Alumni Resources
There are over 110,000 Carnegie Mellon University Alumni and our different programs, resources, and networking events all focus on supporting our Alumni startups. Additionally, through the Swartz Center there are many opportunities for Alumni to mentor and invest in CMU startups.
We have included many of these options below for you to explore.
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Aleks Petkov.
Alumni Startup Resources
VentureBridge
The VentureBridge program engages, equips, and inspires CMU entrepreneurs to accelerate their startup growth by providing access to the networks, resources, and innovations of the Swartz Center.
This includes a 12-week summer accelerator hosted in the San Francisco bay area, mentor matching events throughout the year, and incubator space in San Francisco for visiting CMU founders.
CONNECTs Workshops
Our CONNECTS seminar series enhances the experiential education of any individual interested in innovation and entrepreneurship.
The seminar series provides access to expert speakers on a variety of different topics ranging from lean entrepreneurship to building out your team. The workshops also provide a great opportunity to network with others and find co-founders to become a part of your team.
Events and Networking
The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship hosts over 100 events every year that range from workshops, fireside chats, competitions, and networking sessions.
In order to stay up to date on all of these events we encourage everyone to sign up for the Weekly Bulletin. The Weekly Bulletin comes out every Friday and contains entrepreneurship news, events, deadlines, and job opportunities.
Mentorship and Space
The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship welcomes all Carnegie Mellon University current and alumni entrepreneurs and startups. In Fall 2018 the new Swartz Center space in the newly built Tepper Quad opened it's doors and is currently a home to over 80 startups founded by Carnegie Mellon University alumni, undergraduates, graduates, post-docs and faculty.
Alumni are welcome to apply to operate out of the space and through the application process they will receive guidance and mentorship from the Swartz Center Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. The EIRs can help startups identify relevant Swartz Center programs and connect them with the CMU entrepreneurship ecosystem.
CMU Tech and Entrepreneurship
CMU Tech & Entrepreneurship is alumni founded and focuses on connecting the community, building an entrepreneurial culture, and providing resources for the community to succeed.
Carnegie Mellon University has over 110,000 alumni that span the globe and CMU T&E is a good way to connect with others no matter where you are located.
99 Tartans
99 Tartans is an angel investment network of CMU alumni. If you are an early-stage CMU alumni startup, apply to 99 Tartans for investment consideration.
Alumni Mentors and Investors
Mentor Swartz Center Startups
Mentoring is a critical success factor in helping first-time entrepreneurs achieve success. Having a successful entrepreneur as a mentor helps the first-time entrepreneur focus on the highest priorities and avoid common mistakes. The industry connection that the mentor brings to the table can be transformational.
Mentoring opportunities include programs like the McGinnis Venture Competition (Judge/Coach), VentureBridge Program (Mentor), mentor office-hours, and through many other Swartz Center programs.
Invest in Swartz Center Startups
Young entrepreneurs are the difference-makers of tomorrow. Invest in their growth and share the financial rewards of their ambitions.
There are many opportunities to invest either by giving to the Swartz Center or by directly investing in CMU startups. Many of these startups include VentureBridge cohort companies and McGinnis Venture Competition winners.
Contact us directly for investment information.
99 Tartans
99 Tartans is run and organized by volunteer CMU alumni and students whose goal is to elevate CMU’s entrepreneurial community to go beyond the excellence of MIT and Stanford.
The mission of 99 Tartans is to partner with the highest potential early-stage CMU alumni companies and accelerate their success through access to capital and networks.
Events and Networking
The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship hosts over 100 events every year that range from competitions, showcase events, networking sessions, and much more. These events are great opportunities to interact with up and coming startups, entrepreneurs, and alumni.
In order to stay up to date on all of these events we encourage everyone to sign up for the Weekly Bulletin. The Weekly Bulletin comes out every Friday and contains entrepreneurship news, events, deadlines, and job opportunities.
Strength in Numbers
Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship WMBE Outreach Program
In Fall 2021 the Swartz Center is focusing on deliviring a very "hands-on" program to support women and minority small businesses in two specific neighborhoods of Pittsburgh: Wilkinsburg and Homewood. We are working with small businesses that are women-owned and led and/or minority-owned and led in those zip codes. The companies will spend time at the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship as well as in other venues in the communities of Wilkinsburg and Homewood receiving help to: build their accounting and finance capacity, build their on-line presence through the use of websites and landing pages, and address their ad-hoc business questions
The programming is free of charge for the entrepreneurs. After the initial programming - the companies will be supported by CMU alumni mentors that have experience in accounting, finance, and entrepreneurship as well as CMU students who are adept at business disciplines and the use of technology.
Thank you to our Swartz Center Patrons
