What works in Waterloo
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Quality scores are 0–100 rubric scores; “strong evidence” reflects study design; adoptions count documented replications elsewhere. Know more
Evidence snapshot for Waterloo
The Waterloo region has developed a significant startup and innovation ecosystem anchored by two major institutions. Velocity, the University of Waterloo's startup incubator founded in 2008, has supported 400+ companies that have raised $4.3 billion and created 5,000+ jobs by 2023, while Communitech, established in 1997, has supported 1,400+ technology companies and operates a 120,000 sq ft innovation campus—with Waterloo Region ranked as having the world's 2nd-highest startup density. More recent Communitech data shows 1,164 member companies that have collectively raised CAD $400.78 million. However, Communitech itself acknowledges it does not publish audited data on revenue or jobs generated by supported companies, and the ecosystem's success is partly attributable to unique local factors (University of Waterloo's co-op programme, proximity to Toronto and US markets) that may not be easily transferable elsewhere.
Drawn from: Velocity — University of Waterloo's Startup Incubator · Communitech — Waterloo Region's Tech Innovation Hub · Prodigy Education — AI-adaptive math game with ESSA Tier 3 evidence, developed in Canada · Communitech · Crowdmark — Canadian AI-Assisted Grading Platform Scaled Campus-Wide at the University of Waterloo
Generated from this place's cited practices only. Always check the linked sources.
Strengths & weaknesses vs peers
{# KAN-369 chips show whole points; the explanation lives in the section's bottom note (KAN-370) so each concept is explained exactly once. #}Strengths
Scalability & sustainability +21 pts 87 here · 66 average
Evidence of learning impact +20 pts 50 here · 30 average
Evidence of impact / measured results +18 pts 78 here · 60 average
Teacher capability & pedagogy +11 pts 50 here · 39 average
Multi-stakeholder collaboration +10 pts 89 here · 78 average
Weaknesses
Innovation -9 pts 56 here · 64 average
Transparency, ethics & data protection -17 pts 33 here · 50 average
Inclusiveness / equity -19 pts 22 here · 41 average
Equity & inclusion -37 pts 17 here · 54 average
Score profile vs peers
Coloured bar: Waterloo. Grey bar: peer average across the corpus. Both on a common 0–100 scale.
Points compare this place's average on each dimension with the average across all evaluated places, on a common 0–100 scale. Know more
Top good practices here
Velocity — University of Waterloo's Startup Incubator · 71
Communitech — Waterloo Region's Tech Innovation Hub · 71
Prodigy Education — AI-adaptive math game with ESSA Tier 3 evidence, developed in Canada · 53
Communitech · 52
Crowdmark — Canadian AI-Assisted Grading Platform Scaled Campus-Wide at the University of Waterloo · 47
Each number is the practice's overall 0–100 quality score against its catalogue's rubric. Know more
Recommended to adopt or replicate
Transferable practices from elsewhere that address this place's gaps.
Digital Green — Video-Mediated Agricultural Extension · fit 100/100
- Backed by strong evidence
- Addresses this place's weak dimensions
Kartu Prakerja – National Digital Skills and Financial Inclusion Programme · fit 100/100
- Backed by strong evidence
- Addresses this place's weak dimensions
Copenhagen Business Hub (Erhvervshus Hovedstaden) · fit 90/100
- Rated highly transferable
- Backed by strong evidence
- Addresses this place's weak dimensions
Smart City Wien Framework Strategy · fit 82/100
- Rated highly transferable
- Addresses this place's weak dimensions
Ciudad Mujer — El Salvador's Integrated Women's Services Programme · fit 100/100
- Rated highly transferable
- Backed by strong evidence
SASA! Community Mobilisation Programme against Intimate Partner Violence — Uganda · fit 100/100
- Rated highly transferable
- Backed by strong evidence
Rwanda's Land Tenure Regularization Programme — Titling Land in Women's Names · fit 90/100
- Rated highly transferable
- Backed by strong evidence
- Rated highly transferable
- Backed by strong evidence
Fit estimates how well a practice matches this place, 0 (poor) to 100 (excellent); the list is ordered to favour practices that address this place's gaps. Know more