Entrepreneur Resources:

Accelerators

AlphaLab (Software Accelerator) & AlphaLab Gear (Hardware Accelerator)

AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear, both programs of Innovation Works, help early-stage tech companies quickly figure out the best way to build and grow by offering crucial resources including funding, networking, and expertise.Applications for both their software and hardware program are accepted on a rolling basis.

Learn More & Apply to AlphaLab or AlphaLab Gear

 

Bridgeway Capital’s Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator Program

The Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator (CEA) Grant Program is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts designed to increase opportunity and provide recovery assistance to entrepreneurs ready to grow or start their creative businesses. The CEA program provides creative entrepreneurs with grants up to $2,000. Bridgeway Capital’s Creative Business Accelerator serves as a referral partner for applications through the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and Erie Arts and Culture, ensuring the best access to this grant opportunity for creative entrepreneurs across the region.

Learn More & Apply to the CEA Program

Coworking Spaces

Avenu Workspaces

Pittsburgh Innovation District’s coworking platform, Avenu Workspaces, has expanded its largest location as a hub for entrepreneurs, recent graduates, and anyone pursuing innovation and technology work.

Go to Avenu Workspaces’ Website

Clubs (for Pitt Students)

CoLab

CoLab is building the community for the next generation of founders, engineers, and designers at the University of Pittsburgh. The club runs high-impact events that accelerate student potential and ambition. CoLab believes spontaneity creates ideas so it is connecting the best minds on campus to work on the next generation of technology. If you’re interested in startups, technology, and 10X’ing your potential — CoLab is the community on campus to accelerate your interests. 🚀

GO TO COLAB’S WEBSITE

 

Enactus

Enactus is an international community of student, academic and business leaders committed to using the power of social entrepreneurship to enable human progress. Members apply business concepts to develop community outreach projects that transform lives and shape a better, more sustainable world.

Enactus@Pitt is a student-run social entrepreneurship organization that aims to develop its members leadership, problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation skills. We work with a variety of partners, majors, and organizations to complete consulting projects that yield positive benefits to local and broader communities.

GO TO PITT ENACTUS’S WEBSITE

 

Pitt Student Ventures Club

Pittsburgh Student Ventures, formerly known as the Pitt Private Equity and Venture Capital Club, was founded in 2018. As one of the few clubs on campus dedicated to bridging the gap between the classroom and professional world for students of all majors, Pittsburgh Student Ventures offers the educational resources and networking opportunities to grow your professional brand and increase employment opportunities. Pittsburgh Student Ventures is more than a business club, it is about understanding the entrepreneurial process and applying analytical thinking techniques to succeed. With networking events, competitive case competitions, and an intimate learning environment, members of all backgrounds and experiences can expand their knowledge and propel their career.

GET CONNECTED TO AND LEARN MORE ABOUT PITT STUDENT VENTURES

Entrepreneurial Tools

 

Annuity.org’s Financial Literacy Tools for Entrepreneurs

Annuity.org’s organization strives to provide small businesses and entrepreneurs with information that relates to their financial well-being. We have constructed a comprehensive section that covers topics such as becoming an entrepreneur, building a business plan, anticipating startup costs, the requirements of owning a business, and more.

Taking a leap of faith to pursue your small business dream takes courage — and cash. So before you leap, project your start-up and ongoing operational costs and learn all the state and municipal regulations that will affect you. Stay focused on the right growth factors, such as identifying when you can expect significant profits. Designing a business plan with achievable goals will enable you to measure progress and celebrate successes.

GO TO ANNUITY.ORG’S FINANCIAL LITERACY RESOURCE

 

Commercialization Online Resource Library

Pitt’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship has produced an online collection of resource materials that supports asynchronous, online learning covering idea development and technology commercialization!

The initial set of topics include: business model canvas, pitch decks, value proposition, market sizing, competitive analysis, and customer discovery. Each topic has 3 videos – short (<5 mins), medium (<10 mins), and a more in-depth review (usually 30-45 mins).

Go to the Commercialization Online Resource Library

 

Customer Discovery

  • “Customer Discovery: How Do I Know if My Idea is a Good One?” – Slide Deck Courtesy of Kit Needham

Customer discovery is key to knowing if your idea is a good one. In this slide deck, you’ll learn about the do’s and don’ts of customer discovery, the steps in the customer discovery process, and tips and tricks for getting the most valuable insights from your target audience.

