Build ventures. Drive innovation. Lead change.
The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business in the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering serves as the academic engine for entrepreneurs.
Building on Waterloo’s strong culture of innovation and experiential education, the school provides hands-on learning in venture creation, innovative commercialization, and strategic start-up growth.
Through a broad portfolio of undergraduate, graduate, and outreach programs, students gain the skills and experience to launch new ventures, drive innovation within organizations, and lead in rapidly evolving markets.
Conrad School graduates are ambitious, action-oriented decision-makers equipped to transform ideas into impactful business outcomes.
Start your entrepreneurial journey here
"Waterloo has been a main driving force behind Canadian entrepreneurship, powering Canada’s largest tech-corridor network to help innovators move ideas from the lab to the marketplace." - The Waterloo Impact Report 2026.
Undergraduate Students
Enhance your undergraduate degree by joining Conrad School's specialized programs, experiences, and courses.
Graduate Students
Commercialize your ideas and earn your master's degree, PhD, or complement your studies with graduate offerings.
News
From research discovery to real-world impact
The Academy of Research Commercialization (ARC) program recently celebrated its inaugural Pitch Day, showcasing the entrepreneurial potential of University of Waterloo PhD students and their innovative, research-driven ventures.
Through ARC, Waterloo PhD students gain the commercialization knowledge, mentorship and ecosystem connections needed to transform deep-tech research into solutions that can make a meaningful impact beyond the lab.
This year’s participants pitched ventures addressing challenges across industries, from sustainable materials and healthcare technologies to artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced manufacturing.
Redefining Entrepreneurship Education
Entrepreneurship doesn't have to fit a traditional mould. For MBET alumna Divya Lala, entrepreneurship is rooted in empathy, education, and community. Through her work at the University of Waterloo and as founder of Integral Learning, Divya is helping students build confidence, discover their strengths, and succeed on their own terms.
In her Alumni Impact story, Divya reflects on personal growth, the power of diverse perspectives, the lasting influence of Professor Wayne Chang, and how MBET helped her redefine entrepreneurship as a tool for creating meaningful change.
MBET Program Updates
Big news! The Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) program now offers optional graduate specializations that allow students to tailor their degree and customize their path based on their interests, goals, and career aspirations.
Whether you’re launching your own startup, transitioning into product management, or driving digital transformation within an organization, MBET gives you the tools, mindset, and network to create advantage in a rapidly changing economy.
Blog
Returning to Waterloo, Rebuilding Momentum
A decade after graduating from the University of Waterloo's Systems Design Engineering program and discovering entrepreneurship through the Conrad School, MBET student James Cheng returned to the university to build a new venture—and found a community, opportunity, and renewed sense of momentum.
Building an immigration engine for high achievers
At the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, MBET students apply structured frameworks to turn experience into disciplined venture building. For Joshua, this meant integrating validation, customer discovery, and market insight into every stage of his process—strengthening both his decision-making and confidence as a founder.
Through the program’s hands-on learning, direct faculty feedback, and collaborative community, Joshua advanced BaseLeaf, a SaaS platform simplifying immigration for high achievers. Now live with paying customers and focused on U.S. merit-based pathways, the venture is preparing to scale as part of the Velocity Summer 2026 cohort.
From Cali to Waterloo: finding my "why" in business
MBET student Andres Felipe Toro shares his journey from Colombia to Canada, shaped by diverse experiences across sectors and countries.
Drawn to entrepreneurship as a tool for meaningful change, he is focused on building ventures at the intersection of sustainability, social impact, and viable business. Currently, he is exploring solutions in affordable and transitional housing.
Through the MBET program, he has strengthened his ability to test ideas rigorously while embracing uncertainty as part of the process, all within a diverse community that challenges assumptions and sharpens thinking.
Events
Coffee and Conversation with the Dean
Beginning September 23rd, and continuing every Thursday through this term, Dean Mary Wells will be available on the 1st floor of PSE, outside the C&D, from 3-5 pm for a chat and to connect.
Coffee and Conversation with the Dean
Coffee and Conversation with the Dean
Coffee and Conversation with the Dean
Beginning September 23rd, and continuing every Thursday through this term, Dean Mary Wells will be available on the 1st floor of PSE, outside the C&D, from 3-5 pm for a chat and to connect.