partner and their unique offerings to find out how they can best assist you on your entrepreneurial journey. Each partner has different expertise so feel free to work with as many as desired.
Velocity campus partners
Funding opportunities
Beyond the Velocity $5K Grant, there are a wide variety of funding opportunities available to University of Waterloo Students with entrepreneurial aspirations. These range from scholarships and grants to investment opportunities. We want you to receive the best support for your entrepreneurial journey, we hope this helps point you in the right direction to success!
View other funding opportunities Learn about the Velocity Fund
The Zero Experience
Don’t know where to start?
Powered by the Faculty of Math and open to all students, the Zero Experience gives you the problem-solving tools to let you make an impact now and discover what you want alongside hundreds of your peers.
Learn more about The Zero ExperienceZero Work
Feeling stuck or overwhelmed?
In just a single weekend, Zero Work gives you the clarity and tools to find the career you’ll love.
Learn more about Zero Work