Past I+E Events
February 21, 2023 – Trivia Night at the BIC
5:00 – 6:15 P.M., Big Idea Center
Kick back and enjoy some friendly competition with fellow Pitt students as we host a trivia night in-person at the Big Idea Center, ran by Pitt alumni-owned startup Buzz Worthy Pub Trivia! Test your knowledge across various categories such as current events, superheroes, and name that tune for a chance to win the grand prize! Students are welcome to come with a pre-formed team or as an individual (solo students will be grouped into teams). We’re putting this program on in conjunction with Pitt’s Day of Giving.
Various Dates in February/March 2023 – Corporate Innovation Speaker Series
Various Times & Locations
Our newly-launched speaker series serves as a way to introduce students to what corporate innovation looks like across various industries and enlighten them to the career possibilities around pursuing innovation within a large company.
Throughout the month of February, a variety of speakers who work within the corporate innovation space will shed light on their company’s approach to/philosophy around innovation, discuss examples of impactful/exciting projects that they’ve worked on for the company, and share some insights on how they ignite innovation in their role, with time for Q&A at the end.
Upcoming sessions:
- February 6 (5:00 – 6:00 P.M., Zoom): Duquesne Light Company feat. Josh Gould, DLC’s Director of Innovation
- February 24 (5:00 – 6:00 P.M., Zoom): The Clorox Company feat. Kelly George, Clorox’s Open Innovation Leader
- March 2 (5:00 – 6:00 P.M., Hybrid): Sheetz feat. Mary Beth Green, Sheetz’s Chief Innovation Officer
March 14, 2023 – EntrePIEneur Day
2:00 – 4:00 P.M., Big Idea Center
Join us at the Big Idea Center to celebrate Pi Day with an entrepreneurial twist! From 2-4 pm, we will be offering FREE pie slices from a local bakery (while supplies last). You’ll also get to hear from the student-run platform GrEATings (formerly known as Potluck) about their entrepreneurial journey and how their idea connects people over food!
March 27, 2023 – Hands-on with HealthTech Startups Workshop
5:30 – 7:30 P.M., Big Idea Center
Have you ever thought about working in a healthtech startup? Join us for a hands-on experience working with a real startup who is solving a critical problem in healthcare today. The goal of this interactive workshop will be to introduce students to exciting local startups by exploring the problems and stakeholders their innovations seek to address. Students will hear from 3 different startups and have the opportunity to work alongside them to identify the needs and motivations of the company’s key stakeholders. Students with the strongest analysis will receive a prize!
Participating startups include:
No life science or technology experience necessary; just an eagerness to learn!
Presented by the Big Idea Center and LifeX.
Objectives:
- Gain exposure to career paths in startups/innovation, even if you don’t have your own startup idea or want to be a startup founder.
- Explore the healthcare innovation space by meeting local healthtech startups looking for university talent.
- Engage in group discussions and thought exercises that are common in early stage startups.
April 10, 2023 – How to Make Ideas Happen with AI Workshop
5:00 PM – 7:00 P.M., Big Idea Center
Join the Big Idea Center for this immersive “How to Make Ideas Happen with AI” workshop where students will be introduced to the rapidly-changing world of artificial intelligence and why this powerful tool is here to stay. Students will then work within various AI platforms and follow guided prompts by instructor Ryan Rhoades to create practical AI-generated projects!
No prior experience necessary; beginners welcome!
In this workshop, you’ll:
- Understand how AI is becoming a revolutionary tool across an assortment of industries and how you can harness the power of AI for yourself
- Become familiar with different AI platforms and explore their interfaces
- Unleash your creativity by leveraging AI to produce a variety of projects such as stories, songs, art, etc. – the possibilities are endless!
April 24, 2023 – Study Day at the BIC
9:00 AM – 5:00 P.M., Big Idea Center
Spend your study day at the Big Idea Center! We will have FREE cookies and beverages (while supplies last) to provide you with some brain fuel as you finish finals week strong and celebrate the hard work you’ve put into this year. PLUS, receive $1.50 off a Cold Brew from the Forbes Ave. Saxbys cafe located inside our lobby!*
*offer valid for the first 100 students who scan the QR code flyer in our lobby on April 24
No registration necessary!
September 8, 2023 – Elcon Threads Pop-Up Shop at the Big Idea Center
11:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M., Big Idea Center
Pitt student-founded thrift shop Elcon Threads will be holding an exclusive pop-up shop over at the Big Idea Center on Friday, September 8 from 11 A.M. to 3 P.M. to celebrate the start of the new school year! This is going to be their BIGGEST pop-up shop ever with 300+ vintage Pitt items available!
