WATERLOOVENTUREGROUP

Your early-stage edge and your way into the room.

Waterloo Venture Group exists for one reason: the right introduction, at the right moment, can change everything.

We build rooms where founders meet future investors and co-founders, students find new roles that ship, and funds meet talent before the rest of the market catches on.

Built in Waterloo.
Connected far beyond it.

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WVG Community Event at Communitech

Location

Waterloo, ON

The story

At some point, everyone hits the same wall.

  • Founders stall between "this could be something" and "this is real."
  • Students know they're capable, but don't know how to get a real shot.
  • Funds want signal — early looks at talent and portfolio companies.

And so we founded WVG.

A student-led pro-bono venture consultancy and talent community.

We've helped startups reach YC, partnered with top VCs across North America, and helped unlock $2.8M+ in funding — but that's just the visible part.

The real wins look quieter:

  • Founder finding their first real hire
  • Student getting pulled into a startup because someone trusted them
  • Fund meeting a company months before a round opens

What we do

We don't "run programs."

We don't host filler events.

We don't send people home with tote bags and nothing to follow up on.

We do three things, very intentionally.

For Founders

We help you find investors, co-founders and early operators – and get your story tight enough that when the moment comes, you're ready.

Sometimes that looks like pitch work or GTM clarity. Often it's just getting you in front of the right person sooner than you would have on your own.

Start building with us

For Students

We'll put you in rooms where people are building, not posturing. We help you get real work – co-ops, new-grad roles and early startup experience.

You don't need to be loud.

You need to be useful, curious, and present.

Get involved

For Funds & Partners

We help you meet high-signal talent and future portfolio companies early.

Everyone else meets them after the polish.

We introduce you when it's still messy, honest, and high-signal.

Let's understand what ROI means for you.

Partner with us

Signals

$2.8M+

In funding unlocked

YC

Cohort acceptance

1300+

Active members

23+

Students hired by startups

2025

Celebrating one year

Partners we've supported

Opennote

Opennote

$1.2M raise (YC) + pitch deck support

Golden Ventures

Golden Ventures

Fireside Chat + Toronto Tech Week

Ripple Ventures

Ripple Ventures

Waterloo Tech Week Co-founder Matching

Theory Ventures

Theory Ventures

Recruitment Dinner & 150+ attendee Fireside

Northwood Family Office

Northwood Family Office

Waterloo Tech Week Fireside Chat

Polarity Labs

Polarity Labs

Pitch development and raise support

Rooms we built

WVG curates high-signal rooms where founders, investors, and students meet before outcomes are obvious.

Let's build one for you - see how

Upcoming events

Opennote (YC S25) Group Build Sprint

Opennote (YC S25) Group Build Sprint

Winter 2026Waterloo, ON
Register →
Hiring Social ft. YC-Backed Founders by Northside Ventures

Hiring Social ft. YC-Backed Founders by Northside Ventures

Winter 2026Waterloo, ON
Register →

Past events

Fireside Chat with Alison Kaizer from Golden Ventures

Fireside Chat with Alison Kaizer from Golden Ventures

Winter 2026Virtual
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Talent Room with Theory Ventures

Talent Room with Theory Ventures

Winter 2026Waterloo, ON
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Off The Record: Private Recruitment Dinner

Off The Record: Private Recruitment Dinner

Winter 2026Waterloo, ON
Golden Ventures Exclusive Founder Dinner

Golden Ventures Exclusive Founder Dinner

Fall 2025Waterloo, ON
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Student Workshop: Building a Vertical AI Venture

Student Workshop: Building a Vertical AI Venture

Fall 2025Waterloo, ON
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Waterloo Tech Week: Whiteboard Stories with Northwood Family Office

Waterloo Tech Week: Whiteboard Stories with Northwood Family Office

Fall 2025Waterloo, ON
View post →
Waterloo Tech Week: Ripple Ventures Co-Working for Founders

Waterloo Tech Week: Ripple Ventures Co-Working for Founders

Fall 2025Waterloo, ON
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Whiteboard Stories with Julia Baird from Golden Ventures

Whiteboard Stories with Julia Baird from Golden Ventures

Summer 2025Virtual
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Student Workshop: Launching an AI Business

Student Workshop: Launching an AI Business

Summer 2025Waterloo, ON
View post →

Get first access

Follow us on Luma for exclusive early access to dinners, summits, workshops, and rooms we're building.

Follow on Luma →

Build with us

Early-stage founder support includes

  • Pitch and narrative refinement
  • Go-to-market strategy
  • Intros to co-founders, operators, and investors
$2.8M+raised across supported startups in just 8 months

Founders who went on to build YC-backed companies.

Build with us
WVG team working with founders
WVG student community
23+

Students matched

Get involved

WVG is for students like you who want to build, not wait.

Opportunities include

  • Hands-on startup experience
  • Invites to exclusive VC rooms
  • Co-op + new-grad roles in early-stage teams

You don't need a perfect resume.
You need to show up ready to do the work.

Join the 23+ students matched with VCs + startups

Leadership

Jay Mistry

Jay Mistry

Co-founder & Managing Director

LinkedIn
Suraj Sivaraja

Suraj Sivaraja

Co-founder & Managing Director

LinkedIn
Callie Sweet

Callie Sweet

Director, Communications & Growth

LinkedIn
Demir Eren

Demir Eren

Director, Venture Strategy

LinkedIn

Communications & Growth

Daiva Saplys

Daiva Saplys

External Communications

LinkedIn
Paige Griffiths

Paige Griffiths

External Communications

LinkedIn
Alyanna Fuentes

Alyanna Fuentes

Growth Marketing

LinkedIn
Rasana Yogarajan

Rasana Yogarajan

Growth Marketing

LinkedIn
Rudra Jassal

Rudra Jassal

Ecosystem Partnerships

LinkedIn
Hur Abbas Merchant

Hur Abbas Merchant

Ecosystem Partnerships

LinkedIn
Yash Panchal

Yash Panchal

Ecosystem Partnerships

LinkedIn
Ammar Adam

Ammar Adam

Ecosystem Partnerships

LinkedIn

Venture Strategy

Michael Zhang

Michael Zhang

Venture Strategy

LinkedIn
Srinikesh Singarapu

Srinikesh Singarapu

Venture Strategy

LinkedIn
Ilyas Mohamed

Ilyas Mohamed

Venture Strategy

LinkedIn
Nathan Bridgemohan

Nathan Bridgemohan

Venture Strategy

LinkedIn
Felix Yan

Felix Yan

Venture Strategy

LinkedIn
Yasmin Lee

Yasmin Lee

Venture Strategy

LinkedIn
Jester Yang

Jester Yang

Venture Strategy

LinkedIn
Ishir Lakhani

Ishir Lakhani

Venture Strategy

LinkedIn

Socials

Instagram

@waterlooventuregroup

X

@waterloovg

Substack

WVG Newsletter

LinkedIn

Waterloo Venture Group

Luma

Luma

Events

TikTok

@waterlooventuregroup

Contact

Let's build something worth following up on.

Email

waterloovg@gmail.com

Quick links

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