The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons University of Waterloo Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

As a student at University of Waterloo, you may be familiar with the local incubators and entrepreneurial programmes offered on campus. While these initiatives provide valuable support, expanding your horizons could significantly increase your odds of long-term success. In fact, one study found that 87% of startups that went through top-tier programmes were still active after five years, compared to just 44% of those that went it alone. That’s the kind of difference the right programme can make.

But how do you know if an incubator programme is right for you? With so many rigid, one-size-fits-all options out there, finding the right fit can be tough. That’s where EWOR comes in: a uniquely flexible platform combining global mentorship, funding opportunities, and a prestigious network – designed specifically to help ambitious founders thrive.

In this article, we’ll explore five key reasons why University of Waterloo students should look beyond their local incubators and consider EWOR to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

1. Access to Global Mentorship

Many university incubators and local programmes offer mentorship from faculty, alumni, or nearby founders. While helpful, these perspectives are often limited to regional markets and conventional startup paths.

EWOR operates borderless, on a global scale. Fellows are paired with mentors who have founded and scaled companies across continents and industries – including unicorns like SumUp, Adjust, and ProGlove. Rather than sporadic office hours, mentorship is built into the fabric of the programme – modular, consistent, and personal.

University of Waterloo's local incubators, such as Velocity, the Accelerator Centre, and others like GreenHouse and Flint Hub, offer significant mentorship opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs. These incubators connect founders with experienced local mentors, including industry veterans, successful entrepreneurs, and experts in various fields. The value of these local mentors lies in their ability to provide tailored guidance, leveraging their real-world experience and understanding of the local ecosystem. They offer practical knowledge, help with business plan development, market research, and navigating challenges specific to the Waterloo region. This support is crucial for early-stage startups as they move from ideation to scaling, providing the foundational knowledge and connections needed to succeed. The mentorship helps entrepreneurs validate ideas, understand their target market, and prepare for future investment.

With EWOR, you’ll have the chance to work with mentors who have scaled their businesses across different countries and industries, providing invaluable insights that can help your startup succeed in the global marketplace.

2. Larger Funding Opportunities

While local incubators may provide grants or limited seed funding, securing substantial capital is often a challenge for early-stage entrepreneurs. EWOR offers up to €500,000 in initial funding for selected startups, which can significantly boost your ability to develop your business. Moreover, EWOR provides access to a global network of investors, venture capital firms, and angel investors, ensuring that you have the opportunity to secure further rounds of funding as your startup grows.

The University of Waterloo's local incubators, such as Velocity, offer significant funding opportunities for student startups. Velocity provides non-dilutive grants and seed funding to support early-stage companies. Their programs, like Up Start, are specifically designed for Waterloo students and recent alumni looking to commercialize their work. Velocity also hosts pitch competitions where student teams can win grant funding. Additionally, the university has initiatives like the Enterprise Co-op program, allowing students to work on their startups for co-op credit and potentially receive funding. While there can be a funding gap at the seed stage compared to some U.S. ecosystems, Waterloo actively supports its student entrepreneurs through various programs and connections to investors.

By choosing EWOR, University of Waterloo students can tap into larger funding sources, giving them the financial support needed to scale their businesses more effectively.

3. A Highly Selective and Prestigious Network

One of the main advantages of EWOR is the highly selective nature of its community. EWOR accepts only the top 0.1% of applicants, bringing together some of the world’s most talented and ambitious entrepreneurs. 

This exclusivity doesn’t just elevate the quality of each cohort — it also unlocks access to an extraordinary network of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. Just to name a few: Fabrice Grinda, one of the world’s leading angel investors and founder of OLX; Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia, Europe’s largest search engine after Google; and Vaitea Cowan, co-founder of Enapter, (€640M IPO) and a Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Energy. 

