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Events  | Spotlight |  Resources  |  Programs  | Partners |

July 3, 2026
Wishing everyone a happy and safe Independence Day as we celebrate America's 250th anniversary! 
CORE SWARTZ CENTER EVENTS, PROGRAM DEADLINES & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CMU Startup Week
CMU Startup Week is Back!

The second annual CMU Startup Week is set to return this Fall! Join 2000+ founders, investors, researchers, students and alumni on September 14–18, 2026. This year, CMU Startup Week is also an anchor partner of StartUP PGH, a new effort bringing together over 15 regional partners for a collective week of entrepreneurship, innovation and activity in Pittsburgh.
 
Expect five days of AI and Robotics innovations, research and investor connections, recruiting opportunities and dozens of events across the Carnegie Mellon ecosystem anchored by our flagship events: CMU Lab to Market, AI Robotics Venture Day, SPARK Startup Jobs Fair, and the Swartz Student Startup Showcase (S4).
Read more and register for all of the events!
AI & Robotics Venture Day!

A curated showcase of CMU-affiliated and Pittsburgh-region most investment-ready AI and robotics startups. Presented by the CMU Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with Innovation Works, the event brings together investors, founders, university leaders, and the regional startup community to spotlight high-potential companies building in AI, robotics, autonomy, and embodied intelligence.

Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, McConomy Auditorium, 5000 Forbes Ave.
For attendees ~ register to attend
For founders ~ Apply to Pitch by July 15!
Appy by August 1 for the Fall 2026 CSL Project Course and CSL Fellows Program!

The Corporate Startup Lab at Carnegie Mellon University works with companies to foster greater innovation, entrepreneurship and future readiness. Through partnerships with CMU graduate students, CSL helps organizations explore real-world challenges, identify new opportunities and bring the latest thinking in technology, innovation and startup methods into their companies.

For Students: Applications are now open for the Fall 2026 CSL Project Course and CSL Fellows Program. These incredible opportunities give Carnegie Mellon University graduate students the chance to gain valuable hands-on experience, build meaningful professional connections, and expand their networks while working on impactful projects.

The CSL Fellows Program is a paid position that offers students the opportunity to be compensated while developing skills to support their academic and career goals.

Both programs are open to Carnegie Mellon University graduate students. Please note that the CSL Project Course is restricted to Pittsburgh campus students.

For Corporate Partners: Organizations interested in engaging CSL graduate students to help address a real-world challenge are encouraged to connect with the CSL team. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with talented CMU graduate students, gain fresh perspectives and explore innovative approaches to meaningful business, technology and societal challenges. Reach out to Jim Jen if interested, jjen@andrew.cmu.edu. 

Students, click the links below to learn more about each program and apply by August 1!
Apply for the Project Course!
Apply for the CSL Fellows!
IN THE NEWS
CMU Spinout Astrobotic Awarded $297M for Two More Peregrine Moonshots Ahead of Acquisition

Ahead of being acquired, Astrobotic Technology Inc. has announced that it has been awarded contracts to make two more moonshots. 
Read more
STARTUP JOB OPPORTUNITIES
CMU Engineering Alumna Seeking Co-founder
for Wellness Marketplace
 


Practice Togetherly helps people find and book trusted local wellness professionals for personalized, in-person yoga, fitness, meditation, and other wellness sessions. Founded by CMU Engineering alumna Rose Gallagher (software engineer, mom, and certified yoga teacher), the company is building a simpler way to discover, vet, and book great instructors. Practice Togetherly has an active product, a growing network of instructors, and early users. An ideal early team member has a passion for wellness, and expertise with early stage growth hacking and marketing. 

Contact Rose at rose@practicetogetherly.com if you are interested in learning more. 
OTHER APPLICATION DEADLINES
Apply for the AlphaLab '27 Cohort by July 17! 

AlphaLab is now accepting applications for AL27. AlphaLab is a six-month on-site accelerator based in Pittsburgh that invests $100K as an uncapped convertible note in early-stage startups across software, hardware, health, and robotics. The program provides hands-on mentorship, deep connections to investors, customers, and talent, and a built-in network of 300+ alumni
companies that have raised more than $1.3 billion in follow-on funding.

The AL27 application is open to early-stage startups that are incorporated in the U.S. and ready to commit to spending significant time in Pittsburgh during the program. Applications are free and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Schedule office hours or apply at alphalab.org/apply.
Apply (or schedule office hours)
OTHER EVENTS
Nucleate Pittsburgh x UPMC Enterprises Reverse Pitch

Date: Wednesday, July 15
Time: 4-6 PM ET


Are you considering comercializing your research? UPMC Enterprises is flipping the script and will take the stage to pitch to you! Register to learn more and then stick around for refreshments and networking. 
Register
CONNECTS/START SMART LEGAL SEMINARS
Can't make a CONNECTS? Watch on our YouTube channel. 
See the full schedule and register for ALL of the seminars here!

The CONNECTS/START SMART Legal Seminars will resume in the
Fall 2026 semester.
CMU ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLUBS
CMU GEC CMU UEA Scottie Ventures Sigma Eta Pi
CMU Summit on US-China Scotty Labs
Click the images to find out more about each of the Clubs!


The CMU T&E has a jobs board, available for people across the community to share and seek new opportunities in the startup and entrepreneurship ecosystem. Find out more and visit the website here.

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. 
SWARTZ CENTER PATRONS
The following companies help directly support our programming and entrepreneurs.
Swartz Center Patrons
Find out more about our Patrons
PATRON OFFICE HOURS
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
Pillsbury

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.
PATRON SPOTLIGHT
PwC

Our purpose—to build trust in society and solve important problems—is at the core of everything we do. It guides how we serve our clients, our people and the world. To help our clients build trust and deliver sustained outcomes, PwC provides professional services across two segments: Trust Solutions and Consulting Solutions. Within these segments we bring a range of capabilities to help organizations solve faster, solve more and realize more value. These capabilities include cloud and digitaldealsESGcybersecurity and privacygovernance/boardsrisktransformation, tax services and much more. Across our global network of more than 295,000 professionals in 156 countries, we are committed to advancing quality in everything we do.
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.
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.
Visit the CMU Swartz Center website. Make a donation.
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Carnegie Mellon University Swartz Center For Entrepreneurship
5000 Forbes Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890


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