Pitt Innovators Commit to the Gridiron of Academic Entrepreneurship

When it comes to academic innovation and entrepreneurship, Pitt is blessed with an overflowing roster of 5-star recruits. They are putting points on the board, submitting a new invention disclosure to the Innovation Institute, part of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, every single day of the year on average; being issued more than 100 patents; and having their technologies licenses more than 130 times in the last fiscal year.

Pitt innovators also launched 13 startup companies in the last fiscal year. Five of those academic all-stars gathered recently to ceremonially signal their commitment to drive their innovations downfield toward the end zone of commercialization in the inaugural Pitt Startup Signing Day.

Pat Bostick, former Pitt quarterback and current Senior Associate Athletic Director, was on hand to cheer the Pitt innovators on.

"Whether your goal is to win a national championship, to help cure a disease or solve some other important problem for society, today more than ever, whatever you want to do to achieve excellence and reach your human potential, it’s possible at Pitt," Bostick said.

You can read a recap of the event here.

And see a photo gallery here:

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Pitt startup founders don their caps at the inaugural Startup Signing Day event.
Pitt startup co-founders
Pitt startup founders join with their co-founders for a group photo with Vice Chancellor Evan Facher and Senior Associate Athletic Director Pat Bostick.
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Jason Lohmueller, co-founder of Monarch Therapeutics, poses with Roc the Panther and Monarch CEO Chris Potts.
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Pitt associate professor of sociology James Huguley poses with Roc and his "letter of intent" to support the growth of his company, Parent Heart Inc.
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Michael Tsang, professor in the Department of Cell Biology and co-founder of Zegenex Inc., takes a question from the media at the inaugural Pitt Startup Signing Day.

 

Following the event, Bostick invited Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Evan Facher, onto his pre-game radio broadcast on 93.7 The Fan to discuss the signing day event, and the role of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship plays at Pitt to assist faculty, student and staff innovators and regional business owners in making a societal impact through innovation commercialization.

They also discussed Pitt's unique ability to leverage its research strength and translate it to the playing court and field via sports science innovation.

Listen below:

PAT SEG 2 Evan Facher
12:35

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