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Announcing the Winners!
After an intense, multi-round competition that kicked off in early January, the 2024 McGinnis Venture Competition was held at the Swartz Center on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Held in person and also live streamed, the final round teams completed their final pitches to twelve esteemed judges competing for $60K in investments. Teams from CMU Africa and CMU Qatar also participated virtually.
The winning teams are:
Graduate Track:
First Place ($25K): J.P. Robotics, mapping big problems in small pipes using robotics and AI. Team members: Tina Tian
Second Place ($15K): Galen Health, AI for Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer. Team members include: Logan Nye, MD (Swartz Fellow) and Kushagra Agarwal.
Third Place ($10K): Sitewiz, AI-driven iterative optimization for e-Commerce websites. Team members include: Ram Potham (Innovation Scholar), Rohit Malhotra and Drake Som.
Undergraduate Track:
First Place ($4K): Assurif.ai, boosts efficiency for mortgage underwriters in lower markets, plagued by redundant tasks making up to 75% of workflow. Team members include Alex Chen, Joey Park, Andrew Kang, Erik Wang and Meher Sujay Kaky.
Second Place (2.5K): KnitFit, custom-fits compression garments using machine knitting. Team members include: Pratyay Didwania (Innovation Scholar) Astha Shah, Advika Jayanti (Innovation Scholar) and Sreekar Kunaparaju.
The undergraduate track winners were also awarded a place in the CMU Venture Challenge, which will be held on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Congratulations to all of the McGinnis Competition winners, participants and final round teams, as well as this year's judges: Alicia McGinnis and her two sons Lochlan and Manus, Meredith Meyer Grelli, Ed Engler, Laurie Barkman, Lisa Frankovitch, Afshan Khan, Zach Malone, Andrew Rabin, Aaron Tainter
and John Levinson.
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| At the McGinnis Competition celebration, Will Kaigler shared Seven Lessons he learned from
Jerry McGinnis. See the full tribute (pdf).
1. Develop your core talent and be world class at it.
2. Innovation is not an academic exercise. Get hands on with the people that you are trying to help, know your customer!
3. Solve a big enough problem where you can make a significant impact.
4. Entrpreneurship demands commitment and many long hours of work, so do something you love and are passionate about. Never lose sight of your "why".
5. Never quit! Every company has a moment like this. Successful entrepreneurs look for solutions and are always optimistic.
6. Keep your mind and your eyes open to the unexpected opportunities.
7. Have fun! Entrepreneurship is about solving problems, making a difference and following your passion. If that is not fun to you, well then you're doing it wrong.
This year's McGinnis Competition was in loving memory of Jerry McGinnis.
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Office Hours with Decibel Venture Capital
Jessica Leao, partner at Decibel, is focused on early-stage investments in software infrastructure startups (data engineering, developer platforms, cybersecurity, machine learning, and AI). Over the past few years, she has offered informal office hours to students and researchers who are exploring entrepreneurship, and she is excited to offer the same opportunity to CMU's aspiring tech entrepreneurs. These sessions are designed to be informal discussions where you can receive feedback and guidance on your venture ideas, and are a safe space to ask questions, rather than a formal pitch session.
If interested in exploring your entrepreneurial ambitions further, connect with Jessica here, or reach out to her at jess@decibel.vc.
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Grit Labs: Startup Showcase Application
(for CMU startups!)
Are you a CMU student interested in pitching your early-stage AI startup to investors? If so, apply to present at Grit Ventures' Startup Showcase on May 1, 2024. Grit Ventures is an early-stage, deep tech venture capital firm located in the Bay Area. The format is ten minutes per company and the audience will be roughly 50+ VCs and CVCs. This event is VIRTUAL. If interested, please apply here.
Questions? Email: erin@gritventures.com.
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Project Olympus Show & Tell
Date: Thursday, April 11, 2024
Location: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship
3rd Floor, Tepper Quad
In-person only from 4-6 PM ET (The closest visitor parking is at the CMU East Campus Garage) Presentations start at 4 pm with networking and light refreshments at 5 PM ET
Project Olympus Show & Tell is back! Show & Tell is a hugely popular venue for connecting CMU startups with the wider business and entrepreneurial community. This event showcases university research, innovations and companies. We are adding more speakers and startups every day, check our website for the latest event agenda.
Space is limited! Register by April 5, 2024.
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IMPACT AI
A dynamic conversation on how AI is transforming innovation. Hosted by CMU Corporate Startup Lab & Tepper's Center for Intelligent Business
Date: April 24, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM | ET
Location: Tepper School of Business, Tepper Quad, 4765 Forbes Ave.
Mirroring the fast pace of change in the world of AI, this one-day event will feature a morning of lightning talks across three “Blitzes”, highlighting innovations and leading thinking from Venture, Industry and Academia. The conversation will continue during a networking lunch with fellow innovators followed by an afternoon of breakout sessions for a deeper dive into how AI is impacting innovation.
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| Apply to the VentureBridge Summer Accelerator
by March 29!
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The VentureBridge Summer Accelerator is a 12-week summer program that helps CMU startups by providing funding ($25K investment from CMU), speakers, workshops, 1:1 support, and introductions to mentors and advisors.