University of Waterloo's local incubators, like Velocity and GreenHouse, cultivate a strong community to help students build connections and collaborate. Velocity, for instance, surrounds students with fellow founders in the early stages of building businesses, fostering a supportive environment for sharing experiences and challenges. They provide physical spaces, including offices, hardware labs, and community areas, designed for collaboration and building products. GreenHouse focuses on social impact, connecting students working on initiatives aligned with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration. These incubators offer programs, advisory support, and networking opportunities with experienced founders and a professional network, facilitating connections for funding, services, and customers. The overall aim is to create a community that inspires innovation and provides the resources and network for students to accelerate their ventures.

While local incubators at University of Waterloo may provide valuable networking within the campus or regional ecosystem, EWOR’s global network opens doors to entirely new levels of collaboration. Fellows work alongside peers from dozens of countries and industries, connecting with elite investors, unicorn founders, and seasoned operators.

As many fellows have said, the community is one of the most unexpected – and most valuable – parts of the experience. “The real magic lies in the community: the kind of conversations, insights, and connections that lead not only to breakthroughs – but to lasting friendships with some of the most fascinating people they’ve ever met”.

4. Flexibility and Remote Access

Many local incubators require in-person participation, which can be limiting for students balancing coursework, part-time jobs, or other commitments. 

The University of Waterloo offers several incubators, including Velocity and GreenHouse. Velocity is a prominent incubator supporting early-stage tech startups, providing business advisory services and product development space. GreenHouse focuses on social impact and supports students developing ventures for social or environmental change. While historically in-person, the COVID-19 pandemic prompted shifts to remote and hybrid models for some university activities. Velocity, for instance, shifted much of its business development programming online but maintained in-person lab access for deep tech and healthtech startups. This hybrid approach, utilizing platforms for virtual interaction alongside physical spaces, can enhance accessibility for students, allowing participation regardless of location while still providing necessary resources for ventures requiring physical development.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. University of Waterloo students can access top-tier mentorship, founder-led education, and global resources without needing to relocate or follow a rigid schedule. Whether you’re validating an idea or scaling your first product, you’ll have the freedom to build around your life, not the other way around.

And if you're worried about missing out on in-person connection – don’t be. EWOR hosts real-world gatherings like the EWOR Connect and EWOR House, a multi-day retreat where fellows, alumni, and investors connect in person. We also organise city-based meetups and our flagship Grand Pitch event, which brings hundreds of top-tier investors together twice a year. So while the programme is remote-first, it’s far from remote-only.

5. Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Education

Local incubators often provide valuable workshops and learning modules, but they may be limited in scope and depth. EWOR offers over 200 exclusive videos, workshops, and educational modules designed by top entrepreneurs and industry experts. This comprehensive entrepreneurial education covers everything from refining your business idea to scaling and securing funding, ensuring that you develop both as an entrepreneur and a leader.

University of Waterloo's local incubators, such as Velocity and those at United College (GreenHouse and Flint Hub), offer significant educational support for aspiring entrepreneurs. Velocity provides connections, business expertise, and resources through its incubator program. United College's GreenHouse focuses on social impact ventures, offering mentorship, training, and funding. Flint Hub supports Indigenous entrepreneurs with a learning community and resources. Across the university, students can access various courses like "Green Entrepreneurship," "Sustainable Entrepreneurship Project," and "Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship." Workshops and events cover topics such as brainstorming, business planning, pitching, and integrating sustainability into ventures. The Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business also offers graduate-level courses in business, entrepreneurship, and technology.

With EWOR, you’ll gain access to a more extensive and detailed entrepreneurial education, giving you the tools needed to overcome challenges and succeed in today’s competitive startup landscape.

That’s a Wrap

While University of Waterloo's local incubators offer great resources for students starting their entrepreneurial journey, EWOR provides an unmatched opportunity for those looking to take their startup to the next level. With access to global mentorship, larger funding opportunities, a highly selective network, flexible remote programmes, and comprehensive entrepreneurial education, EWOR offers University of Waterloo students the chance to build and scale their startups on a global stage. If you’re ready to look beyond local incubators and accelerate your entrepreneurial success, EWOR could be the ideal platform for you.

Image credits: Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash