Communitech Hub/Desire2Learn/VeloCity Expansion
Thursday, February 2, 2012, 10:30 a.m., VeloCity space
Speaking Notes for Feridun Hamdullahpur
Event background:
Key Participants:
Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario
John Milloy, MPP, Kitchener Centre, Minister of Community and Social Services
Feridun Hamdullahpur, president, University of Waterloo
John Baker, CEO, Desire2Learn
Steve Woods, Director, Google Waterloo
Iain Klugman, CEO, Communitech
10:00 a.m. – Guests arrive and assemble in VeloCity space
10:05 a.m. – Tour of Communitech Hub
10:20 a.m. – Photo Op – Iain Klugman and Premier McGuinty screw in the sign at the
entrance of the expansion space with John Milloy, Feridun Hamdullahpur, John Baker,
and Steve Woods holding the sign up.
10:25 a.m. – Tour of the Communitech Hub expansion space led by Iain Klugman
10:30 a.m. – Iain Klugman’s remarks (2 minutes)
10:32 a.m. – John Milloy’s remarks (3 minutes)
10:36 a.m. – Dalton McGuinty’s remarks (7 minutes)
10:43 a.m. Iain Klugman introduces Feridun Hamdullahpur (1 minute)
10:44 a.m. – Feridun Hamdullahpur’s remarks (3 minutes)
 Thank you for the introduction Iain.
 Good morning everyone.
2
 On behalf of the University of Waterloo and VeloCity I
would like to thank Premier McGuinty for his remarks
this morning.
 Moreover, I would like to thank him for his government’s
support of Waterloo Region.
 Provincial investments in research, innovation, and
talent are having an enormous impact, and you don’t
have to look much further than this corner of downtown
Kitchener to find examples.
o Downtown Health Sciences Campus
o Pharmacy and medical school satellite
o New use for old buildings
o Revitalized downtown core
o Communitech Hub
o Digital media
 That impact is being amplified through partnerships,
and today we are celebrating the lifting power of these
partnerships.
3
 Partnerships among academic institutions, government,
not-for-profits, and private enterprise.
 Partnerships that build on the creative power of
researchers and community visionaries.
 These partnerships pay great dividends.
 What are those dividends?
 Entrepreneurship.
 Commercialization.
 Innovation.
 Bringing new ideas to market.
 All of these are at the very core of what the University
of Waterloo, along with its partners, are accomplishing
with VeloCity.
4
 VeloCity is a community built to foster the next
generation of mobile, media, and web technology
entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools for
success even as they continue their academic studies.
 VeloCity helps University of Waterloo students and
alumni turn their ideas into businesses by connecting
them with new technologies, experienced mentors, and
a vast network of entrepreneurs in our residence and
workspace programs.
 That’s why we were thrilled to be able to establish
space here at the Communitech Hub, to connect our
students with local and global tech champions.
 In our workspace, our most entrepreneurial students
can rub shoulders with world-changers like Google and
local success stories like Desire2Learn, founded by
Waterloo engineering alumnus John Baker.
5
 The need for this new, larger workspace demonstrates
the momentum and vitality of our unique program, as
students turn their ideas into innovations, and their
innovations into profitable businesses.
 This new expansion will ensure that our student and
alumni early-stage start-ups continue to have access to
ongoing mentorship, industry experts, and other
technical resources.
 With the support of all our partners here at the
Communitech Hub, students at the University of
Waterloo are making significant contributions to
Ontario’s entrepreneurial culture.
 Together we are fostering a community of student
innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs who will do
great things for the economy of Ontario, of Canada, and
beyond.
 Thank you.
10:47 a.m. – Iain Klugman’s remarks (1 minute)
10:48 a.m. – John Baker’s remarks (3 minutes)
6
10:51 a.m. – Iain Klugman’s remarks (1 minute)
10:52 a.m. – Steve Woods’s remarks (3 minutes)
10:55 a.m. – Iain Klugman’s remarks (1 minute)
Premier mingles with attendees.
11:05 a.m. – Media scrum in networking space.