Eligible startups must have at least one Carnegie Mellon University affiliated alumni founder that is full time on the company. All applications must include a pitch deck and a two-minute pitch video.
The final deadline to apply is March 29, 2024. Send questions to Aleks Petkov, Program Manager.
Register for the next information session on March 4, 2024.
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|  | 2023 Innovation Scholars visiting BCV Labs during the 2024 Silicon Valley Trek
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Apply for the 2024-26 Undergraduate Innovation Scholars Program by April 5!
The CMU Swartz Center has opened applications for the next cohort of undergraduate Innovation Scholars. This prestigious program fosters innovation and entrepreneurship aimed at increasing the number of successful startups initiated by or involving Carnegie Mellon University’s undergraduate students from across campus. Students in their junior year are eligible to apply.
Applications close on April 5, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET. Early applications are encouraged. Find out more.
Register for the next virtual info session on March 21, 2024 | 12:30 PM ET
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Apply for the Innovation Commercialization Fellows Program by April 15!
The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship has opened applications for the 2024-2025 Innovation Commercialization Fellows program. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows working with faculty investigators and are interested in driving the commercialization efforts for their Carnegie Mellon University research-based startup are eligible to apply.
This is a year-long program that will begin on July 1, 2024. Along with cohort-based educational workshops and expert one-on-one mentoring, Fellows will receive a $50K contribution from the Swartz Center, contingent on a $50K match from another source, to support them while they focus on the commercialization process.
For further details on the program and eligibility, register for an upcoming information session on March 14; 2:00 pm ET and March 26; 10:00 am ET.
Apply by April 15, 2024 at midnight ET. Send questions to Melanie Simko.
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| CONNECTS/START SMART LAW SEMINARS
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Can't make a CONNECTS? Watch on our YouTube channel.
Find out more and see the full schedule.
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|  3/26
REGISTER
START SMART LAW: Startups vs. Investors: How to Structure Your Capital Raise – Part II: Negotiating the Term Sheet Workshop (David Lehman and Oded Green, K&L Gates)
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The mission of 99 Tartans is to partner with the highest potential, early-stage CMU alumni companies and accelerate their success through access to capital and networks. Find out more.
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CMU ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLUBS
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CMU T&E x Hamatha: Founder Happy Hour
Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024
Time: 5-8:00 PM PDT
Location: Steins Beer Garden & Restaurant, Mountainview, CA
Register
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| The CMU Tech & Entrepreneurship group aims to build a bridge between CMU students and alumni across the startup and tech continuum. With main chapters in NYC, Pittsburgh, and SF, we offer a range of in-person and online events and programming in the form of panels, workshops, founder/investor engagements, startup support, and socials to foster collaboration, innovation, and networking opportunities.
Join 7,000+ Tartans on our Slack workspace and mailing list for resources and updates on how you can engage in the community and CMU entrepreneurial ecosystem. Find out more and
get involved!
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The following companies help directly support our programming and entrepreneurs.
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| Pillsbury and Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC are holding office hours for the CMU Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship. The office hours are for any interested CMU graduate, undergraduate or alumni interested in entrepreneurship or connecting with members of the Swartz Center network.
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Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
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Legal Services Weekly Virtual Office Hours with Matt Kirmayer
Mondays 1:00-3:00 PM ET (10-12 PT)
Matt Kirmayer of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, is offering office hours for newly established startup and emerging companies. Matt specializes in representing technology startups and emerging growth companies, assisting with entity formation, fundraising and overall growth needs. Startup companies with a founder who is a CMU graduate, undergraduate or alumni is eligible to register for
an appointment. Complete the Signup Form for a 30 minute session by the Thursday prior to your
desired appointment.
Contact Daria Stokes for office hours outside of these regular hours.
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Legal Services Weekly Office Hours
Sign up for weekly office hours.
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| PATRON SPOTLIGHT
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC
Steptoe & Johnson PLLC is a multi-jurisdictional, full-service law firm that takes a progressive approach to providing counsel at each stage of a client’s life cycle. Their dedicated team works closely with its clients to form entities, advise on the most advantageous entity type and design, and negotiate joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions. If a client has a dispute, Steptoe & Johnson has a team of business and product liability litigators and labor and employment lawyers to guide clients through these often stressful and disruptive situations. Steptoe & Johnson brings a strong skillset for data privacy, cyber security and intellectual property matters which are frequent concerns for startups and technology companies. It offers competitive and flexible rates and aims to provide value to its clients.
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HOW TO WORK OUT OF THE SWARTZ CENTER
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Swartz Center Education and Resources
No matter what phase of the entrepreneurship cycle you're in, there are programs and resources at the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship that will take your idea to the next level. Find out more.
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Project Olympus Incubator Program
Want more help with finding product/market fit, developing your business model, making connections and attracting funding? Project Olympus will team you up with a business coach to develop a personalized ‘roadmap. Find out more.
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COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES/RESOURCES
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FIND OUT WHAT OUR PARTNERS ARE DOING
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Have startup news or opportunities to share? Have questions about the Swartz Center Weekly Bulletin? Send news, opportunities or questions to Sonya Ford, Program Manager.
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Carnegie Mellon University Swartz Center For Entrepreneurship
5000 Forbes Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 |
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