Download the Customer Discovery Slide Deck

 

Innovation Works’ Startup Recipes

Startup Recipes is an online resource created by Innovation Works dedicated to those who have the time and desire to form a startup but not necessarily the financial means and know-how to get started.

In each “recipe”, you’ll find a walkthrough of the critical factors to consider in a specific step of the startup formation process, complete with instructions on how to use a DIY tool to accomplish the task with minimal funding. The tools are not meant to take the place of other professional advice or expertise, which is often the next step in scaling up the company. They are intended to make entrepreneurship easier and more accessible to more people.

Even if you are a repeat founder, already have your startup launched, are bootstrapping, developing a side-hustle, or just exploring your options– there is still a valuable “recipe” for you.

Browse IW’s Startup Recipes

 

Marketing

  • HubSpot Academy
    • HubSpot Academy is the worldwide leader in free online training for inbound marketing, sales, and customer service. They specialize in comprehensive certifications, singular topic courses, and bite-sized lessons for professionals looking to grow their career and business.

 

  • Microdose Marketing Blog
    • 3 links and 240 characters of commentary. Marketing recommendations and resources for startup founders, delivered in a micro-newsletter twice a week. Written by Lynsie Campbell,2x tech founder, pre-seed venture capitalist, and author of This Better Work.

 

  • The HubSpot Marketing Blog
    • HubSpot’s Marketing Blog – attracting over 4.5 million monthly readers – covers everything you need to know to master inbound marketing.

 

Legal

  • Ballard Academy for Student Entrepreneurs (BASE) Program

BASE offers participants practical legal advice for developing a new venture, a value-added team of experienced and accessible lawyers, and an education on how to avoid mistakes and how to solve problems when they arise. With the resources of the firm’s 15 offices across the United States, BASE can provide competent, personalized, and effective long-term representation from startup to maturity.

Learn More & Apply to Ballard Spahr’s BASE Program

 

  • Penn State Legal Clinics
    • Penn State’s Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic:

The Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic (the “Eship Clinic”) provides services to PA-based start-ups and early-stage companies. The services vary with the development stage of the particular client. The most common services are the following:

        • Business/entity formation
        • Founder agreements
        • Employee agreements and management
        • Investor term sheets
        • Regulatory compliance

Apply to PSU’s Entrepreneur Assistance Clinic

 

    • Penn State’s Intellectual Property Clinic: 
Counseling Pennsylvania innovators, entrepreneurs, small businesses, and early-stage start-ups in intellectual property strategy. Services are provided pro bono (free) to clients who would not otherwise have access to high quality intellectual property legal services. The IP Clinic does not provide services relating to litigation. Under the direction and guidance of the Clinic Director, the IP Clinic’s team of Penn State Law students advise clients in various matters regarding IP.

Apply to PSU’s Intellectual Property Clinic

 

  • Trellis Template Library™ by Pitt Alumni Startup Trellis Legal

The Trellis Template Library™ is designed to empower you to tackle your basic business legal needs until you can afford an attorney. A Trellis Template is legal without the “legalese” and contains detailed comment boxes breaking down each paragraph so you not only know how to fill out your template, but understand it, and use it to better your business. Check out their FAQs for more info. Don’t see your need yet? Don’t worry, Trellis Legal is continually updating and releasing new templates as they grow!

Browse the Trellis Template Library™

 

Pitt Innovation Institute’s Inventor’s Guide

The Inventor’s Guide is a new resource that has been developed for Pitt inventors interested in learning more about how to navigate the commercialization process and provides information on:

  • Protecting your invention
  • Determining if it is ready for commercialization
  • Choosing the best path to market
  • Marketing your invention
  • Creating a startup
  • Partnering with an existing company
  • … and more!

View the Inventor’s Guide

 

Pitt Library System’s Entrepreneurship Resources

Looking to dig into some research for your big idea? Check out Pitt Libraries’ entrepreneurship resources! They have tools to help you uncover trends and insights about various industries, companies, and consumers as well as provide helpful business planning templates! Not to mention, Pitt has their own Entrepreneurship Librarian who is a great resource to help students with their startup research activities!

