The Waterloo Impact
Canada’s Talent and Innovation Engine
Waterloo powers Canadian productivity
The University of Waterloo’s impact extends far beyond its campuses, driving nearly $7 billion in GDP across Ontario through its world-renowned co-op program, alumni earnings and research efforts. Third-party analysis conducted independently by EY affirms Waterloo’s economic impact and the impact of our alumni, grounded in rigorous modelling and validated provincial data.
$400B
Our 263,000+ alumni across 160 countries have founded nearly 68,000 companies creating 1.7 million jobs and generating almost $400 billion annual revenue globally
Alumni drive economic impact
Our Waterloo community is driven to think differently and embrace entrepreneurship and innovation that transforms public and private funding into jobs, research commercialization and sustained business growth in the Waterloo Region and across the province. Our students, faculty and alumni are driving innovation and building solutions to transform society, health, the economy, technologies and the environment.
Waterloo creates entrepreneurs
#
1
university in Canada for producing unicorn founders (Unicorn Report 2025)
67.9K+
alumni-founded companies generating $397B annually (for-profit and non-profit companies)
1.7M
Jobs supported annually (by alumni-founded companies globally)
$215B
in revenue generated by alumni-founded companies in Ontario with 978,000+ jobs in sectors such as software development, finance and advanced manufacturing
The proportion attributed to Ontario is based on reported corporate headquarters location, while operational activities and employment may be also distributed outside Ontario
47K+
companies benefitted from investments from Waterloo alumni including 27K startups
$11.5B
invested by alumni in startups and $11.3B in established businesses
$7.5B
invested by alumni in Ontario, and another $6.2B in the rest of Canada
Our students come from all across Canada and beyond
2024-2025 Academic Year
61% - Ontario (excluding Waterloo)
15% – Region of Waterloo
15% – Outside of Canada
9% – Canada (excluding Ontario)
Alumni are shaping Canada’s workforce
Waterloo talent is not only partnering with industry, but our alumni are also leading some of Canada’s emerging critical sectors in AI and quantum technologies.
70% of Waterloo international alumni become permanent residents – 2X the national rate.
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75% of alumni earn more than the average income earned by university graduates in Canada.
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263,000+ alumni in 160 countries
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Alumni Stories
Co-op powers Ontario's economy
Waterloo is home to the world’s largest research-intensive university co-op program and has long been a reliable driver of Ontario’s workforce development by boosting entry-level productivity and filling crucial labour gaps in our economy.
Employers receive a measurable return through Waterloo’s co-op program
2x
Every $1 invested in hiring a Waterloo student, $2.20 is generated in economic output
$505M
generated annually by Waterloo co-op for employers
$481M
contributing directly to Ontario’s GDP
3,700+
Ontario jobs are supported each year through Waterloo co-op work terms, mainly in professional services, health and educational services, advanced manufacturing, finance and construction trades.
Waterloo’s employer network, the largest of any research university in North America
Co-op work terms →
8,000
partners hiring from 120+ programs
ensures that students are trained in real-world, high-growth environments, engaging professors with industry needs, and developing research partnerships with industry partners.
57% of Waterloo alumni have completed at least one co-op term at Waterloo
Co-op Stories
A launchpad for entrepreneurs
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.
$405M
in GDP generated by Waterloo’s entrepreneurs to the Ontario economy
including generating
$243M
in labour income
3,350+
full-time-equivalent jobs are supported in Ontario by Waterloo entrepreneurs
Aspiring entrepreneurs can access for-credit programs along with support, mentorship and funding in more than 45 programs, including our flagship Velocity incubator, the Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business and GreenHouse’s Social Innovators in Training program.
Greenhouse
+
GreenHouse grows social innovations by helping students turn ideas into actions that support our communities and environment.
Velocity
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Velocity is one of Canada’s most successful startup company incubators and has positioned Waterloo as Canada’s top university for producing undergraduate entrepreneurs.
Velocity startups align with Ontario’s highest-priority industries
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22%
in health innovation sectors
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Founders flock to Velocity from across Ontario and beyond
2008-2025 Academic Year
55% - Waterloo
20% - Ontario (excluding Waterloo)
5% - Canada (excluding Ontario)
21% - International
Entrepreneurship Stories
Talent and research for the new economy
Waterloo talent turns research insight into smart solutions and thriving industries — powered by cross-disciplinary culture and strong industry ties.
Top comprehensive research university
The University of Waterloo is Canada’s top comprehensive research university for 18 consecutive years
$771M
Innovation and Research and Development efforts contributed $771M to GDP in Ontario in the last decade
$250M+
was provided by public and private funders for research in 2023-24
Industry collaboration
+
Talent Stories
Global talent, local impact
Waterloo alumni are leaders in their communities and regularly volunteer and donate to charitable causes.
60%
of alumni mentor emerging talent
80%
of alumni are committed to careers that make substantial contributions to the economy or social welfare
72%
of alumni have given their time to volunteer over the past 12 months
39%
of those alumni who made a charitable donation contributed $1,000 or more in the past year
8,000+
profit and non-profit alumni-founded companies prioritize cultural, health, environmental or social missions
$42B
generated from non-profit companies supporting 200,000+ jobs
Waterloo alumni not only embrace community leadership, but they also hold prominent positions in senior governance roles and as trusted advisors around the world.
38% of alumni serve on boards of non-profit organizations
14% hold representations in advisory groups
11% on corporate boards
17% of alumni hold leadership positions in social causes
15% contribute to policy development
14% serve on local government boards
Community Stories
METHODOLOGY
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