Carnegie Mellon University

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Social Enterprise Prize Final Round Celebration

The Swartz Center Social Enterprise Prize is a new competition at Carnegie Mellon University designed to empower students to develop entrepreneurial solutions for social and environmental challenges. The competition runs as a special track within the McGinnis Pitch Competition.


Congrats to our 2025 Winners!

For 2025 only, with a special gift from the McGinnis family, we were able to double the prize winnings for each team!

Undergraduate Winners

We had a tie for first place this year for our undergraduate division. Each team will receive $7,500

Avalon

Avalon: Applying AI and learning psychology to education to enhance teaching efficiency and student learning. Team includes Derek Armfield and Akeil Smith.

AdaptED

AdaptED: AdaptED is a B2B EdTech company that streamlines special education accommodations for K-12 schools by integrating AI-powered test modifications and automated compliance support into existing Learning Management Systems. Through their software, they aim to reduce teacher workload and strengthen parent-teacher collaboration to ensure every student receives the equitable education they deserve. Team includes Aditi Shimpi and Allison Yu.

Graduate Winner

First place graduate team receives $20,000

OctaPulse

OctaPulse: Smarter Fish Farming: AI-Driven Inspection for Higher Yields and Lower Costs. Team includes Paul L. Grech, Rohan Singh and Andres Castrillon.


Help cheer the final round teams to victory by attending our in person event.   

Monday, March 17, 2025
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.        Final Round Team Presentations

6:00 - 7:30 p.m.        Award Ceremony & Networking Reception

Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship
Carnegie Mellon University

Tepper Quad
, 3rd Level

4765 Forbes Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15213


The event will also be live-streamed to allow our international and remote community members to view. To view the live-stream visit the events page the day of the event.

Visitor parking available at the East Campus Garage


Schedule of Events

Undergrad Pitches

Undergraduate Team Pitches

Undergraduate Teams: 5 min pitch and 5 min Q&A
2 min break between presentation

4:00 - 4:10 p.m.

Avalon

4:12 - 4:22 p.m.

Scala

4:24 - 4:34 p.m.

AdaptED

Grad Pitches

Graduate Team Pitches

Graduate Teams: 5 min pitch and 5 min Q&A
2 min break between presentations

4:36 - 4:46 p.m.

OctaPulse

4:48 - 4:58 p.m.

Dan's Compass

5:00 – 5:10 p.m.

EVAL-AI

5:12 – 5:22 p.m.

Expired

Networking

Networking Reception + Awards Ceremony

6:00 - 7:30 p.m. EST

Join us as we announce the winners of the 2025 Social Enterprise Prize.

Awards to be announced between 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. EST.

The networking reception is hosted by Dentons.

2025 Final Round Teams

Avalon

Avalon

Undergraduate Track

Derek Armfield and Akeil Smith

Applying AI and learning psychology to education to enhance teaching efficiency and student learning.

Scala

Scala

Undergraduate Track

Elin Zhou

Scala is an affordable weighing scale for people with mobility impairments

AdaptED

AdaptED

Undergraduate Track

Aditi Shimpi and Allison Yu

AdaptED is a B2B EdTech company that streamlines special education accommodations for K-12 schools by integrating AI-powered test modifications and automated compliance support into existing Learning Management Systems. Through their software, they aim to reduce teacher workload and strengthen parent-teacher collaboration to ensure every student receives the equitable education they deserve.

OctaPulse

OctaPulse

Graduate Track

Paul L. Grech, Rohan Singh, Andres Castrillon and Miguel Almeida

Smarter Fish Farming: AI-Driven Inspection for Higher Yields and Lower Costs

Dan's Compass

Dan's Compass

Graduate Track

Robertus Danny Sucahyo and Punyapa Poonapanont

Dan’s Compass is a free resource/platform for cancer fighters, caregivers and their friends to find practical advice, share stories and support each other through collaborative and meaningful arts.

EVAL-AI

EVAL-AI

Graduate Track

Christian Andino Borrero, Vashishth Doshi, Lisa Menda, Grace Sam and Zachary Zwijacz

The go-to solution for AI regulatory readiness

Expired

Expired

Graduate Track

Lawrence Hua, Ran Bi, Bailey Morton and Brenden Morton

Expired is an AI-powered perishable management platform that helps retailers reduce shrinkage, optimize inventory and automate markdowns while giving shoppers transparency in freshness and pricing. By scanning produce, predicting expiration and providing real-time insights. Expired ensures shoppers get the right product, at the right price, and the right quality.