|
|
|  | CMU graduate students share perspectives on various Swartz Center programs during Bootcamp panel discussion
| |
| | |
The Swartz Center Hosts Annual Entrepreneurship Bootcamp with Keynote from Shift Robotics Founder
Xunjie Zhang
Last Saturday, the CMU Swartz Center held another successful Bootcamp, welcoming over five hundred graduate and undergraduate students from across campus to the annual event aimed at sharing all things entrepreneurship to help aspiring student entrepreneurs. The event was kicked off by Dave Mawhinney, the Swartz Center's Executive Director and Meredith Meyer Grelli, Assistant Dean of Entrepreneurship Initiatives, Director of Project Olympus, EIR at the Swartz Center and Faculty at the Tepper School of Business, followed by student panel discussions covering Swartz Center programs, networking and community booths.
Registered students received the newest 'May the Swartz Be With You' t-shirt, snacks throughout the afternoon, lunch and were invited to join the CMU Tech & Entrepreneurship organization for an end of summer networking after the event.
| |
|  | Zubin Aysola (left) moderating the fireside chat with Xunjie Zhang
| |
| | |
| A fireside chat took place during Bootcamp with Shift Robotics founder Xunjie Zhang, creator of the Moonwalkers shoes, moderated by Zubin Aysola, Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence student and 2023-25 James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellow. After his talk, Xunjie raffled off two pair of the Moonwalkers, which were given to two students.
| |
 | Winners of the Shift Robotics Moonwalkers shoes: Graduate student, Katsuhiko Naito (left) and Undergraduate student,
Elwin Li (right)
| |
| | |
| Dr. Alfred Spector Visits the Swartz Center to Discuss AI and Data Science
On Thursday, the CMU Swartz Center held its James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Leadership Series talk with special guest Dr. Alfred Spector, Visiting Scholar at MIT and Senior Advisor at Blackstone. Dr. Spector shared his perspective on applying artificial intelligence and data science effectively and also discussed his co-authors' recent book, 'Data Science in Context' (and an associated MIT Course).
After his talk, which was co-sponsored by CMU's School of Computer Science, Dr. Spector hosted a few of the current James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellows and Innovation Scholars for lunch.
| |
 | Swartz Fellows, Innovation Scholars and GEC president at lunch with Dr. Spector (from top left: Dr. Spector, Archan Das, Ram Potham, Logan Nye, Emily Torrealba, Jennifer Evans, Tanya Mishra, Janise Kim, Avalon Suiero and Jordan Tab.
| |
| | |
Bloomfield Robotics Acquired by Japanese Tractor Company Kubota
Lawrenceville-based Bloomfield Robotics announced that it has been acquired by Kubota Corporation, an Osaka-headquarterd global tractor manufacturer. Kubota previously led a $4.4M funding round into the company. The company, which spun out of research from Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute, monitors the health of crops with robotics, artificial intelligence and software, three categories that CEO Mark DeSantis said the Pittsburgh region excels at.
| |
|  | Ruben Quesada (left) and Saket Kulkarni, cofounders at Sabana
| |
| | |
Sabana to Join Techstars Chicago 2024 Class this Fall
Sabana, an AI-driven data management platform designed to simplify how architects and engineers manage, document and collaborate on product selections and construction specifications, has joined the Techstars AI in Chicago 2024 class this Fall. Co-founded by Tepper School of Business MBA and James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellow Ruben Quesade and Computer Science and AI student Saket Kulkarni, the two will participate in the accelerator alongside twenty three other startups looking to pioneer disruptive technologies.
| |
Brew Gentleman Opens Braddock Public House
Last week, the owners of the ten-year-old brewery Brew Gentlemen expanded their footprint in the borough into the space at 1211 Braddock Ave. with the soft launch of Braddock Public House.
Co-owner and CEO Matt Katase, who started brewing while a student at Carnegie Mellon University, opened the original brewery and taproom in Braddock in May 2014. The new taproom features a menu that draws from Western Pennsylvania pub favorites such as pierogi and wings alongside dishes such as spam musubi that are a nod to Katase’s Hawaiian upbringing. It will expand a bit as ownership moves toward its official grand opening on Saturday, September 21.
| |
Cinder Among the Top 100 in Will Reed's Top 100 of 2024
Cinder, the platform that allows users to automate and scale moderation, manage cases and investigations and supercharge effective AI, empowering Trust and Safety teams to execute in the future, was recently included in Will Reed’s Top 100 of 2024. Founded by CMU alumnus and Innovation Scholar Glen Wise, this is the second year that Cinder made the list of seed and series A stage companies who are shaping the future of workplace culture.
| |
CMU Undergraduate Students!
