CSL helps companies identify and create transformative growth opportunities by applying venture and entrepreneurial best practices to corporate innovation. The CSL Fellows pairs interdisciplinary graduate students with corporate partners for a paid fellowship that provides the students with a dynamic Corporate Innovation experience.
CSL Fellows
Matching interdisciplinary graduate students and corporations for Corporate Innovation Associate experience
The CSL Fellows is a program with the Corporate Startup Lab that pairs interdisciplinary graduate students with corporate partners across industries including fintech, healthcare, and industrial innovation. As a CSL Fellow, students spend ten hours a week working with corporate partners as “corporate venture and innovation associates,” helping with Market Mapping, Opportunity Definition, Go-To-Market Strategy, Due Diligence, and Portfolio Strategy. It is a paid fellowship that spans a semester of work.
Spring 2026 Fellows Applications Now Open!
Apply here!
Applications for enrollment in this course are now open. Any Carnegie Mellon University Graduate student may apply. Acceptance to the course will be based on a completed application and interview with a CSL staff member. Applications will close on December 19th, so don't wait! Apply today!
HOW IT WORKS
• Two Graduate Students are assigned to each sponsor company per semester
• Sponsors and CSL engage weekly to collaborate on direction
• Outside of the weekly meeting, students work independently 10 hours a week with an experienced CSL Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) guiding the work throughout the semester
Examples of work completed
• Portfolio strategy assistance by defining market landscapes and identifying relevant emerging technologies and startups
• Exploration of potential use cases and new product-market opportunities presented by emerging technologies (e.g. AI, Robotics, LLMs)
• Hands-on evaluation and testing
• Competitive analyses through creation of competitive landscapes, financial models, and market sizing
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CSL EIRs and Mentors
Jim Jen
Distinguished Service Professor of Entrepreneurship, Tepper
Director, Corporate Startup Lab
LinkedIn
Courtney Williamson
Adjunct Professor, Heinz
CEO, AbiliLife Inc.
LinkedIn
Lou Musante
Adjunct Professor, Tepper
Founder & Managing Partner, Echo Strategies
LinkedIn
JJ Xu
Adjunct Professor, Tepper
Founder & CEO TalkMeUp
LinkedIn
Hallie Francis
Academic Program Manager, Corporate Startup Lab
Tepper School of Business
LinkedIn
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Sponsor Company History
Thank you to our Swartz Center Patrons
