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|  | From left: Daniel Maturana, Sankalp Arora and Geetesh Dubey
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Gather AI Raises $17M in Round Led by Bain Capital
Gather AI, maker of computer vision and AI-powered warehouse inventory monitoring solutions, has announced a $17M Series A-1 led by Bain Capital Ventures with participation from Tribeca Venture Partners, Dundee Venture Capital, Expa, and Bling Capital. The new funding provides a total of $34M raised to date. It will be invested in scaling operations as Gather AI continues to attract customers by solving supply chain issues with richer data and AI. Gather AI is co-founded by CMU alumni Sankalp Arora, Daniel Maturana and Geetesh Dubey.
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Lowercarbon Capital Partner Christina Chang Visits
the Swartz Center
Dr. Christina Chang, partner at Lowercarbon Capital, visited Carnegie Mellon University for its Energy Week last week and also stopped by the CMU Swartz Center on Friday, March 22 to give a talk, 'Lab to Climate Venture: Solving Problems that Matter'. During the lunchtime talk, Dr. Chang shared career lessons learned--from academia and government, to founding a climate tech startup and investing and how the company backs companies that make real money slashing CO2 emissions, and more.
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The Swartz Center Hosts CMU Venture Challenge
The CMU Venture Challenge, sponsored by the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, is an annual startup competition held by the Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Association. Held at the Swartz Center on Saturday, March 23, 2024, the event showcases innovative ideas and entrepreneurial talent from across the nation. This year, twelve finalists competed for $9K in cash prizes, $5K of legal services, expedited interviews with Dorm Room Fund and Contrary, and office hours with Y Combinator.
The winners are:
First-place; CMU, KnitFit (CMU), founded by Pratyay Didwania (Innovation Scholar)
Second-place; Fetal Therapy Technologies, Selena Shirkin
Third-place; Pananosis Laboratories, Joseph Yu
Thank you to the judges: Shomik Ghosh, Norman Sadeh, Don Morrison, Paritosh K., and Amy E. Storms Sable, and to this year's speakers: Lucy Guo and Blake Scholl, who gave empowering advice to the young entrepreneurs who attended. Dave Mawhinney, Swartz Center Executive Director, coordinated the judges and led the closing ceremony.
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Support for CMU Graduate Startup, Compos Mentis, Finalist in the Poets & Quants BIG IdeaBounce 2024
Carnegie Mellon University graduate MBA students Nate Patterson
(2023-24 Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellow), and Derek Sun, are cofounders of Compos Mentis, a company that helps small law firms specializing in medical malpractice and workers' compensation handle and win more cases by automating document review and case analysis.
The company, also a finalist in this year's McGinnis Venture Competition, is one of fourteen finalists in the Poets & Quants' BIG IdeaBounce competition and could use your VOTE! (scroll to 'Cast Your Vote').
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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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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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Applications for the 2024-26 Innovation Scholars Program due by Friday, 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 to the CMU Robotics Institute Pathways Fellowship
by April 14
The Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute Pathways Fellowship is recruiting for its second cohort. This is an immersive program aimed at empowering entrepreneurs within the domains of robotics, manufacturing and automation. Scheduled to run from August 19, 2024, to May 15, 2025, The Pathways Fellowship blends essential components—including financial support, academic opportunities from Carnegie Mellon University, mentorship and off campus supplemental opportunities—to ensure aspiring founders have the skills and support needed to succeed. This program was created to elevate marginalized entrepreneurs within robotics. BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals and women are encouraged to apply.
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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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|  4/9
REGISTER
START SMART LAW: Panel: The Worst Mistakes Made by Startups (Moderator: David Lehman, 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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UEA Presents: Fireside Chat with Keith Rabois
Come to the fireside chat with Keith Rabois, VC at Khosla Ventures and CEO of OpenStore, on April 4th from 6-7 pm. Learn how students can raise money for their startup ideas, even without connections to venture capital. Register here!
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CMU T&E New York Networking Event
Date: Thursday, April 4, 2024
Register
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 7K+ 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
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble (P&G) serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks® and Whisper®.
The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries with thirteen research and development centers worldwide. Since 1837, P&G’s success is rooted in research and development and strong external partnerships with academia, entrepreneurs and start-ups. P&G would like to continue this legacy by partnering with you to bring your ideas to life. Find out more.
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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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