The founder of a nonprofit tech platform that helps businesses and organizations cut down on food waste is the latest person to join the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence program at Carnegie Mellon University's Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship.
Leah Lizarondo — the person who founded the Food Rescue Hero platform used by Pittsburgh-based 412 Food Rescue, which she co-founded, and other organizations across the country to redistribute safe-to-eat food that's set to be thrown away so it can instead be eaten by those in need — is now among the 13 people who contribute to the mentorship resource for students and alumni of CMU.
It's a placement that comes months after Lizarondo stepped down from her role as the CEO of Food Rescue Hero and 412 Food Rescue. She said she's looking forward to helping students and alumni from CMU craft their budding business ideas into established enterprises.
"I've been always passionate about tech and startups and now kind of a little bit more in the social entrepreneurship world—using tech for good," Lizarondo said. "This is truly going back to my roots; going back to Carnegie Mellon, giving back to an organization and a school that really inspired me to do this work."
Lizarondo said she'll tap into her more than 20 years of experience working in or adjacent to the startup ecosystem to aid these young entrepreneurs down their own paths of business development and eventual launch.
"Really what I hope to give back is the wealth of over two decades of experience to help provide value to the startup and the Carnegie Mellon community," Lizarondo said. "I'm excited to be inspired by the new ideas; I'm always hungry for that."
Dave Mawhinney, executive director of the Swartz Center, expressed his thrill of having Lizarondo join the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence program in a statement to Pittsburgh Inno.
"Leah built an incredible organization in 412 Food Rescue," Mawhinney said. "We are excited that we are expanding our repertoire of expertise through Leah's track record of building a sustainable social enterprise."
