Every great venture begins with a spark, such as a drive to solve a problem or create positive change. At the University of Pittsburgh, that spark is being fanned into flame by a remarkable community of women. Our faculty, students, alumni, and local partners are channeling their passion and ingenuity into new companies and initiatives. As we celebrate Women Entrepreneurship Week 2025, we are honored to share the stories of a few of these Pitt visionaries who are building a better world.
Chief Executive Officer, PopSole
Beth Gusenoff (pictured on the left) is a podiatrist by trade, but an entrepreneur at heart. She and her husband, Jeff (pictured on the right), a plastic surgeon, combined their expertise to create PopSole, a pressure-reducing shoe insert designed for Beth’s patients recovering from foot surgery.
The insert features multiple individual air chambers that can be “popped” with a pin to relieve pressure in targeted areas. PopSole is manufactured in Butler County, PA, and sold online and through a growing network of shoe stores and distribution partners.
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Blanket & Board
As a former therapist and licensed social worker, Pitt Social Work alumna Tierra Thorne is weaving her passion for healing, food, and intentional connection into every offering.
Founded in 2020, Tierra’s startup Blanket & Board provides unique & innovative intimate gatherings and picnics for private, corporate, and community events featuring a charcuterie menu that encourages self-care, intentional dialogue, and civil discourse utilizing food and nature to enhance human connection.
Blanket & Board has been featured in various outlets across Pittsburgh, such as Good Food Pittsburgh, CBS News Pittsburgh, Burgh Brides, Pittsburgh City Paper, and the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. In 2022, the business received a $25,000 EmpowerHER Grant from 84 Lumber and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Founder, Anansi’s Village Family Childcare
Crystal Eddens (pictured on the right), an educator and University of Pittsburgh alumna, collaborated with Lynne Nincke (pictured on the left) a consultant with the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to develop a business plan and financial projections that helped secure funding for a new family educational childcare center on Pittsburgh’s Northside.
Anansi’s Village Family Childcare will open its doors in October 2025. Eddens is also a graduate of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence’s 6-month Community Power to Prosper certificate program.
The entrepreneurs featured here represent just a glimpse of the incredible work being led by women across the University of Pittsburgh. They embody a spirit of bold innovation, creativity, and resilience.
As we celebrate Women Entrepreneurship Week, it’s clear that these trailblazers are not only making an impact today—they’re actively redefining what’s possible at Pitt for generations to come.