Go to Pitt Library System’s Entrepreneurship Resources

 

Pitt Makerspace

Available to all Pitt students, faculty, and staff, the Pitt Makerspace is an invaluable resource for design and fabrication. They offer trainings, workshops, and seminars to foster a collaborative and creative environment. If interested in joining Pitt Makerspace, visit their website for more information on training and the onboarding process.

Go to Pitt Makerspace’s Website

 

Pittsburgh Startup Resource List by Founder Institute Pittsburgh

The Founder Institute Pittsburgh has created the Pittsburgh Startup Resource List! With 500+ entrees, they have tried to build a resource for you, that will save time and allow you to find resources that you didn’t even know about. Its a challenge to keep something this large up to date – so, if you see something that isn’t right please leave a comment and if they missed something altogether let them know by leaving your comments on this collaborative Google document to help them complete the list.  

View the Pittsburgh Startup Resource List

 

The Steel City Startup Guide by Barry Rabkin

Wondering what all that the Pittsburgh startup community has to offer? Well look no further! Check out the Steel City Startup Guide created by Pittsburgh entrepreneur Barry Rabkin for one-stop shopping on all things startup-related within the city of Pittsburgh!

This guide includes:

  • various startup job opportunities
  • startup news
  • startup networking events
  • startup competitions
  • startup services & supports (ex. legal, HR, marketing, etc.)
  • startup funding resources
  • and MUCH more!

View the Steel City Startup Guide

 

Verizon’s “Starting a Home-Based Small Business: Tips, Ideas, and Resources” Digital Handbook

Verizon has created a supportive digital handbook, Starting a home-based small business: tips, ideas and resources, for new entrepreneurs who are interested in starting a business from the comfort of their own home.

  • There are extensive benefits to owning your own business and working from home.
  • Verizon’s digital handbook helps people turn their idea into a business by mapping out how to navigate the legalities of naming, registering, and licensing.
  • It concludes with an extensive list of programs and resources aimed at supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners.

View the Handbook

Fellowships

TBD

 

Grants

Sustainability Student Prototyping Grant Through Pitt Mascaro’s Center for Sustainable Innovation

The goal of this program is to provide support (funds, makerspace access, feedback, connections to Pitt expertise, and references) to students interested in building innovations to enhance sustainability. The Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) invites ANY and ALL Pitt students to submit concepts for innovative prototypes (product or process) that they would like to build to enhance sustainability. Proposals are reviewed monthly on a rolling basis.

 

SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant

SoGal Foundation provides several $10K and $5K cash grants to Black women or nonbinary entrepreneurs.

Learn More & Apply for the SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant

Incubators

Ascender

A free yearlong incubator program within the Pittsburgh region that equips entrepreneurs with the tools to launch, build, and grow a sustainable business.

Learn More & Apply to Ascender’s Incubator Program

Investment & Funding Opportunities/Venture Capital

Dorm Room Fund

Dorm Room Fund invests in student-run companies incorporated in the US. They do not require you to be raising a round. Dorm Room Fund companies range from having an initial idea to existing customer traction. Their standard investment is a $40,000 SAFE. Beyond a $40,000 check, all Dorm Room Fund community companies get access to a suite of resources, their founder community and investor network, and support services from their investment partners and HQ team members. Learn more about the application process here.

Apply for a Dorm Room Fund Investment

Podcasts/Series

Foundr’s Free Training Series

Free training classes to help you start or grow your business. Learn useful and meaningful entrepreneurial content from world-renowned entrepreneurs!

View Foundr’s Free Training Video Library

 

Morning Brew’s “Founder’s Journal” Podcast: A Podcast for Entrepreneurs by an Entrepreneur

Alex Lieberman, the co-founder and Executive Chairman of Morning Brew, gives you an insider’s look into building businesses. Alex explores the founder’s journey, from the painful challenges of 0-to-1 to the powerful frameworks that help you scale to millions in revenue as well as the emotional rollercoaster that is present throughout.

LISTEN TO “Founder’s Journal” EPISODES

 

“The World’s Most Interesting People” by Pitt Alum/Apex Health CEO Kunal Gandhi ’21

Kunal’s podcast features friends who have built amazing things. Many come from all walks of life. Many are entrepreneurs, creators, or closely related. His hope for the podcast is that it provides valuable information, stories, and inspiration for you to chase your dreams.

All episodes can be streamed via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

Listen to/Watch “The World’s Most Interesting People” Episodes