Apply for the Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Association (UEA) Board by September 21.
| |
|  | 2023-25 Swartz Fellows in front of the Tepper School of Business
| |
| | |
Apply for the 2024-26 James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellows Program by October 13!
The Swartz Center has opened applications for the 2024-26 James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellows program. Applications will be open through Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 11:59 pm ET.
This highly selective, two-year program for CMU graduate students, develops the students entrepreneurial potential and leadership skills through hands-on experiences, networking, mentoring and courses in entrepreneurship. The program's core is a mentored summer internship with a top-tier VC-backed startup within the high-tech, high-growth environment of California's Silicon Valley and San Francisco.
Attend an info session to learn more and hear from current Swartz Fellows:
Thursday, October 10 | 12:30 PM ET
Register
| |
Family Business Leadership Speaker Series: Stuart Weitzman
An Entrepreneurial Journey on the Road Less Traveled:
Stuart Weitzman, Founder, Stuart Weitzman Shoes
Date: Monday, September 16, 2024
Time: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. EST
Location: CMU Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, Tepper Quad, 3rd Floor, 4765 Forbes Avenue
The CMU Swartz Center is excited to announce the next Family Business Leadership Series talk, featuring Stuart Weitzman, founder of Stuart Weitzman shoes. Stuart Weitzman’s passion for design has been a lifelong pursuit, leading to the internationally renowned company that bears his name. He has been honored extensively for his unique approach to entrepreneurship, and for his uncompromising commitment to prioritizing function as an integral element of fashion.
| |
VentureBridge Demo Day 2024: Three City Tour
San Francisco Bay Area, Pittsburgh and New York
The CMU VentureBridge (VB) program, an initiative of the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, is excited to present VentureBridge ’24 Demo Day in three cities: San Francisco Bay Area (September 18), Pittsburgh (September 25), and New York City (October 2).
The in-person events will feature presentations from the VentureBridge ’24 cohort of startups and select VentureBridge alumni startups. The presentations will be followed by a networking reception. Learn more about the VB portfolio here.
(Please note that the San Francisco Bay Area and New York City events are investor only events)
| |
Register for the VentureBridge Tech Talk & Job Fair
on September 24!
| |
Date: Thursday, September 26, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM | ET
Location: Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship, Tepper School of Business, 4765 Forbes Avenue, 3rd Floor
Join the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship for the 2024 AI & Robotics Venture Fair. Meet the region's leading AI & Robotics companies & explore investment opportunities.
| |
Dentons October Networking Event!
Date: Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Time: 4-6 PM | ET
Location: Dentons Cohen & Grigsby, P.C., 625 Liberty Avenue, 5th Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Celebrate the upcoming Fall season with a networking event hosted by Dentons Cohen & Grigsby’s Corporate, Immigration and Venture Technology teams! Enjoy light hors d'oeuvres and engaging conversation while reconnecting with old friends, forging new alliances and immersing in the dynamic spirit of innovation. Weather permitting, you will experience the city's sights, sounds and energy from our fifth-floor rooftop terrace.
Dentons will also feature the latest exhibit in the DCG Gallery, entitled "Metrobiome," by artist
Cudra Clover.
| |
| CONNECTS/START SMART LAW SEMINARS
| |
|  9/17
REGISTER
Business Model Canvas: A Practical Guide (Craig Markovitz, CMU Swartz Center)
| |  9/18
REGISTER
Customer Discovery; Emily Moquin, Schmidt Market Research)
| |  9/19
REGISTERUncovering Ideas with Strategic Design (Megan Guidi, Open/CMU)
| |
| | |
| Can't make a CONNECTS? Watch on our YouTube channel.
Find out more and see the full schedule.
| |
|
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.
| |
CMU ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLUBS
| |
| Click the images to see upcoming Club events!
| |
|
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!
| |
The following companies help directly support our programming and entrepreneurs.
| |
| 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.
| |
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
| |
|
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.
| |
| 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.
| |
HOW TO WORK OUT OF THE SWARTZ CENTER
| |
| |
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.
| | |
| |
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.
| | |
COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITIES/RESOURCES
| |
FIND OUT WHAT OUR PARTNERS ARE DOING
| |
|
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.
| |
|
|
|
Carnegie Mellon University Swartz Center For Entrepreneurship
5000 Forbes Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890 |
|
|
|
