Pittsburgh Innovation Case Competition (PICC)

Who We Are:

Founded in 2014, Fourth River Solutions (4RS) is a non-profit consulting organization that is led by graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at the University of Pittsburgh. Historically, non-MBA graduate and professional students have struggled to make the transition from academia into alternative career paths. Our mission is to use consultancy as a platform to 1) leverage the research expertise of these individuals to enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem and 2) provide experiential learning opportunities to facilitate greater access to non-academic career paths. 

About PICC:

This year, Pittsburgh Innovation Case Competition (PICC) is co-hosted by 4RS and the Carnegie Mellon Graduate Consulting Club (CMGCC). This nationwide competition will connect graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from diverse universities within the US, including local Pittsburgh-based universities. Ambitious individuals will collaborate together, hone their transferable skills to solve a real-world business problem, and showcase their findings to select judges. Participants will have the valuable opportunity to network with peers, professionals from top-tier, international and local consulting firms, as well as entrepreneurs and industry leaders. 

Our Goal for PICC:

Provide graduate and postdoctoral trainees with an experiential learning opportunity and connect participants with advisors, consultants, and entrepreneurs with experience in solving commercialization and business development problems. 

• We aim to expand our reach with nationwide marketing
• Pitt and CMU’s new partnership will provide our members with access to a wider range of expertise and knowledge
• We strive to support the fast-growing Pittsburgh entrepreneurial system by connecting the local community to global consulting and entrepreneur leaders

How You Can Help:

We aim to raise at least $2,500 prior to our competition. We are seeking support from the Pitt community to raise the necessary funds to accomplish our goals. With your help, PICC can host 20 teams of 3-5 students on October 26, 2019 at the Pittsburgh Technology Council. 

Your generous donations to our campaign will help cover: 

We understand that not everyone can make a financial contribution; sharing our EngagePitt link through social media and email will also help us reach our goal! 

The Competition

Twenty teams of 3-5 students will showcase their findings to select judges from industry and consulting firms. They will then receive feedback to further improve on their communication and critical thinking skills. Prior to the competition, 4RS will also provide onsite and live-streaming of seminars to better equip teams with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the competition. Throughout the course of the competition, students will have the opportunity to network with peers, as well as professionals from industry and consulting firms. This is a valuable opportunity for students to extend their professional network and become competitive in the job market.

You can also check out www.picc2019.org for more information! If you have any questions or concerns, please email us at info@picc2019.org.