Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business

Interested in pursuing doctoral research in entrepreneurship and organizations at the University of Waterloo?

Applications are now open for the PhD in Entrepreneurship and Organization for the January 2027 intake!

The program equips students to conduct independent scientific research in Entrepreneurship and Organizations, building on foundational theories in organizational behaviour and strategy while applying an entrepreneurial lens to behaviour in entrepreneurial contexts.

If you hold graduate degree in Business, Management, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, or a related social science discipline, and have a strong interest in conducting research in entrepreneurship and organizations then considering applying!

→Start by exploring our faculty research to identify whose research aligns with your own.

→January 2027 intake application deadline: October 15, 2026.

→Learn more about the PhD in Entrepreneurship and Organization and explore our faculty research: link in bio.

Waterloo Engineering

Enhance your graduate degree with business and entrepreneurship (BE) courses from the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business this fall!

Business and entrepreneurship courses give University of Waterloo graduate students practical skills and knowledge to succeed in today’s employment marketplace.

Fall 2026 BE course offerings:

→ BE 600: Management and Leadership
→ BE 601: Introduction to Financial and Managerial Accounting
→ BE 602: Data Analysis and Management
→ BE 604: Marketing Management 
→ BE 620: Business Strategy
→ BE 680: Consulting

More info on our website - link in bio.

Course selection for fall 2026 closed on September 29.

The Spring 2026 Quantum Valley Investments® Problem Pitch Competition challenges students to identify meaningful problems, validate their significance, and develop innovative, evidence-based solutions.

Rather than beginning with an idea, students start by deeply understanding a real-world challenge, a foundational entrepreneurial mindset that emphasizes solving problems people genuinely face.

This term, student innovators from across the University of Waterloo explored challenges ranging from clean drinking water access and Type 1 Diabetes management to startup growth and space sustainability, showcasing the creativity, curiosity, and entrepreneurial thinking needed to turn complex problems into impactful solutions.

✨ Congratulations to this term's winning team, Star Rangers! Tania Lai, Chantel LeClercq, Jiya Makwana and Jessica Barboza

Shoutout to our outstanding finalists:
✨ DiaCare: Phoebe Li, Peyman GhavamiNejad and Katelyn De Poli
✨ Sandcastle: Nicholas Cheng
✨ Growth Partner AI: Vivian Wang

A sincere thank you to our judges Francis Wang, Kulsum Ali, and Ira Stephen Bowering, for sharing their expertise, asking thoughtful questions, and helping our student entrepreneurs strengthen their ventures.

Read the full story: link in bio.

Creativity is a competitive advantage in entrepreneurship. 💡

For Emma Tonellato-Keller (GBDA '20, MBET '21), building a successful business meant combining creative thinking with entrepreneurial skills.

Through the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program, she gained the knowledge, confidence and network to grow New Valley Brand House into the thriving venture it is today.

"MBET won't make entrepreneurship easy, but it will give you the tools to make it possible."

Read how Emma transformed her creative background into entrepreneurial success through the Conrad School's Alumni Impact Series - link in bio!

University of Waterloo
Waterloo Engineering
University of Waterloo Faculty of Arts

From building custom AI solutions for local businesses to raising $5 million for Automax.ai, Humza Ahmed’s entrepreneurial journey is a great example of what can happen when students are given the opportunity to build.

Ahmed credits Waterloo’s startup ecosystem, including Velocityity and the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, as critical to his success to date.

He first discovered entrepreneurship through Conrad School’s Enterprise Co-op (E Co-op) program after encouragement from the late Dr. Wayne Chang, then director of E Co-op. With no startup idea going in, Humza took an experimental approach: “I was just finding businesses and building custom AI solutions for them.”

Today, he’s building Automax.ai, using AI, computer vision and LiDAR to transform the home appraisal process.

We’re proud to see where the E Co-op experience can lead and to celebrate alumni like Humza who are building what comes next. 👏

Read the full story from University of Waterloo news: https://uwaterloo.ca/news/reinventing-home-appraisals-ai-nets-5-million-raise

What if a home appraisal could take hours instead of days?

University of Waterloo student and entrepreneur Humza Ahmed saw an opportunity to rethink a traditionally time-consuming industry. That idea became Automax.ai, an AI-powered startup using artificial intelligence, computer vision and LiDAR to streamline the home appraisal process. Now, the company has secured $5 million in funding to scale its technology and continue transforming how properties are appraised and valued.
From recognizing an industry challenge to building a technology-driven solution, Ahmed’s journey shows how entrepreneurship and emerging technology can reshape established industries.

Learn how a Waterloo student is reappraising the future of real estate and building what comes next.

More : https://bit.ly/3UEerP6 |

A great feature on part-time MBET and Entrepreneurial PhD fellow Hasti Shwan! 👏

From research discovery to real-world impact.

The University of Waterloo Faculty of Engineering and the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business recently celebrated the inaugural Academy of Research Commercialization (ARC) Pitch Day, where PhD researchers showcased innovative ventures transforming breakthrough discoveries into solutions for real-world challenges.

From AI and robotics to health care and sustainable technologies, these innovators are turning research into impact.

Read more about the researchers shaping the future.

🔗 https://uwaterloo.ca/conrad-school-entrepreneurship-business/news/research-discovery-real-world-impact

Open enrolment is almost here. 👀

Starting July 29, University of Waterloo undergraduate students can begin adding courses to their fall schedule.

If you’re looking for an elective that goes beyond the classroom, this is your sign to explore a BET course. 🚀

Whether you’re curious about entrepreneurship, innovation, venture creation, design thinking, or commercialization, BET courses help you build the mindset and skills to solve real-world problems, no matter your faculty or future career path!

📅 Open enrolment begins July 29
➡️ Browse BET courses on the UG Academic Calendar and add one to your Fall schedule

📣 New course alert!🚨

Introducing BET 220: From Taylor Swift to K-Everything: Business, Entrepreneurship, and Pop Culture

✨ Go beyond the headlines to explore how fandoms fuel billion-dollar industries, brands become cultural movements, and entrepreneurs turn influence into impact.

✨ In BET 220, you’ll uncover the business strategies, entrepreneurial thinking, and branding decisions behind some of the world’s biggest names in music, entertainment, technology, and global pop culture.

✨ Add BET 220 to your fall schedule and discover the business behind the culture shaping today’s world

Students in the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program recently pitched their innovative ventures during the annual MBET Pitch Day.

MBET students had the opportunity to showcase their entrepreneurial thinking, receive valuable feedback from experienced judges and mentors, and demonstrate how they're turning ideas into impact.

Congratulations to this year's MBET pitch winners and a sincere thank you to our judges, mentors, alumni, community members and supporters for sharing your expertise and helping our students take the next steps in their entrepreneurial journeys.

Events like Pitch Day showcase the creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial leadership that define the MBET experience.

Read the full recap and learn about the winning teams on our website.