--- title: Innovation Institute Blog (53) description: Discover cutting-edge research, groundbreaking innovations, and entrepreneurial insights at the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute Blog. Explore transformative ideas in technology, healthcare, and more from leading experts and pioneers in academia and industry. Stay informed, inspired, and connected to the forefront of innovation at Pitt. (53) --- [Innovation Institute](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/ii/) [Innovation Institute](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/ii/) Menu Close - [About](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/) - [Who We Are](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/who-we-are/) - [Annual Reports](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/annual-reports/) - [Startups/Success Stories](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-startups/) - [News](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/news/) - [Blog](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/) - [Innovation Institute Newsletters](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt_impact_newsletter/) - [Staff Directory](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/staff-directory/) - [Programs](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/program-navigator/) - [Program Listings](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/program-navigator/) - [Events](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/events-competitions/) - [Resources](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-ii-resources/) - [For Inventors](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/for-inventors/) - [Invention Disclosure](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/invention-disclosure/) - [Intellectual Property](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/key-resources/) - [Inventor’s Guide](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/2021-inventors-guide/) - [Create A Startup](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/key-resources/#anchortag-create-startup) - [Funding](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/funding/) - [For Industry](https://www.oiep.pitt.edu/) - [Partner with Pitt](https://www.oiep.pitt.edu/) - [Search Technologies](https://upitt.resoluteinnovation.com/explore) - [Explore Pitt Startups](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-startups/) - [Licensing Templates](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/licensing-templates/) - [Contact](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/contact/) - [Get Involved](https://go.innovation.pitt.edu/get_involved) - [Become A Mentor](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/mentor/) ##### Connect with Us - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/pittinnovates) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/pittinnovates) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/pitt-innovation-institute) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/pittinnovates/) [Skip to main content](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/page/53#main) [Innovation Institute](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/ii/) [Innovation Institute](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/ii/) Search for: Search Choose Research Site: Research Sites Pitt Research (main) Research Computing Research Protections Sponsored Programs Trade Compliance - [About](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/) - [Who We Are](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/who-we-are/) - [Annual Reports](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/annual-reports/) - [Startups/Success Stories](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-startups/) - [News](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/about/news/) - [Blog](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/) - [Innovation Institute Newsletters](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt_impact_newsletter/) - [Staff Directory](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/staff-directory/) - [Programs](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/program-navigator/) - [Program Listings](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/program-navigator/) - [Events](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/events-competitions/) - [Navigate Our Offerings](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/navigate-our-programs-step-1/) - [Resources](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-ii-resources/) - [For Inventors](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/for-inventors/) - [Invention Disclosure](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/invention-disclosure/) - [Intellectual Property](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/key-resources/) - [Inventor’s Guide](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/2021-inventors-guide/) - [Create A Startup](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/key-resources/#anchortag-create-startup) - [Funding](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/funding/) - [For Industry](https://www.oiep.pitt.edu/) - [Partner with Pitt](https://www.oiep.pitt.edu/) - [Search Technologies](https://upitt.resoluteinnovation.com/explore) - [Explore Pitt Startups](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/pitt-startups/) - [Licensing Templates](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/licensing-templates/) - [Contact](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/contact/) - [Get Involved](https://go.innovation.pitt.edu/get_involved) - [Submit Invention Disclosure](https://www.innovation.pitt.edu/invention-disclosure/) # Blog ## [Winnie the Pooh, 3D, and ‘Do it Yourself’ Legal](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/winnie-pooh-3d-legal) June 27, 2016 When I showed up to listen to two terrific speakers at the University of Pittsburgh’s new student accelerator, Blast Furnace, I didn't realize I would learn about Eeyore and Tigger. Or that my ‘lawyer uncle’ actually could be helpful in some legal situations. [Read More](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/winnie-pooh-3d-legal) ## [Alumni Night](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/alumni-night) June 27, 2016 "I am Dani. I am from Spain. And I am a reasonably good lover." I thought that would get your attention. It also caught the attention of attendees of this week’s Blast Furnace, the student accelerator at the University of Pittsburgh. It was ‘Alumni Night’ at the Furnace. However the opinions expressed, and the experiences shared, were so much more. First up, Dani Garcia. [Read More](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/alumni-night) ## [One Accelerator Launch, Two Serial Entrepreneurs, and Three Takeaways](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/one-accelerator-launch-two-serial-entrepreneurs-three-takeaways) June 27, 2016 This week the University of Pittsburgh launched its new student accelerator dubbed The Blast Furnace (a tip of the hat to Pittsburgh’s steel making history) of which I am its director. A blast furnace, according to that great oracle of all knowledge(!), Wikipedia, is a “type of metallurgical furnace used for smelting to produce industrial metals, generally iron, but also others such as lead or copper. Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a base metal from its ore.” [Read More](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/one-accelerator-launch-two-serial-entrepreneurs-three-takeaways) ## [What Big Idea Means to Me](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/big-idea-means) June 27, 2016 The Randall Family Big Idea competition is our flagship competition here at the Innovation Institute, the main reason we're so proud of it: the students. So we wanted to take the chance to share with you some of their thoughts on the competition: Dirt Cheap Power, Addy Klonicki [Read More](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/big-idea-means) ## [Behind the Judges Table](https://blog.innovation.pitt.edu/behind-judges-table) June 27, 2016 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. 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