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|  | Mito Robotics Co-founders Xinyu Wang and Bingda Li
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Draper Associates Invests $1M in Pittsburgh's Mito Robotics to Automate Wet Labs
Draper Associates has invested $1M in Mito Robotics, a local startup that combines life sciences and artificial intelligence. CMU Biomedical Engineering PhD candidate and researcher Bingda Li's work with stem cells requires him to culture a lot of cells, a process that requires incredibly specific timing, which inspired him to co-found Mito with Xinyu Wang to help automate wet labs.
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Shelfmark Selected as a Finalist In $1M NFL Draft Startup Competition
Shelfmark, the automated visual inspection platform for manufactured products founded by Tepper School of Business alumnus Pat O'Donnell, has been selected as a finalist in the TitletownTech Startup Draft. The event is a first-of-its-kind, connecting early-stage startups with investors, operators and corporate partners in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Pat is one of seven finalists out of 1,000 applicants in 50 states.
Voting is open now to help Shelfmark become the Fan Favorite.
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ToyzElectronics Founder Damola Idowu Accepted Into JumpStart, Inc. Trailblazer Software Accelerator
Dah-Varsity AI, powered by Toyz Electronics, Inc. and founded by Damola Idowu, is a gamified platform where students build real-world skills and connect with employers through immersive challenges. Think Minecraft meets Indeed—but with real outcomes. Damola is one of ten founders in the JumpStart, Inc. Trailblazer Software Accelerator and will be pitching at the Startup Showcase on April 16, 2025.
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| CMU's Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Association
Holds 2025 CMU Venture Challenge Demo Day
Last Friday, the CMU Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Association (UEA) held its annual CMU Venture Challenge Demo Day at the CMU Swartz Center. For thirteen years, the CMU Venture Challenge has brought together brilliant students to launch their ideas, technologies and talent.
CMU VC offers student entrepreneurs a strong network of resources, including mentorship from serial entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, attorneys and business leaders. Finalists are invited to pitch their ventures to a panel of distinguished judges and VCs, hear from industry-leading speakers, network with fellow innovators and push their creations to the limit.
This year, high school students from the Penn Hills Entrepreneurship Charter School in Pittsburgh were also invited to attend the event.
This year's winners are:
1st Place: Avalon (CMU) - Applying AI and learning psychology.
2nd Place: Code Four (MIT)
3rd Place: Thursday Thrift (CMU) - Connecting thrifters to thrift stores.
Team Avalon also won first place in the undergraduate category at the Swartz Center's Social Enterprise Prize Competition and Thursday Thrift won first place in the undergraduate category of the McGinnis Venture Competition, both events held at the Swartz Center in March.
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|  | Team Avalon (Derek Armfield, Akeil Smith)
| |  |  | Team Thursday (Paul Davis, Amy Guo and Chibuike Kachikwu)
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The guest speakers this year were John Dick, Founder and CEO of CivicScience, Inc. and CMU alumnus Devon Yang, Co-founder and CTO of Vesta.
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|  | John Dick, Founder & CEO, CivicScience, Inc. speaking at the CMU Venture Challenge Demo Day
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CMU Alumnus Founds Carb Portioning Kitchenware
That Helps Diabetics Manage Blood Sugar Levels
Carnegie Mellon University alumnus Robert Paul is working to help diabetics manage their blood sugar levels effectively. After extensive market and user research, he founded Macro Spoons, the only kitchenware that scoops a precise serving of carbs, calories and protein designed for weight loss, building muscle and managing glucose.
Robert has pre-launched his Kickstarter, which will go live on Monday, April 7, 2025.
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| CMU Startup GoodRunss AI To Launch App Next Week!
Tepper School of Business MBA and 2024-26 James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellow Anthony Edwards is the founder of GoodRunss, an app aimed at revolutionizing pickup sports with AI-powered court insights, real-time activity tracking and a connected community. Anthony, who also pitched as a finalist in the 2025 McGinnis Venture Competition, will launch his app at CMU's Wiegand Gym on April 8-9, where his app will be available for download for anyone with a CMU email.
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Corporate Startup Lab Presents Agent AI: Reimagining Work!
Date: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Time: 1-7 PM | ET
Location: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, Tepper Quad, 3rd Floor
We are on the brink of a seismic shift in the way businesses operate, innovate and compete. With 2025 already shaping up to be the year of agent-based AI, the time to understand AI agents, differentiate the hype vs reality and harness its potential is now. Understanding AI agents, their capabilities and limitations, how they’re being used today is critical for any executive, entrepreneur and investor.
Join CSL, in partnership with Deloitte Consulting LLP, for AgentAI: Reimagining Work—a high-impact event exploring the transformative role of AI agents across industries.
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CMU Pittsburgh Alumni Founders!
Apply to the Tartan Entrepreneurs Fund by April 11
CMU Alumni Founders based in Pittsburgh building startups with unicorn potential, apply to the CMU Swartz Center's new Tartan Entrepreneurs Fund to receive $100K in funding over 2 years along with mentorship and guidance. Apply by April 11, 2025 to be considered.
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| CONNECTS/START SMART LAW SEMINARS
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| Can't make a CONNECTS? Watch on our YouTube channel.
See the full schedule and register for ALL of the seminars here!
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Don't miss the last CONNECTS/START SMART LAW SEMINAR for the Spring semester!
START SMART LAW SEMINAR (Virtual)
4/17
REGISTER
The Worst Mistakes Made by Startups!
A panel of lawyers will share the ‘horror stories’ of mistakes that startups have made and the consequences. Learn from the mistakes of others so you can avoid the pitfalls.
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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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| Click the images to see upcoming Club events!
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CMU T&E Bay Area: Founder's Salon!
Date: Wednesday, April 9
Time: 5:30 - 8:00 PM PDT
Location: Rho House
Join us for an exclusive Founders' Salon hosted by CMU Tech & Entrepreneurship and Rho, a leading financial services provider for startups. This intimate gathering at the Rho House will bring together founders from all stages for meaningful conversations, networking, and insights.
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Date: Thursday, April 17, 2025
Time: 6-9 PM PST
Location: Ludwigs Biergarten Mountain View, 383 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
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Big News: We’re Moving to Substack!
Starting April 2025, the CMU T&E is transitioning from Mailchimp to Substack for their primary newsletter!
You can expect a welcome email—if you don’t receive it, you can manually subscribe at cmutechentrepreneur.substack.com.
We’re excited for this next chapter—see you there!
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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 or Sean Mawhinney for office hours outside of these regular hours.
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Goodwin
Goodwin is a full service law firm with practice areas and expertise specifically tailored to represent startup companies in all of their legal needs including IP, corporate, employment, contracts, transactions, litigation, and much more. The Firm has put in place special startup-friendly pricing packages uniquely designed for Carnegie Mellon University companies.
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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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