Innovation & Entrepreneurship
At Carnegie Mellon University, breakthrough research becomes transformative technology, new companies, industry solutions and practical advances that improve lives.
CMU connects world-leading research with the entrepreneurial expertise, commercialization support, capital and partnerships needed to move ideas forward — from early insight to societal impact.
67
CMU-affiliated unicorns
Carnegie Mellon has launched more than its share of startups valued at $1 billion or more.
400 +
Startups launched since 2016
The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship and other entrepreneurship programs have created an innovation ecosystem spanning CMU.
173
Licences, options and agreements in FY2025
Agreements to license or commercialize CMU technology are an important means of bringing it to market.
A Proven Path to Impact
Turning a promising idea into meaningful impact takes more than a single program or partner. CMU connects innovators with commercialization expertise, entrepreneurship support, funding, mentorship and industry relationships at every stage.
Every idea follows a different path. CMU’s connected ecosystem helps innovators find the right expertise and resources to take the next step.
Explore the Potential
Researchers and founders can work with experts to assess applications, understand user needs and identify the strongest path for moving an idea forward.
Protect and Develop
CMU helps innovators navigate intellectual property, test concepts and prepare emerging technologies for licensing, partnership or venture creation.
Build and Connect
Entrepreneurs gain access to education, experienced mentors, early funding, talent, investors and industry partners who can help turn promising technologies into viable companies and solutions.
Expand the Impact
Through licensing, startups, industry adoption and other partnerships, CMU innovations reach the people, organizations and communities that can benefit from them.
A World-Leading Innovation Ecosystem
Carnegie Mellon has robust resources for researchers and opportunities for partners looking to bring research to the marketplace. Many of those resources and opportunities are facilitated by our on-campus hubs for entrepreneurship and research commercialization.
Catalyzing New Enterprises
The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship is Carnegie Mellon’s university-wide hub for venture creation. It connects faculty, students, postdoctoral scholars and alumni with the expertise, mentorship, funding and networks needed to transform bold ideas into successful companies.
Working across CMU’s seven colleges and schools, the center supports entrepreneurs at every stage through programs including VentureBridge, the McGinnis Venture Competition, the Gebhardt Sandbox Fund, Lab to Market, the Deep Tech Venture-Ready Program, Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and CMU Startup Week.
Educating the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
CMU is a community of builders. And entrepreneurship at CMU isn't confined to one school. More than 100 courses across all seven colleges span venture creation, technology commercialization, product development and creative enterprise. Students learn to spot opportunities, test ideas with real users and turn research into ventures that tackle the toughest areas challenging society — whether they're studying robotics, design, business, policy or the arts.
Not every student needs to start a company. Developing initiative, finding opportunity in uncertainty and adapting to change are skills that prepare CMU graduates to lead wherever they go.
Technology Transfer
Researchers can work with CMU’s technology transfer commercialization team to explore available CMU technologies, identify licensing opportunities and connect with emerging innovations relevant to their needs. These relationships help industry partners access university expertise while accelerating the development and adoption of promising technologies.
The tech transfer team also supports CMU innovators throughout the commercialization process — from disclosing an invention and developing an intellectual property strategy to pursuing licensing, industry engagement or research-based company formation.
From innovation to deployment
How New Artificial Lung Technology Could Change the Game for Chronic Lung Disease
CMU spin-off Advanced Respiratory Technologies is developing a portable artificial lung that could support people with chronic lung disease without invasive mechanical ventilation. University research and entrepreneurship support helped move the device toward hospitals.
New CMU spin-off companies in fiscal year 2025 alone
Previewing the future
A Pipeline From Research to Startups
CMU’s annual Startup Week gives founders, investors, corporate partners and university community members an early look at technologies moving out of university laboratories and toward the marketplace.
Participants in CMU’s Startup Week 2026
Deep-tech entrepreneurship
VentureBridge Backs Technical Founders
The 2026 VentureBridge cohort includes faculty, Ph.D. students and alumni building companies across AI, robotics, life sciences, energy, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity and health care.
$ billion
Value of VentureBridge portfolio companies
Driving Meaningful Impact
CMU’s entrepreneurial community has had an enduring influence on Pittsburgh, with companies founded by alumni and researchers attracting billions in investment, creating thousands of high-skilled jobs and drawing investors and industry leaders to the region. Their success has helped establish Pittsburgh as a global center for technology, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Pittsburgh skyline