carnegie mellon university president farnam jahanian is speaking at techcrunch city spotlight: pittsburgh

TechCrunch Pittsburgh Event to Feature Carnegie Mellon University President

TechCrunch is pleased to announce that Farnam Jahanian, President of Carnegie Mellon University, will be a featured speaker at our Pittsburgh event on June 29th. Registration is now open and participation is complimentary, offering attendees the opportunity to hear President Jahanian’s insights firsthand.

A Champion of Science and Innovation

President Jahanian is a well-known proponent of scientific advancement and innovation. This makes him an ideal speaker for our event, which will focus on the burgeoning startup activity within Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.

In April, while addressing a House committee, Jahanian highlighted current trends influencing research and development across the United States. He specifically noted a growing disparity in opportunities and increasing economic inequality – issues that are also significantly impacting startups in Silicon Valley, Pittsburgh, and other regions.

Carnegie Mellon's Impact on Pittsburgh's Innovation Ecosystem

“Carnegie Mellon’s long-standing leadership in AI and robotics research and education has fostered an innovation ecosystem in the Pittsburgh region,” Jahanian stated to TechCrunch. “This ecosystem is characterized by the intersection of entrepreneurship, creativity, and community development.”

He further explained that these emerging technologies are revolutionizing various sectors, including agriculture, language learning, autonomous vehicle development, and even space exploration. The university remains dedicated to ensuring that Pittsburgh residents benefit economically from these transformative innovations.

Pittsburgh: A Rising Startup Hub

Pittsburgh is rapidly establishing itself as a vibrant startup ecosystem. This growth is fueled by its exceptional universities, supportive local government, and access to seasoned investors.

Despite its geographical distance, Pittsburgh has historically played a crucial role in Silicon Valley’s achievements through its contributions to research and development. TechCrunch views Pittsburgh as a city effectively utilizing its unique strengths to cultivate companies both locally and beyond.

Our recent in-depth profile of Duolingo exemplifies how the Pittsburgh ecosystem facilitated the company’s evolution into a billion-dollar enterprise.

Event Details and Participation

Brian Heater, TechCrunch’s Hardware Editor, will conduct the interview with President Jahanian. Heater has been instrumental in the planning and execution of previous TechCrunch events, including TC Sessions: Robotics, a key area of expertise at CMU.

TechCrunch City Spotlight: Pittsburgh will include presentations from Jahanian, local startups, and community leaders. Additional speakers will be announced shortly.

We are currently seeking startups to participate in the event. Registration to attend and network is free (register here). Startups can also apply to pitch their ideas (apply here).

We are looking for early-stage companies based in the greater Pittsburgh area to deliver a two-minute pitch to a panel of local venture capitalists and receive valuable feedback.

• Event: TechCrunch City Spotlight: Pittsburgh
• Date: June 29
• Speaker: Farnam Jahanian, President of Carnegie Mellon University