Guided by Carnegie Mellon University's 'Five Percent, Go in Peace' — a first-of-its-kind spin-off model for academia — Greenlighting Startups gives entrepreneurs keys to success. Recent news »
- Lighting the way: CMU ranks first among all U.S. universities without a medical school in the number of startup companies created per research dollar spent since 2007 … more »
- Lighting the way: Home to 118 research institutes and centers, CMU's award-winning professors and students produce an average of 15-20 new companies each year.
- Lighting the way: CMU's on-campus resources drive innovation that spurs economic growth, helping to greenlight more than 300 companies and 9,000 jobs in the past 15 years.
- Lighting the way: CMU spin-offs represent 34 percent of the total companies created in Pennsylvania based on university technologies in the past five years.
- Lighting the way: Cutting-edge companies such as Google, Apple, Disney, Intel and Lockheed Martin have taken notice of CMU's history of success in research, innovation and entrepreneurship … more »
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On-Campus Resources
Recent News
IBM Acquires CMU Spinoff Vivisimo, April 26
Vivisimo was co-founded by Carnegie Mellon computer science professor and alumnus Raul Valdes-Perez, who headed Vivisimo since it began in 2000 until becoming executive chairman of the company's board of directors in 2009. CMU alumnus Chris Palmer and CMU researcher Jerome Pesenti are also co-founders and part of Vivisimo's management team. IBM said Vivisimo will help bolster its push into "Big Data."
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Boeing Acquires Inmedius, April 26
Founded in 1998 by a trio of Carnegie Mellon University professors, Inmedius makes software for aviation and defense clients, helping them create, manage and deploy technical documents. Boeing stated that Inmedius has impressive technical capabilities, backed by an outstanding culture of innovation.
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Greenlighted Startups
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RedZone: Co-founded by CMU's William "Red" Whittaker, a university professor and pioneer in robotics, RedZone Robotics simplifies wastewater management by providing world-class robotic inspection technologies and sophisticated data-analysis.
Astrobotic Technology: Astrobotic Technology is pioneering the lunar frontier by providing commercial robotic services through missions of increasing scope and capability. The team is currently at work on the Google Lunar X Mission.
ModCloth: Born in the dorm room of a CMU student, ModCloth.com is an online clothing, accessories, and decor retailer that uses social media to allow customers to provide feedback and even vote on potential inventory.
Deep Local: Founded in 2006 by now CEO Nathan Martin, Deeplocal is a CMU spin-off and post digital shop that helps brands create remarkable experiences that bridge the online and physical worlds.
Lean&Zoom: CMU's Chris Harrison developed the prototype for Lean&Zoom, a software download that uses the cameras in laptops to automatically magnify the screen when the user leans in for a closer look, reducing eye, neck and back strain.
Plextronics: Built by CMU's VP of Research Rick McCullough, Plextronics is the world leader in developing active layer technology for printed electronic devices.
reCAPTCHA: Led by CMU's Luis von Ahn, reCAPTCHA was acquired by Google in 2009. The company developed online puzzles that serve the dual purpose of protecting websites and digitizing printed text.
BeatBots LLC: CMU alumnus Marek Michalowski and his research partner created a Project Olympus project to investigate the use of a tiny yellow robot as a tool for therapeutic intervention for children with autism.
Center for Technology Transfer and Enterprise Creation (CTTEC)
The movement of intellectual assets to the commercial marketplace through licensing and new company formation …
Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship
Through cutting-edge entrepreneurial research, preparing students to lead innovation, change and growth in start-ups, emerging companies and mature organizations …
Open Field Entrepreneurs Fund
The newly created Open Field Entrepreneurs Fund (OFEF) at Carnegie Mellon University provides early-stage business financing to alumni who have graduated from CMU within the past five years …
Project Olympus
Exploring the commercial potential of research and innovation by providing mentoring, micro grants, startup advice, incubator space and connections with investors …
Quality of Life Technology Foundry
Commercializing quality of life technologies and building collaborations among industry, academic and clinical constituents under the guidance of entrepreneurs-in-residence …