CMU Venture Challenge

CMU VC 2026

CMU Venture Challenge 2026 is an annual pitch competition hosted by the Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Association at Carnegie Mellon University. The program supports early-stage student founders from across the country and runs from February to March, culminating in a live final round at CMU’s Swartz Center. Finalist teams pitch to a panel of CEOs, founders, and investors for the opportunity to receive cash prizes, mentorship, and exposure to leading venture firms.

Finalist Teams

After a highly competitive selection process, we are excited to introduce our finalist teams. Representing top universities across the United States and Canada, these teams stood out for their innovation, execution, and potential to make meaningful impact.

Métopi

Miles Lanham

University of Virginia

Led by a team with multiple prior device transactions to $100B+ pharma, Métopi develops an ultra-accessible inhaled drug delivery platform improving emergency treatment adherence and efficacy in respiratory and migraine care.

PlasmaX

Tejas Naladala

University of Washington Seattle

PlasmaX has developed the first industrial-scale plasma-activated water disinfection system, replacing chlorine in post-harvest produce washing. We generate antimicrobial species using ionized air and water with no residues, or toxic byproducts, at cheaper costs than traditional washing methods.

Hearify, Inc.

Veer Chopra

Columbia University

Speech therapy platform combining hearing training, pronunciation coaching, and facial expression analysis. Provides 24/7 AI-powered therapy with real-time feedback and gamified exercises. Clinicians monitor patient progress remotely via dashboard.

Power of Play

Roaa Shanshal, Deena Al-Sammak

McMaster University

Power of Play is creating a child-friendly tool that accurately measures grip and pinch strength in young patients. Our company focuses on making data collection easy for rehabilitation therapists while being engaging for children to improve patient care outcomes.

PADI

Titilope Olotu

UC Los Angeles

PADÍ is a noninvasive diagnostic menstrual pad that uses biodegradable banana fiber and embedded microfluidics to detect health biomarkers during menstruation, enabling early screening while protecting bodily autonomy and reducing plastic waste.

BrailleBox

Jelaleddin Gylychmuhammedov, Minh Ha

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

BrailleBox is an adaptive Braille-learning ecosystem for schools for the blind, combining a tactile device with teacher software to deliver structured lessons, track student progress, and support literacy and independent learning.

Pet HealthCare Innovations™

John Thomerson, Jonathan Batenko, Alyse Woodall, Jhims Kedamour, Sam Heysek

Florida Atlantic University

Pet HealthCare Innovations™ created a patent-pending and award-winning ecosystem of 6 products for mobility-impaired dogs. All these products work together seamlessly, resulting in less euthanasia, longer lifespan, and healthier cleaner, faster, easier, and more affordable care!

OS Keyboard

Sida Cheng, Alan Yan

Carnegie Mellon University, Purdue University

OS Keyboard is a split ergonomic keyboard integrated with analog input devices, optimized for shooter games. The new keyboard layout massively improves the speed and accuracy of gameplay. It now has 40+ paying beta testers and is moving toward mass production.

Basics OS

Akeil Smith, Arav Bhardwaj

Carnegie Mellon University

Basics OS is an open-source platform for building AI-powered internal tools and deploying them to desktop and mobile in one click. On-prem, one unified context layer across your company, where agents don't wait for your prompt, they act before you ask.

Naiad Technologies

Malia Chavinson, Peyton Bure

Brown University, University of Toronto

Naiad Technologies leverages a microbial system in the form of a protein-membrane-buoy to remediate aquatic phosphate pollution which in turn mitigates cyanobacteria, restores environmental health, and prevents economic losses.

Final Round Judges

Sreekar Gadde

Managing Partner of BlueTree VC

Sreekar is Managing Partner at BlueTree Venture Capital, a Pittsburgh-based Series A fund. He supports portfolio companies in using capital efficiently and scaling solutions in large markets. Previously, he led due diligence at BlueTree Capital Group and now serves as a Board Member and Observer for multiple high-growth companies. His background spans engineering at Intel and intellectual property law at firms including Ropes & Gray, along with in-house experience at Dynamics, Inc. He holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and a JD from The George Washington University Law School.

Dan Coppens

Co-Founder at Qfix | Member at Robin Hood Ventures

Dan is a seasoned investor and medical device executive with over 20 years of leadership experience. He co-founded Qfix and, as CEO and CTO, led two decades of uninterrupted growth, scaling the company into a global industry leader operating in nearly 100 countries before its 2022 merger to form CQ Medical. A mechanical engineer from the University of Pennsylvania and holder of approximately 90 patents, Dan now serves as an advisor and mentor to emerging companies and startups.

Nicole Ilicic

Investor at MissionOG

Nicole is responsible for tracking fund and portfolio company performance, leading investment due diligence, and sourcing new opportunities. She conducts detailed financial modeling, valuation, and risk analysis, and manages the firm’s weekly investment review process in collaboration with portfolio companies and partners. Prior to joining MissionOG, Nicole worked as an investment banking associate at Delancey Street Partners, advising middle-market companies in business services and technology. She holds a BS in Business Administration and Finance from Drexel University.

Len Caric

CEO at the George J. Howe Company | Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship

Len is a serial entrepreneur and CEO with a strong track record of acquiring, scaling, and successfully exiting businesses. He currently leads George J. Howe Company, overseeing multiple acquisitions including Mister Snacks and O’Neill Coffee’s roasting plant, and previously led Uncle Charley’s Sausage Company through a successful sale to a strategic buyer. Len has founded and invested in several ventures across food, manufacturing, and media, and is an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business. He holds a BA in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame and a Master in Industrial Administration from Carnegie Mellon University.

Al Shanmugam

Head of Product at Echostar Corp

Al is a product and data leader with 17+ years of experience driving AI-powered innovation at companies including Meta, Amazon, and Sling (EchoStar). He specializes in machine learning, personalization, and experimentation, using large-scale data systems to increase user engagement and monetization. Al is passionate about translating advanced data science into measurable business impact and helping teams move quickly from model to market.