Duquesne New Venture Challenge

1st place, winning $20,000, 10 hours of free legal education through Duquesne'sThomas R. Kline School of Law and five hours of free consulting services from Duquesne's Small Business Development Center

Clean Plate Innovations* is a pioneering cleantech startup to revolutionize how large-scale dining operations approach food waste. For the first time in the DNVC’s six-year history, the winning team consists entirely of Duquesne alumni and students: Nolan Sulpizio (B'24), Daniel Oldak (B'23s) and Diego Lopez (B'25). The idea for Clean Plate Innovations was conceived during the 2024 Techstars Startup Weekend, Pittsburgh, hosted by Duquesne's Center for Excellence in Entrepreneurship.

2nd place, winning $10,000, plus 10 hours of free legal education through Duquesne's Thomas R. Kline School of Law and five hours of free consulting services from Duquesne's Small Business Development Center

PinPointDX is a medical device for obtaining high-quality samples for sensitive diagnostic testing in point-of-care settings. PinPointDX's team consists of Milun Jain, Viraaj Reddi, Atharva Mulay and Duquesne affiliate Alexander McAloon.

3rd place, winning $5,000, plus 10 hours of free legal education through Duquesne's Thomas R. Kline School of Law and five hours of free consulting services from Duquesne's Small Business Development Center

EASI is surgical tool designed to be inserted into small blood vessels, ensuring precise and equidistant suturing, optimizing vessel alignment and preventing complications. EASI's team consists of Hilary Liu, Simon Cao and Duquesne affiliate Dr. Leda Klouda.

4th place, winning $3,000

Reclamation Factory is developing an automated and mobile recycling micro-factory that turns plastic waste directly into recycled products. Team members include Georgia Crowther, Thomas Lansing, Olivia Rangel and Duquesne affiliate Abby Kennedy.

5th place, winning $3,000

Pittsburgh Coastal Energy* is creating ocean wave energy harvesting technology to deliver sustainable, off-grid power to charge submersible systems at sea. Team members include Priscilla Prem and Duquesne alum Carlan Gray.

*Teams include Duquesne alumni and/or students

The following semi-finalists, listed alphabetically, will advance to the next round of the DNVC. Seven semi-finalists include Duquesne alumni and/or students, as noted with an asterisk (*).

• *Aneurisk – AI-driven platform providing data-driven, rupture risk assessments and predictive growth modeling for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
• *Best Possible – AI-enabled platform that minimizes medication discrepancies and errors by improving the manual process of medication review.
• *Clean Plate Innovations – Uses machine learning to capture and aggregate data to cut restaurant food waste and save money.  
• Cornucopia AI – A marketplace of advanced innovative solutions where developers can showcase their AI products and market them to small- and medium-sized businesses.
• EASI – A medical device used in microsurgery vessel repair that makes complex reconstruction a more accessible procedure.
• ecotera health – Affordable home detection kit and mobile app to monitor microplastic exposure in water.
• Galen Health – Using AI to build the first effective early detection system for pancreatic cancer.
• *LungLogixs – Enhances medication delivery for asthmatic patient inhalers, efficiently targeting the lungs while minimizing user error for improved precision and reliability.
• Malleous – Creating a surgical instrument that combines suction and retraction tools into one device; increases operative efficiency and reduces operative time and risks.
• Mito Robotics – AI-powered system that cultures cells in large volumes on demand, accelerating discoveries and reducing costs for more consistent and efficient research.
• PinPointDX – Creating a device to collect, preprocess and test high-quality, standardized blood samples for improved point-of-care diagnostics.
• Pittsburgh Coastal Energy* – Developing portable underwater charging solutions for unmanned underwater drones powered by using ocean waves. 
• Reclamation Factory, Inc. – Plastics recycling micro-factories that directly produce high-quality and manufacture-ready source materials from hard-to-recycle plastic trash.
• *SCANA – Revolutionizing wound care with an innovative mobile platform that integrates advanced 3D imaging and artificial intelligence.
• *Emergencool – Creating a device that brings down the temperature of a first- or second-degree burn while mitigating pain experienced from the scene to the hospital.

The three entrants and semi-finalists receiving cash prizes for “Best Video Pitch” include: 

• 1st place $1,500: Mito Robotics
• 2nd place $1,000: Reclamation Factory
• 3rd place $500: Clean Plate Innovations

All semi-finalist teams will receive free access to LivePlan, a business planning product, courtesy of Palo Alto Software. For the second stage of the competition, semi-finalist teams must submit an executive summary, a short business plan and a five-minute video pitch. Upon submitting these materials, each team will receive $1,000 for participating.

2025-2026 DNVC information to be annouced late summer/early fall. Stay tuned!

• Each entering team will be assessed by the DNVC Competition Committee for compliance with DNVC rules and eligibility requirements.•While the competition is focused on the greater Pittsburgh region, anyone in the continental United States is encouraged to apply. Please note that travel-related costs (e.g., airfare, lodging, etc.) are not covered by the DNVC.
• Teams must designate a leader who will be the primary point of contact with DNVC staff.
• No Duquesne University affiliation needed for Stages I and II.
• Teams that advance to Stage III must include at least one member affiliated with Duquesne University. DNVC staff stand ready to assist and facilitate recruiting team members for contestants advancing to Stage III. A six-member team is permitted at Stage III if a Duquesne affiliated member must be added to a five-person team. A current student, staff member, faculty member and/or a graduate of the Duquesne University will be referred to teams who need an affiliate team member in Stage III.
• Contestants are ineligible to participate in the DNVC if, by the Stage I submission deadline any legally registered entity associated with the entry has been in place for more than four (4) years, (e.g., as a corporation, partnership, or LLC). Teams will be required to certify adherence to this requirement as part of their Stage 1 submission process.
• Contestants are not required to be a legally registered business entity.
• Business concepts must not violate any local, state or federal laws, including federal patent, trademark and copyright laws.
• Business concepts must not violate Duquesne University’s mission and values. At their sole discretion, the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business and Duquesne University reserve the right to disqualify entrants whose submissions are believed to be contrary to the University’s Catholic, Spiritan values