Communitech

New leadership. Refreshed brand. NORAD in Waterloo Region. One unforgettable Techtoberfest. 2025 was a year of momentum at Communitech — and we’re carrying it into 2026. Happy New Year ✨

Packaging sourcing is slow, expensive, and overdue for change. Waterloo startup Laibl is using AI to cut sourcing timelines from weeks to days — helping brands move faster and source closer to home. communitech.ca/insights/the-a…

Cross-border payments are costing Canadian companies time and cash. Waterloo startup Cashtella is building faster, cheaper payment rails — and earning approval from the Bank of Canada along the way. Read how one founder is fixing what banks haven’t. 👇 communitech.ca/insights/cross…

Happy Holidays from all of us at Communitech 🎄 Wishing you a day filled with good company, quiet moments and whatever makes the season feel special for you. We’re grateful to be building alongside this community.

AI is changing the job market — fast. The skills that matter most now aren’t just technical. They’re durable: adaptability, judgment, and learning agility. What founders should hire for in an AI-driven world 👇 communitech.ca/insights/the-m…

Building tech for cities? You’ll want to listen to this! Tech About Town dives into Kitchener’s digital strategy, the Innovation Lab, and what founders should know ahead of Digital Kitchener 2.0. Listen now 👇 🎧Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tec… 🎧Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1OeRuv…

Factory downtime costs billions — and most plants still can’t see failures coming. Waterloo startup Innovate-Ops is using AI + low-cost sensors to bring smart monitoring to the factory floor. Fresh off a PoC win with Purolator. Read how they’re scaling real-world innovation 👇 communitech.ca/insights/water…

The Communitech team sends warm wishes for a joyful holiday season — and we can’t wait to build on our shared successes in the year ahead! 🌟 Communitech will be closed to visitors until Jan. 5. However, tenants are still welcome to work from the building. Our staff will also be taking some time off in the next two weeks. If you have any inquiries, we will be sure to get back to you in the New Year.

AI is now table stakes for tech talent. Our latest blog breaks down 5 AI hiring trends shaping Waterloo Region tech in 2026 — from AI in every role to leaner, AI-augmented teams and emerging governance needs. Worth the read 👇 communitech.ca/insights/top-5…

An exit isn’t the finish line. It’s a fork in the road. @trusscore CEO Dave Caputo shared hard-won lessons from multiple exits — and why what comes after the win often matters more. For founders thinking about what’s next 👇 communitech.ca/insights/lesso…

Managing life across borders is complicated — just ask Puneet Gupta. One missing word on a tax form cost him $7,400, even with a finance background. So he built Aequify. A reminder of what makes our ecosystem special: founders who feel a problem and build the solution themselves. Read more 👉 communitech.ca/insights/he-pa…

Finding the right therapist shouldn’t feel like guesswork — and Waterloo’s own Steve Hallman, CEO & co-founder of UPI Health, is building a better way. Born in Waterloo Region, now scaling nationally with support from Communitech’s Pro Squad. Founders like Steve show what this community is all about: people building for people. 👉 Full story: communitech.ca/insights/water…

Another Waterloo Region scale-up making a national impact. MAPflow — founded by pharmacist Nardine Nakhla — now powers 250,000+ patient consultations across nine provinces, helping pharmacists catch issues earlier and deliver safer care. A great example of why our ecosystem matters: clinical research strength, Accelerator Centre + Communitech support, and the tech talent to build game-changing tools. Full story 👉 communitech.ca/insights/how-m…

Waterloo Region continues to attract global leaders looking to understand how we’re building the future of AI, cybersecurity, imaging and quantum tech. Big ideas. Real impact. Built right here. communitech.ca/insights/norad…

What’s the real state of women in tech? On this week’s Tech About Town, Dinah Davis joins Michelle Engelhardt + Alex Kinsella for a candid convo on progress, allyship + why programs like Fierce Founders still matter. 👉 open.spotify.com/episode/1i1zFq…

Meet Daly Brown, who left defence/aerospace to build Metropolitan Technologies, securing the systems that keep Canada running: energy grids, mining sites, transit networks and defence ops. With Canada doubling down on sovereign tech, he’s turning defence expertise into trusted commercial solutions — including a partnership with CAE. Founders like Daly aren’t waiting for the future of secure infrastructure. They’re building it. 👉 communitech.ca/insights/canad…

What comes after a successful exit? For founder + builder Dave Caputo, it sparked a whole new chapter — board work, mentorship and now leading innovation at Trusscore. Join us for a candid convo with Dave + Gowling’s Duncan Snyder & Lidia Imbrogno on reinvention, purpose and building the “next thing.” 🗓️ Communitech Breakfast — don’t miss it. events.communitech.ca/event/breakfas…

Study groups are out — AI copilots are in. UW’s Leonard Nicolass built Syncademia to help students learn faster + stress less. Waterloo doesn’t wait for the future — we build it. 👇 communitech.ca/insights/forge…

Come join the community! With our dedicated desks, you get: ✅ 24/7 access ✅ Bottomless coffee & tea ✅ Fitness facilities (brand new!) ✅ Networking events ✅ Meeting rooms + phone booths …and more. Find your people 👉 communitech.ca/insights/dedic…

Not all innovation is flashy tech. Sometimes it’s asking, “How do we do this better?” This week: @KidsAbility & Brendan Wylie-Toal on small experiments driving big change in pediatric care. 🎧 Listen:spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/2qbebuXh2Xb 💡 Support the Rocket Discovery Centre: kidsability.ca