May Update: Experiments, Sprints, and Builder-Led Momentum
May brought more than just new projects and sprints; it showcased how builders, from Socratica to Catalyst Commons and beyond, are replacing old gatekeepers with trust earned through momentum and real
May was a month of builder momentum, where experiments, sprints, and new rhythms redefined how projects and connections unfold in Waterloo’s ecosystem.
Some Highlights
Devhouse & Pancakes Keep the Energy High
Devhouse Waterloo continued to thrive, and the Pancake Socials brought together builders and new faces over coffee, syrup, and unstructured networking.
Zero to Something Sprint Kicked Off
A 6-week sprint helping builders move from stuck to shipped. It’s builder-led, with weekly touchpoints to track momentum and break through bottlenecks.
AI & Builders, Agents, and More
AI and Builders Night saw real-time demos, no panels, and a collaborative atmosphere. AI Tinkerers kept pushing boundaries. Agent experiments popped up in Waterloo’s creative pockets.
Data Platforms & Rooftops
Builders gathered for deep dives into data platforms, while Summer Rooftop Fridays provided laid-back ways to reconnect.
CivicTechWR & Brandcamp
CivicTechWR continued to build tools that actually help people. Meanwhile, Brandcamp focused on storytelling essentials for startups and projects.
Ecosystem Highlights
Socratica Kickoff reminded everyone that student builders are shaping the future, with both new and experienced builders showing up. Always look forward to this first outdoor event of the spring!
Catalyst Commons along with Alta ML Studio hosted the Builders + AI event where 100 or so people who are building with AI shared what they are working on. Next one is in June!
Den1880 hosted AI and ML leaders with Shopify and Radical Ventures hosting!
What Else You Might Have Missed
Focused Fridays kept the momentum rolling with micro-demos and low-key check-ins.
CivicTechWR Hacknights brought fresh energy to community-led problem-solving.
Non-Technical Wednesdays covered trust, communication, and the “soft” but critical layers of building.
Be sure to follow events here: lu.ma/waterlooevents
Coming Up
AI Tinkerers is Monday June 2nd and CivicTech WR showcase on Wednesday June 4th!
There is a little more about AI focused events in the weekly update.
Zero to Something Sprint continues — see what’s shipping.
More Rooftop Fridays & Summer Event Planning — join in the next wave of momentum.
Technical & Non-Technical Wednesdays remain open for anyone to join.
Keep an eye out for a mid-summer highlight event—details coming soon.
A Note
Something’s broken and no certificate, program, or pitch deck will fix it.
Sam Lessin said it best: the systems that used to filter talent — universities, accelerators, governments — are no longer working. The badges and staged signals don’t mean what they used to. Trust is being rebuilt directly, between people actually doing the work.
You can see it happening all around us. In Socratica’s student-driven energy. In Catalyst Commons’ open-stage style meetups. In Den1880’s quiet gatherings of builders, sharing real work without permission or gatekeeping.
The next decade belongs to builders. The ones moving fast, iterating, and earning trust through action. This isn’t about polish or perfection. It’s about showing up, collaborating, and making momentum visible.
Let’s keep building.
-Jesse
Follow Along
Twitter/X: @TheBarnWaterloo
LinkedIn: Builders Club
Weekly update: Monday Club
Community Calendar & Events: lu.ma/waterlooevents