2026 Celebration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Thursday, Nov. 19, 2026 · University Club, University of Pittsburgh

Celebrate the Pitt faculty, students, and regional businesses turning bold ideas into real-world impact. This year’s celebration brings the innovation community together for a keynote and networking lunch, a featured panel on building what lasts in Pittsburgh, an innovation poster session and cocktail reception, and the annual COIE Awards honoring the year’s standout innovators and entrepreneurs.

Seating is limited to the University Club ballroom's capacity.

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2026 Celebration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Agenda

12:30-2 p.m.
Networking Lunch & Keynote Address

Todd Reidbord, founding partner and president of Walnut Capital Management

2-3 p.m.
Featured Panel Discussion
“From Idea to Impact: Building What Lasts in Pittsburgh”

Moderator:
Bill Flanagan, special advisor to the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and host and producer of Our Region’s Business

Panelists:
Rebecca Price, PhD, professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Pittsburgh and co-founder and CEO of SoliSense
Priscilla Prem, PhD, founder and CEO of Pittsburgh Coastal Energy
Jonathan Steckbeck, CEO of Peptilogics
Steve Turner, president of Turner Dairy Farms

Nick Mancini Hartner, owner of Mancini’s Bakery

3-5 p.m.
Innovation Poster Session & Cocktail Reception

4:30-5 p.m.
COIE Awards Presentation & Closing Remarks

2026 Award Categories

Emerging Innovator Award

The Emerging Innovator Award is presented to an early- to mid-career Pitt faculty member who has demonstrated an extraordinary dedication to innovation commercialization.

Student Innovator of the Year Award

The Student Innovator of the Year Award recognizes a University of Pittsburgh student who embodies creativity, persistence, and impact through innovation. From initial inspiration to prototype development, testing, and early funding milestones, this award celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Pitt students to transform bold ideas into real-world solutions.

Regional Business of the Year Award

This award recognizes a Pitt-affiliated company with more than $1 million in revenue that exemplifies innovation, leadership, and regional impact. It honors established businesses that continue to grow, create jobs, and strengthen the region’s innovation economy through collaboration, creativity, and community engagement.

Startup of the Year Award

The Startup of the Year Award celebrates a Pitt-affiliated company that stands out for its innovative technology, market traction, and commitment to improving lives. From early research and proof-of-concept to securing funding, forming partnerships, and achieving market success, this award honors the milestones that define the entrepreneurial journey within Pitt’s innovation ecosystem.

Small Business of the Year Award

The Small Business of the Year Award honors a Pitt startup generating under $1 million in revenue that’s creating outsized impact through innovation, resilience, and growth.

Past Celebration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Award Recipients

2025

The 2025 celebration recognized achievements in medical device innovation, at-home health monitoring, and the commercialization of social science research, with the Gusenoffs and Anna Li among the standout honorees. The event also celebrated student-led innovation and community-focused businesses like Sarris Candies and Homegrown Beauty.

2024

The event recognized achievements in sleep medicine, age-related disease therapeutics, and AI-driven surface analysis, with Dr. Daniel Buysse and Dr. Yuan Liu among the standout honorees. The event also celebrated student-led innovation and community-focused businesses including Turner Dairy Farms and TerraGreen.

2023

Pitt’s Celebration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship spotlighted transformative achievements, including Dr. Leah Byrne’s gene therapy research to restore vision and Dr. William Wagner’s leadership in regenerative medicine at the McGowan Institute. Apollo Neuroscience was named Startup of the Year for its wearable technology enhancing mental wellness, while Jan Berkow was honored for mentoring academic entrepreneurs.

2022

Highlights included Dr. Kacey Marra’s groundbreaking nerve repair technology, the student-led AI diagnostics startup HEARTio, and LyGenesis’s pioneering cell therapy for liver disease. The event also recognized outstanding mentors and community-focused businesses like Eat’n Park and Ashlé Taylor’s Collection for their contributions to innovation and social impact.

Small Business Development Center

Ready to grow your business? Connect with the University of Pittsburgh’s SBDC for expert consulting, hands-on workshops, and tailored support at every stage of your entrepreneurial journey.

Learn More

2025 Annual Report

See what OIE achieved.