Goose-stepping: These birds are definitely up to something, as this photo from Cameron Shelley demonstrates. First it's marching in lockstep on rooftops. Next, they'll be calling in air strikes. We're through the looking glass here, people.

 

Back to top

Velocity Fund competition today

Ten finalists will compete for their share of $100,000 in grant funding at the Velocity Fund Finals today.

The finalists will pitch their startup ideas for a chance to win one of four grants of $25,000 and a place as one of more than 30 startups operating at the Velocity Garage workspace in downtown Kitchener.

The ten Winter 2014 Velocity Fund finalists are:

• Code Connect - a plug-in for Microsoft Visual Studio that dynamically visualizes program control flow as the developer types, making software development and design easier.
• Homefed - a trusted intermediary that facilitates the discovery, booking, and payment of home cooked meals, food events, and edible goods.
• LastRev - makes it easy for designers to get feedback on their designs from team members.
• MAJiK Systems - builds real-time machine monitoring software for factories and machine manufacturers.
• Palette - a freeform hardware interface that can be built like Lego to control your favourite software.
• PetroPredict - a well integrity prediction engine for the oil and gas industry that enables subsurface engineers to identify low capital, high reward optimization opportunities in their fields.
• Roshee - allows companies to manage every step of the corporate purchasing process in one place.
• Sparkgig - an online marketplace for hiring performers.
• TicketLabs - provides an e-ticketing platform that uses social tools to drive ticket sales.
• TrendRadius - provides product management software as a service, including market insights and analytics, for companies to create profitable products that their customers love.

To qualify as a finalist, each startup submitted a written proposal and presented a 3-minute pitch to a panel of judges from the Velocity community. The ten finalists now move on to the Velocity Fund Finals to present 3-minute pitches on-stage before a live audience and a second panel of judges from the business community.

The judges for the $25,000 competition include:

• JS Cournoyer - Co-Founder & Partner, Real Ventures
• Devon Galloway - Co-Founder & COO, Vidyard
• Mike Stork - President, Stork Holdings

An additional ten entrepreneurs from the University of Waterloo will pitch their early-stage startup ideas for one of three $1,000 grants.

The Velocity Fund awards Waterloo students more than $300,000 in grants each year and the opportunity to build their startups at the Velocity Garage workspace in downtown Kitchener. The fund was started in March 2011 following a donation of $1 million from Ted Livingston, founder of Kik Interactive,and former Velocity resident.

To qualify, at least one founder on a team must be a current student or a graduate of the University of Waterloo within the past year. Velocity takes no intellectual property rights or equity in return. 

The $1,000 competition starts at 11:00 a.m., with the $25,000 competition beginning at 1:00 p.m.

The event will take place in the Student Life Centre's Great Hall. A live stream of the Velocity Fund Finals will be available.

 

Back to top

Talking peace to tackle contemporary concerns

by Jennifer Konkle.

Conrad Grebel University College is proud to announce that Jacob Winter, 2nd year International Development student, is the 2013 winner of the bi-national C. Henry Smith Oratorical Competition. This friendly contest between Mennonite and Brethren in Christ universities and colleges across Canada and the USA is administered by the Peace and Justice Ministries of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). Jacob won $300 plus a $500 conference scholarship.

With his speech entitled "What’s your problem?" Jacob did a remarkable job in the contest and in doing so offered compelling reasons for listeners to think about their reactions or solutions to world problems.

"To design a solution, you need a proper view of the problem," Jacob explained. He described how poverty can be defined as "less about money and malaria nets and more about humiliation, voicelessness, shame, and isolation. Poverty is broken relationships with the earth, with others, with yourself and with God. If the problem is broken relationships, then the solution is reconciliation - shalom. Building shalom is about taking away shame, demarginalizing the vulnerable, and giving voice to the powerless. It’s all about relationships."

Shortly after the 2013 winner was announced by MCC, Conrad Grebel held the preliminary round of the 2014 competition. Brendan Coady, a third year Mechanical Engineering student, wowed the judges with his speech entitled “Peace Through Butter: A Commentary on Peace Through Food.” For this first place standing, Brendan received $250 and will move on to compete in the bi-national contest.

In his speech, Brendan observed how every major celebration in every major culture centers around food and how sharing meals is such a communal activity. “A funny thing happens when you take people and food and a common goal and put them all together with a little love (and occasionally a whole lot of butter): you build community,” Brendan noted. “Maybe the secret to delicious food, capable of building communities and changing lives, is as simple as adding one key ingredient, the kind of ingredient you have grown up with, the kind of ingredient and entire style of culinary artistry is built around, the kind of ingredient that is worth keeping secret until just the right moment: love. Or butter. But those are kind of the same thing.”

Jacob Winters’s speech is available to watch online.

 

Back to top

Finalists to present theses in three minutes

The Graduate Studies Office is hosting the 3-Minute Thesis university-wide finals today in the Humanities Theatre starting at 2:30 p.m.

Finalists from across 6 University of Waterloo faculties will compete to win money and advance to the 3MT provincial finals, which will be held at McMaster University in April.

Competitors will have 1 static slide and 3 minutes to present the breadth and significance of their graduate research to a non-specialist panel of judges.

Attendees will be able to vote for the People’s Choice Award.

Winners will be announced at the competition after a short deliberation by the judges.

The competition is open to the public.

 

Back to top

Thursday's notes

Ed Byrne, vice-chancellor of Monash University, will be delivering a guest lecture on campus today entitled "Opportunities and Challenges for Research Universities" from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in room 0101 of the Quantum-Nano Centre. More details are available online.

The Actuarial Science Distinguished Practitioner Series is presenting Neil Haynes, senior vice president of finance at Sun Life Financial for a talk entitled "Sex, Drugs and Rock'n'Roll: Can We Live Forever?" today at 4:00 p.m. in EIT 1015.

In his presentation, Haynes will explore the sometimes surprising factors that influenced the rapid increase in life expectancy over the past century, and analyze future potential drivers of life expectancy such as regenerative medicine. He’ll also provide his views on the practical implications of increasing life expectancy, including its impact on society and on the financial services industry.

A complimentary reception will follow in the EIT atrium.

Don Haffner reports that Chubb-Edwards will be performing a verification of the new fire alarm system in Biology 1 and 2 this weekend. The test will take place on Sunday, March 30 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The contractors will have a 2-way radio and will be in communication with the university's Central Plant during the testing phase. The alarm's speaker system will be activated as each room is tested and verified.

Here's today's Nutrition Month "myth vs. fact" provided by Health Services dietician Sandra Ace:

Myth: Coffee helps you lose weight.

Fact:  It may be true that coffee can temporarily suppress your appetite because its volume makes you feel full. However, there is not good evidence to support the theory that coffee stimulates your metabolism and makes your body burn more calories. Coffee’s high caffeine content can lead to some unwanted side effects, including anxiety and increased heart rate or blood pressure. Drinking too much coffee or having it later in the day can also lead to insomnia, which increases the chances of late-night hunger and excess snacking. It’s fine to enjoy a cup or two of coffee everyday – but watch out for additions like cream and sugar. A medium Tim Horton’s black coffee contains 205 mg of caffeine, about half of Health Canada’s recommendations for safe caffeine intake for men and women (non-pregnant) ages 19 and over.  Make that a “double double” and you’re also ingesting 210 calories, even more for many specialty coffees.  If you are trying to lose weight, a Registered Dietitian can provide you with safe and effective strategies that meet your unique needs.

 

Back to top