What’s the Big Idea?
The Big Idea Center is Pitt’s hub for student innovation and entrepreneurship. Established in 2018 as part of the Innovation Institute, the Big Idea Center catalyzes innovation and provides experiential opportunities for students to develop the skills necessary for bringing new ideas to life.
Why Should You Care?
Follow us!
@pittbigidea #pittbigidea
Critical thinking and problem solving are at the heart of innovation, and the Big Idea Center’s programming sharpens those essential life skills. Big Idea Center programs augment students’ personal and professional development regardless of whether they ultimately decide to focus on startups, Fortune 500 companies, social enterprises or academia.
What Can You Expect? As a Pitt student, you will join a diverse, crossdisciplinary innovation and entrepreneurship community. You will be challenged to push yourself beyond your perceived limits and achieve more than you think is possible. The Big Idea Center has dedicated entrepreneurs in residence to provide you with individual coaching and mentoring. Through competitions and numerous networking, accelerator, and incubation programs, you will be introduced to industry professionals and investors in the Pittsburgh innovation ecosystem.
Innovation Institute 130 Thackeray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15260 412-383-7670 innovation.pitt.edu
The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. Published in cooperation with the Office of University Communications and Marketing. 112673-0520
University of Pittsburgh
Hub for Student Innovation
Opportunities for Involvement with the Big Idea Center are #limitless! 1. Initiate
Get your feet wet with the Big Idea Center, whether you have a big idea, a small idea, or no idea at all! Attend our Big Idea Kickoff event, visit our website, and check out our social media to see what we’re all about.
2. Participate
Get involved to help build your innovation skill set and develop your idea into a feasible business venture.
3. Accelerate
Let us equip you with the knowledge and skills that are needed to form a company and grow your business.
4. Incubate
Speed up the process of getting your business to market.
A startup is fully created!
Who Can Get Involved with the Big Idea Center? • • • •
Undergraduate and graduate students, including PhD candidates, from all disciplines Students who want to develop their skill set around innovation and entrepreneurship Students who have an idea of any size for a business venture Students who want to build upon someone else’s big idea
Entrepreneurs in Residence
Our entrepreneurs in residence (EIRs) are experienced professionals who provide free consulting to students about their ideas and help shape those ideas into realistic business ventures. Our EIRs have expertise in a variety of fields, such as technology, medicine, retail, and finance. For a list of current EIRs and their contact information, please visit innovation.pitt.edu/bigideacenter.
Programs
Student Spotlight Emily Siegel Founder and CEO of Trek Gum Emily Siegel came to Pitt with the goal of going to medical school, but she changed her career path her senior year after she became more interested in sustainability. She graduated in 2019 with degrees in chemical engineering and biological sciences and a certificate in nonprofit management. Siegel won first place in the 2019 Randall Family Big Idea Competition and is currently developing a biodegradable chewing gum
The Big Idea Center hosts various programs and competitions for all Pitt students throughout the year, such as IBM BlueHack, Global Entrepreneurship Week and the Randall Family Big Idea Competition. For more information about these programs, visit our website at innovation.pitt.edu/ bigideacenter.
that can clean teeth on the go. She is
Contact us at bigidea@innovation.pitt.edu.
money to open a brewery on a boat!
actively applying to accelerator programs and hopes to one day have a successful company exit so that she can use the
What’s the Big Idea?
The Big Idea Center is Pitt’s hub for student innovation and entrepreneurship. Established in 2018 as part of the Innovation Institute, the Big Idea Center catalyzes innovation and provides experiential opportunities for students to develop the skills necessary for bringing new ideas to life.
Why Should You Care?
Follow us!
@pittbigidea #pittbigidea
Critical thinking and problem solving are at the heart of innovation, and the Big Idea Center’s programming sharpens those essential life skills. Big Idea Center programs augment students’ personal and professional development regardless of whether they ultimately decide to focus on startups, Fortune 500 companies, social enterprises or academia.
What Can You Expect? As a Pitt student, you will join a diverse, crossdisciplinary innovation and entrepreneurship community. You will be challenged to push yourself beyond your perceived limits and achieve more than you think is possible. The Big Idea Center has dedicated entrepreneurs in residence to provide you with individual coaching and mentoring. Through competitions and numerous networking, accelerator, and incubation programs, you will be introduced to industry professionals and investors in the Pittsburgh innovation ecosystem.
Innovation Institute 130 Thackeray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15260 412-383-7670 innovation.pitt.edu
The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. Published in cooperation with the Office of University Communications and Marketing. 112673-0520
University of Pittsburgh
Hub for Student Innovation
Opportunities for Involvement with the Big Idea Center are #limitless! 1. Initiate
Get your feet wet with the Big Idea Center, whether you have a big idea, a small idea, or no idea at all! Attend our Big Idea Kickoff event, visit our website, and check out our social media to see what we’re all about.
2. Participate
Get involved to help build your innovation skill set and develop your idea into a feasible business venture.
