The University of Waterloo has partnered with Canadian venture capital firm True North Fund to help retain top student talent in Canada—an effort aimed at bolstering the country’s tech ecosystem and reducing brain drain to the U.S.
Chris Albinson, co-founder of True North Fund and C100, says Canada has reached a pivotal moment. “For the first time we have a critical mass of global leaders based in Canada,” said Albinson, who is based in Waterloo. “We need to connect them to our best students.”
The initiative emerged from conversations between Albinson, University of Waterloo President Vivek Goel, and Engineering Dean Mary Wells. Inspired by Canada’s “Own the Podium” strategy, Team True North aims to link Waterloo’s acclaimed co-op students with Canada’s highest-performing private tech companies.
The new program will brand qualifying employers as members of “Team True North,” indicating top 1% global performance. Companies like Arctic Wolf, Clearpath Robotics, and Faire—many based in or near Waterloo—will feature co-op postings marked with the new designation.
“As much as we’re proud to see our students thrive globally, we want them to see opportunities to lead here in Canada,” said Wells. The university already partners with over 8,000 employers worldwide, but the new initiative focuses on boosting visibility for homegrown innovators.
While two-thirds of Canada’s top 100 private tech firms already recruit from Waterloo, Albinson hopes to close the gap with the remainder. “If we want Canadian companies to compete globally, they need to tap into Canada’s best talent,” he said.