As an intern at the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute, I consider myself one of the luckiest people at the university. My job allows me to see all of the amazing and inspiring ideas that arise from Pitt students, from undergraduates to post-docs. However, no event showcases our school’s indisputable capacity to change the world like the Randall Family Big Idea Competition. The second round of this annual Pitt competition, which took place Thursday, March 5, involved more than 85 student teams -- nearly double the size of last year’s competition. The teams pitched their hearts out with the hope of advancing their “big ideas” to the final round. I had the unique pleasure of experiencing the competition from the vantage point of the judges’ table.
The University of Pittsburgh’s Innovation Institute and the Career Development and Placement Assistance office hosted Zev Siegl, co-founder of Starbucks and renowned entrepreneur. Zev narrated the humble beginnings of what is now one of largest and most recognizable brands in America. It was an incredible learning experience for the almost 200 students in the room. So you too can learn from Zev’s wisdom, here are the key takeaways that I learned from the event:
2016 Randall Family Big Idea Competition winner, POD. From left: Alec Kaija, Blake Dube and Mark Spitz. POD is also set to travel to Georgia Tech University for inaugural ACC InVenture Prize competition. $100,000 in prize money awarded to 16 student teams from across the University
Launch of Interphase Materials Showcases Range of Service and Support Offered by Pitt Innovation Institute Noah Snyder smiles broadly recalling the first time he was gripped by the entrepreneurial impulse that has propelled his life forward ever since.