Have you ever dreamt of starting your own architecture firm or taking on that hobby of yours full time? Maybe you thought that you had to wait until you graduated. But with Enterprise Co-op, you can start your business as soon as you enter your first work term!
Apply to E-Coop by filling out an online application at the University of Waterloo’s Conrad Centre website. Main round applications are usually due by the end of the first month of the term prior to your work placement. Only twenty students are selected for the E Co-op program, so you should apply early. Check for application deadlines on the E Co-op website.
How does it work?
You will be contacted for an interview and the E Co-op director will confirm your acceptance through email. If selected, the director will put your application through JobMine and you will be “matched” with yourself under your business name. Like any co-op position, once you are matched, you cannot change your decision. Leaving your place of employment will result in the failing of the co-op term.
Enterprise co-op is a great opportunity to learn what it takes to start your own business and attend cool events. This year we got to go to a Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment Event followed by dinner at the Real Sports Bar & Grill and a Raptors game! The start-up community in Kitchener is extremely strong. There is a huge network of support ranging from program directors, community TAs, and fellow start-up members. And though there are many tech company start-ups, there are a growing number of hardware and science start-ups as well. Students from different years and programs have been selected to start a business from many different fields. During my term, some start-ups include: personalized teas, contact lenses that monitor blood glucose levels, and event ticketing and analytics.
The E Co-op term kicks off with Ignition Week, where students are introduced to each other and attend presentations by guest speakers, workshops, and networking events. You are given tips on how to pitch your business idea to potential investors, and by the end of the week, you are expected to pitch to a panel of judges. The judges select the top five pitches and they are awarded $4000 towards their start-up. There are also opportunities during the middle of the term to pitch and win additional awards. By the second week, you must prepare a goals and action plan which will determine how you will be evaluated for the co-op term. You are expected to find a mentor/advisor who will help guide you through your E Co-op term. If you cannot find a mentor of your own, the E Co-op team is usually more than happy to connect you to someone within their own network. Bi-weekly reports are due to your TAs to track your progress over the course of the term. Other than that, you are free to schedule your time as it suits your business.
Would you recommend E Co-op?
As a fourth year architecture student who has worked at medium to large architecture and construction firms, I felt I was ready to start a completely different experience. I wanted to use the skills that I learned in architecture school and my previous co-op terms to start something of my own. In studio, we have the freedom to pursue any idea we really want, but the same cannot be said when we enter the workplace. E Co-op provided me with the freedom to pursue and tap into the same creativity that goes into my studio work. I also feel that the architecture program does not teach a lot of business skills that are essential to the profession. Networking, pitching, and selling your idea to investors is not simply about design. We need to be able to quantify the benefits of our work. Good design does not sell itself. E Co-op will help future architects communicate the value of their ideas beyond the qualities of their design. I highly recommend E Co-op to everyone in any program. The University of Waterloo’s push for entrepreneurship is an incredibly exciting and unique experience that is not available in many universities. Take advantage of the opportunity to be your own boss!