Stop on by and snag some vintage Pitt t-shirts, sweatshirts, pants, jerseys, jackets, hats, blankets + more!
Venmo, PayPal, or cash are accepted forms of payment. No registration necessary!
September 20, 2023 – Career Paths in Startups & Innovation Panel Discussion
5:00 – 6:30 P.M., Big Idea Center w/ Zoom option
For any startup to succeed and thrive, they will need to build a team of talented and motivated employees. Who are these people that choose to join a startup in its earliest stages? What does their job actually look like? How did they even find and apply for that job? What if I want to work alongside startups but not directly in one? We will cover these questions and more with a panel of speakers who have successfully navigated a path from student to early startup employee, or to a non-traditional, entrepreneurship-adjacent role.
Attendees will:
- learn about alternative, early-stage career trajectories and support roles within the innovation and startup space outside of being a startup founder
- network and engage with a panelist of “near-peers” who are currently working for a startup or innovation organization
- receive a robust list of various startup and innovation job/internship opportunities, upcoming events, and other helpful resources to jumpstart their career search and build their knowledge of the region’s innovation and startup industry
Presented by the Big Idea Center, LifeX, and Venture for America. Light refreshments will be provided.
October 13, 2023 – BIC Homecoming Open House
9:00 AM – 3:00 P.M., Big Idea Center
Pitt alums, are you visiting campus for homecoming this year? Drop by the Big Idea Center (at 3601 Forbes Ave) on Friday, October 13 for our second annual Homecoming Open House! 🏠🐾
From 9 AM – 3 PM, our doors will be open for you to tour our building, snack on light refreshments, mingle with Pitt student ventures and alumni companies, and participate in our exclusive giveaway! Learn more about what opportunities we provide Pitt students and how you can get involved as an alum.
PLUS! Alumni can treat themselves to 20% off their order at the Saxbys cafe located in our lobby! Discount valid only on October 13, 2023.
Registration is encouraged but not required.
October 16-20, 2023 – Women Entrepreneurship Week
Throughout the week of October 16 – 20, the Big Idea Center will be showcasing a variety of women entrepreneurs from the Pittsburgh region and beyond. They will share their unique stories of what it’s like to be a woman in the world of entrepreneurship and what important lessons they’ve learned along the way.
October 18, 2023 – Psychological & Emotional Safety Training Session presented by Underdog
5:00 – 6:00 P.M., Big Idea Center
Celebrate Women Entrepreneurship Week with women-led Pitt student startup team Underdog! The Underdog team will kick things off and give a brief overview of their startup and their mission around women+ safety. Then we will switch gears where a trained counselor will lead a conversation around creating boundaries in a variety of relationships (platonic, family, professional, romantic, etc.) to enhance your psychological and emotional well-being as well as how to spot the red flags of mental/emotional abuse.
- Attendees will:
- get to connect with women-led Pitt student startup team members and learn more about the various resources, services, and programs they offer around safety training for women+
- engage in fruitful, insightful conversation with other women+ in a safe, supportive environment while gaining practical tips from a certified counselor on how to mentally and emotionally protect yourself in a plethora of relational situations
Women+ and allies of women+ are welcome to attend.
November 29, 2023 – Hands-on with HealthTech Startups Workshop
5:30 – 7:30 P.M., Big Idea Center
Have you ever thought about working in a healthtech startup? Join us for a hands-on experience working with a real startup who is solving a critical problem in healthcare today. The goal of this interactive workshop will be to introduce students and professionals to exciting local startups by exploring the problems and stakeholders their innovations seek to address. Event participants will hear from 3 different startups and have the opportunity to work alongside them to identify the needs and motivations of the company’s key stakeholders. Those with the strongest analysis will receive a prize!
No life science or technology experience necessary; just the eagerness to learn!
Participating healthtech startups include:
Objectives:
- Gain exposure to career paths in startups/innovation, even if you don’t have your own startup idea or want to be a startup founder.
- Explore the healthcare innovation space by meeting local healthtech startups looking for university talent.
- Engage in group discussions and thought exercises that are common in early stage startups.
December 11, 2023 – Study Day at the BIC
9:00 AM – 5:00 P.M., Big Idea Center
Spend your study day at the Big Idea Center! We will have FREE cookies and hot chocolate (while supplies last) to provide you with some brain fuel as you prepare to crush your finals.
No registration necessary!
