The best way to learn about growing your ideas is from those who have successfully done so.
Our network of coaches includes a variety of individuals made up of founders, small business owners, early employees from successful startups, and experienced entrepreneurs. They are available to meet on-on-one or in a small group to discuss your startup ideas and aspirations and help guide you to turning your concept into a reality.
In addition to these fantastic coaches, we have close relationships with the other support units on campus. To provide the best resources possible, you may be referred to one of our partners whose expertise best match with your needs.
“Henrique was easy to talk to and every meeting was like a small step towards a bigger outcome. Coaching helped me understand the problem in detail and figure out a pathway to fulfillment!”
aishwarya Bansal, Engineering student
“My favourite coach so far is Lichen. She listened thoroughly while I explained my idea, played devil’s advocate by bringing up reasonable concerns, and offered to help me set milestones to keep me accountable.”
Anonymous, Mathematics student
“Rachel Figueiredo provided invaluable information and resources about industry performance, market competition, emerging technologies, and on-campus groups.”
Venay Banga, Engineering student
First Coaching Session
Looking to meet with a Concept Coach for the first time to discuss your startup business ideas, ask specific entrepreneurship questions, and/or get feedback on an upcoming pitch? Click below to request a meeting with a Concept Coach.
Returning Students
Have you already met with a coach and are looking to book another session? Click below to set up another meeting, with the same coach you spoke with, or a new Concept Coach of choice. Not sure who else you can chat with? check out our Coaching page to see their bios.
Check out our roster of experienced coaches below. Determine who may be able to best meet your needs, and help you make the impact you dream of. If you aren’t sure, enter into the Innovation Portal where a Concept representative will guide you in the right direction.
Please Note: Students who miss more than two sessions without at least eight hours notice will no longer be eligible for coaching sessions. If you need to cancel an appointment with a Coach, please make sure to do so at least 24 hours in advance by using the link in the invite or through a direct email to the Coach.
They’re Friendly, We Promise
Our Coaches
Abdallah El-Falou
Abdallah loves strategizing to validate ideas, assess feasibility, create minimalistic prototypes, and find product-market fit. He’s also trying to perfect a pour-over cup of coffee.
Expertise: Problem/idea formulation, pitch coaching, hardware, science, prototyping, IP & patenting, sales
Eric Blondeel
Eric is passionate about entrepreneurship in medicine and biotech and solving real-world problems. He has a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, is a Y Combinator alum and co-founded ExVivo Labs where he was previously CTO.
Expertise: Science, problem/idea formulation, customer discovery, hardware development
Cole Powers
Cole is passionate about the people side of entrepreneurship. He is the co-founder of IntelliCulture (an agriculture tech startup) and has a mix of experience in pitching, customer discovery, and building tech.
Expertise: Pitch coaching, problem/idea formulation, customer discovery, prototyping/mockups
Paul Heidebrecht
Paul directs an incubator program for peace-focused start-ups, and also supports our campus entrepreneurship ecosystem by facilitating participation in Oxford’s annual Map the System challenge and Conrad Grebel University College’s PeaceTech Living Learning Community.
Expertise: Problem & idea formulation, social impact, political engagement
Ramin Shaikhi
Ramin loves taking big problems and dissecting them down into more manageable and less scary chunks. He is the co-founder of IntelliCulture and has a strong experience in prioritizing objectives to maximize growth.
Expertise: Problem & idea formulation, pitch coaching, hardware & software development, prototyping
Judy Chang
Judy loves helping founders in the food and education space. She is known for her practical and empathetic approach in problem identification, user discovery, and personal growth. She has two teenage daughters, loves teaches Leadership and Entrepreneurship at Seneca College, co-founded York Region’s Food Accelerator, and is a certified Life Coach.
Expertise: Leadership skills, Food CPG industry, problem/idea formulation, pitch coaching
Eric Wu
Eric is currently Revolut’s head of financial crime technology, and is actively building and operationalizing solutions for tackling financial crime covering a global customer of over 10 million customers. He is a 2015 Waterloo math alumni.
Expertise: Fintech, process creation/improvement, organization structure, software development & prototyping
Keyma Prince
Keyma is passionate about health technology and medical research. She’s co-founded a health tech startup and held industry positions focused on human factors/usability and systems engineering for medical device development.
Expertise: Research, problem/idea formulation, customer discovery, medical device development
Jamie McQuay
Jamie is the Director of Software Innovation at PerkinElmer. He runs the Waterloo Innovation Outpost, global AI and UX/UI teams. Prior to joining PerkinElmer Jamie founded a Scientific Software company.
Expertise: Problem / idea formulation, customer discovery, software development & prototyping, deep tech
Dylan Itzikowitz
Dylan is an Associate at Expa, where he works to identify and support talented founders for Expa’s pre-seed investments. He has also created a social enterprise called The Forward Movement that promotes accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities.
Expertise: Problem/idea formulation, pitch coaching, customer discovery
Alexander Mistakidis
Alexander is an entrepreneurial game designer and an investor at Pioneer Fund. He co-founded Gamelynx which launched games and websites to over a million people after going through Velocity and Y Combinator.
Expertise: Problem/idea formulation, customer discovery, pitch coaching, software development & prototyping
Dinuka Gunaratne
Dinuka is passionate about student success, coaching and mentorship. Over the last decade, he has worked across multiple provinces and post-secondary institutions and has supported the work of student entrepreneurs.
Expertise: Problem/idea formulation, pitch coaching, marketing, science/deep tech
Prashanth Madhi
Prashanth is an Engineering leader with a creative mindset who thrives on solving complex problems using innovative tools & techniques. He’s a Digital Consultant, Keynote Speaker & a Life Coach – focused on helping people pursuing their passions.
Expertise: Problem/idea formulation, customer discovery, pitch coaching, software development & prototyping, marketing, sales, science/deep tech
Shoma Sinha
Shoma is passionate about entrepreneurship and the innovation ecosystem. She has over a decade of experience in the ecosystem through involvement in an advanced materials startup/scale-up, as a co-founder and leader of non-profit initiatives, and as the lead of a clean-tech accelerator program.
Expertise: Problem/idea formulation, hardware development & prototyping, IP & patenting, science/deep tech, customer discovery, sales & business development
Tony Brijpaul
Tony Brijpaul is a Co-Founder and first employee of Miovision, a leader in Smart Transportation. He built the organization into a global technology company with a revenue CAGR of 38% over the last 10 years, customers in over 60 countries, and over 250 staff.
Expertise: Problem/idea formulation, legal documents & incorporation, customer discovery, pitch coaching, hardware & software development, prototyping, IP & patenting
Naudia Banton
Naudia is the Entrepreneurship and Technology Advisor at the City of Kitchener and Waterloo Region Small Business Advisor. She can be found working on entrepreneurship opportunities and helping companies start their business. She has a passion for Sustainability and Social Entrepreneurship.
Expertise: Problem/idea formulation, legal documents & incorporation, customer discovery, pitch coaching, marketing
Just getting started?
Are you looking to explore the world of entrepreneurship and innovation but aren’t quite sure where to start? Let us help guide you to the best resources and opportunities from the University of Waterloo community! Click below to enter into the Innovation Portal and start your journey today.