3. Accelerate
Let us equip you with the knowledge and skills that are needed to form a company and grow your business.
4. Incubate
Speed up the process of getting your business to market.
A startup is fully created!
Who Can Get Involved with the Big Idea Center? • • • •
Undergraduate and graduate students, including PhD candidates, from all disciplines Students who want to develop their skill set around innovation and entrepreneurship Students who have an idea of any size for a business venture Students who want to build upon someone else’s big idea
Entrepreneurs in Residence
Our entrepreneurs in residence (EIRs) are experienced professionals who provide free consulting to students about their ideas and help shape those ideas into realistic business ventures. Our EIRs have expertise in a variety of fields, such as technology, medicine, retail, and finance. For a list of current EIRs and their contact information, please visit innovation.pitt.edu/bigideacenter.
Programs
Student Spotlight Emily Siegel Founder and CEO of Trek Gum Emily Siegel came to Pitt with the goal of going to medical school, but she changed her career path her senior year after she became more interested in sustainability. She graduated in 2019 with degrees in chemical engineering and biological sciences and a certificate in nonprofit management. Siegel won first place in the 2019 Randall Family Big Idea Competition and is currently developing a biodegradable chewing gum
The Big Idea Center hosts various programs and competitions for all Pitt students throughout the year, such as IBM BlueHack, Global Entrepreneurship Week and the Randall Family Big Idea Competition. For more information about these programs, visit our website at innovation.pitt.edu/ bigideacenter.
that can clean teeth on the go. She is
Contact us at bigidea@innovation.pitt.edu.
money to open a brewery on a boat!
actively applying to accelerator programs and hopes to one day have a successful company exit so that she can use the
Opportunities for Involvement with the Big Idea Center are #limitless! 1. Initiate
Get your feet wet with the Big Idea Center, whether you have a big idea, a small idea, or no idea at all! Attend our Big Idea Kickoff event, visit our website, and check out our social media to see what we’re all about.
2. Participate
Get involved to help build your innovation skill set and develop your idea into a feasible business venture.
3. Accelerate
Let us equip you with the knowledge and skills that are needed to form a company and grow your business.
4. Incubate
Speed up the process of getting your business to market.
A startup is fully created!
Who Can Get Involved with the Big Idea Center? • • • •
Undergraduate and graduate students, including PhD candidates, from all disciplines Students who want to develop their skill set around innovation and entrepreneurship Students who have an idea of any size for a business venture Students who want to build upon someone else’s big idea
Entrepreneurs in Residence
Our entrepreneurs in residence (EIRs) are experienced professionals who provide free consulting to students about their ideas and help shape those ideas into realistic business ventures. Our EIRs have expertise in a variety of fields, such as technology, medicine, retail, and finance. For a list of current EIRs and their contact information, please visit innovation.pitt.edu/bigideacenter.
Programs
Student Spotlight Emily Siegel Founder and CEO of Trek Gum Emily Siegel came to Pitt with the goal of going to medical school, but she changed her career path her senior year after she became more interested in sustainability. She graduated in 2019 with degrees in chemical engineering and biological sciences and a certificate in nonprofit management. Siegel won first place in the 2019 Randall Family Big Idea Competition and is currently developing a biodegradable chewing gum
The Big Idea Center hosts various programs and competitions for all Pitt students throughout the year, such as IBM BlueHack, Global Entrepreneurship Week and the Randall Family Big Idea Competition. For more information about these programs, visit our website at innovation.pitt.edu/ bigideacenter.
that can clean teeth on the go. She is
Contact us at bigidea@innovation.pitt.edu.
money to open a brewery on a boat!
actively applying to accelerator programs and hopes to one day have a successful company exit so that she can use the
What’s the Big Idea?
The Big Idea Center is Pitt’s hub for student innovation and entrepreneurship. Established in 2018 as part of the Innovation Institute, the Big Idea Center catalyzes innovation and provides experiential opportunities for students to develop the skills necessary for bringing new ideas to life.
Why Should You Care?
Follow us!
@pittbigidea #pittbigidea
Critical thinking and problem solving are at the heart of innovation, and the Big Idea Center’s programming sharpens those essential life skills. Big Idea Center programs augment students’ personal and professional development regardless of whether they ultimately decide to focus on startups, Fortune 500 companies, social enterprises or academia.
What Can You Expect? As a Pitt student, you will join a diverse, crossdisciplinary innovation and entrepreneurship community. You will be challenged to push yourself beyond your perceived limits and achieve more than you think is possible. The Big Idea Center has dedicated entrepreneurs in residence to provide you with individual coaching and mentoring. Through competitions and numerous networking, accelerator, and incubation programs, you will be introduced to industry professionals and investors in the Pittsburgh innovation ecosystem.
Innovation Institute 130 Thackeray Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15260 412-383-7670 innovation.pitt.edu
The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution. Published in cooperation with the Office of University Communications and Marketing. 112673-0520
University of Pittsburgh
Hub for Student Innovation