Hundreds showed up to Velocity's Pitch Competition.

But the real story was the 100+ judges (founders, mentors, investors) who came back to give feedback, make introductions, and help build the next generation of startups.

More: velocityincubator.com/news/inside-th…

The biggest problem with today's AI is handling what it hasn't seen before

Most self-driving AI needs a new map for every city. Argos Research builds AI that reasons and adapts, not just pattern-matches.

More: velocityincubator.com/news/the-bigge…

Velocity Pitch Competition Finals, with @UWVelocity!

🗓️ September 12
🕝 1:00PM - 3:00PM
📍 Student Teaching Complex (STC)

100 pitches. 100 judges. One day of lightning pitches. ⚡️

🔗 Register here: luma.com/mpzoaffd
#pitchcompetition

Automax.ai raises $5M to reinvent home appraisals.

Waterloo founder Humza Ahmed built an app that scans a home with LiDAR and turns it into a signed appraisal in 24 hours, down from weeks.

More: velocityincubator.com/news/reinventi…

When an engineer leaves, their knowledge leaves too. Sidian is fixing that.

UWaterloo alumni James Hinsperger & Mankirat Singh Sains built Sid, turning firms' scattered drawings and calculations into a searchable company brain.

🔗velocityincubator.com/news/when-an-e…

Going to @TOtechweek?

Don’t miss the Velocity Sports-Tech Showcase.

Live demos, founder stories, and pro insights from UWaterloo alumni building tech transforming athlete training, injury prevention, and high-performance analytics.

🎟️Register: luma.com/f5dl5xpq

Bigger apples, smarter farming 🍎

Finite Robotics built a robot that thins fruit so the best apples can grow.

Co-founder Matt Stevens explains 👇

🎬 Watch on CBC News: cbc.ca/player/play/vi…

From lab to limb: How soft robotics unlocked a new kind of recovery

Strivonix replaces bulky pneumatic boots with wearable compression that lets you move while you recover.

Read more: velocityincubator.com/news/from-lab-…

Mappedin raises $24.5M to map the indoors at scale

Mappedin has raised $24.5M in Series B funding, led by Edison Partners with participation from Betatron Venture Group, to accelerate its vision for indoor mapping.

Read more: mappedin.com/resources/news…

Upside Robotics secures $7.5M in seed funding to accelerate the future of sustainable farming 🌱

Read more: uwaterloo.ca/news/75-millio…

Upside Robotics is reducing fertilizer use and waste in corn crops techcrunch.com/2026/02/11/ups…

From AI copilots and drug discovery platforms to carbon capture, inventory intelligence, and autonomous drone systems, Velocity welcomes 13 new ventures.

Meet the Newest Companies Building at Velocity: velocityincubator.com/news/meet-the-…

Swap Robotics, co-founded by Tim Lichti (BA ’14), is making solar construction faster, safer, and greener with autonomous robots that handle harsh conditions and heavy lifting.

More: uwaterloo.ca/news/global-fu…

What if doctors could see inside your arteries in real time? Vena Medical’s breakthrough technology is making that possible - transforming stroke care and patient outcomes.

Read our Q&A with co-founder Michael Phillips:velocityincubator.com/news/can-a-cam…

From wearable tech that lives in your clothes to apps that translate signals into meaningful health insights, Velocity-linked digital health companies are moving care beyond clinical visits and making personalized health data accessible in daily life.

🔗velocityincubator.com/companies

HeadFirst, founded by Andrew Cordssen-David and Dr. Shazia Tanvir, has developed a simple saliva test that can screen for concussions in just minutes.

By detecting key biomarkers released after a brain injury, the test delivers fast, objective results anywhere — helping athletes, coaches, and healthcare providers make safer, more informed decisions and reduce the risk of long-term complications.
More: uwaterloo.ca/on-it/catching…

It’s worth paying attention to what happened at Velocity this year. 2025 saw more founders and real growth.

Read our year in review: velocityincubator.com/news/a-definin…

Looking for a unique, thoughtful gift? 🎁

Skip the ordinary and discover innovative products from Velocity founders, from wellness and fashion tech to family-friendly fun. Explore the full list and find the perfect gift: velocityincubator.com/news/velocity-…

Huge congratulations to @PaulTheLi, @ImJamesJiang, and the @theopenbuilder team on the launch! 🚀👏