2024-2026 James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellows
Maitreyi Agarwal
CIT/CFA/Tepper (III)
Maitreyi Agarwal is a Master's student in the Integrated Innovation for Products and Services (MIIPS) program at Carnegie Mellon University, where she's developing expertise in product strategy, pricing and commercialization. Her passion lies in creating impactful, user-centered products that drive business success through the integration of design, technology and entrepreneurship.
Her journey began at MIT Institute of Design, where she earned her Bachelor's in Product Design. One of her most formative projects involved improving the user experience for Otoscopes, where she worked on interface design, ergonomics and materials with the aim of streamlining patient appointments and making the device more adaptable for the Indian market.
With three years of experience as a UX designer, Maitreyi has built an impressive portfolio of work. She spearheaded design of multiple minimum viable products across diverse sectors, including a nurse scheduling system for a US-based healthcare startup and a fintech platform for first-time homeowners. Her expertise extends to major Indian e-commerce websites and SaaS platforms for schools, where she's consistently delivered solutions that balance user needs with business objectives.
Her technical toolkit includes mastery of Figma, Miro and a basic understanding of Jira, CAD modeling software and renderings while her design strengths span workflow analysis, persona creation, wireframing and information architecture. She thrives in cross-functional team leadership and stakeholder communication.
Driven by a commitment to ethical design principles, Maitreyi seeks out complex, meaningful problems—the kind that, when solved, feel almost like magic. Her vision is to create products that not only impact users meaningfully but also ensure business success.
When she's not scrutinizing screens for UI inspiration, you'll find Maitreyi enjoying stand-up comedy, diving into books, taking "short" naps (that mysteriously stretch longer). Whether you want to geek out about design thinking, brainstorm the next big startup idea or simply chat about life's little mysteries, drop her a message—she's always up for a good conversation
Miguel Almeida
MS in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, School of Computer Science
Miguel Almeida is a first-year student in the MS in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, building an expertise in identifying AI market niche opportunities and developing a responsive product in cooperation with external stakeholders. After over 10 years as a musician and live performer, with experience across various genres, lineups and stages, he is now focused on leveraging AI to help musicians unlock their full potential and elevate their performances.
Before entering his graduate studies, he earned his BS degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, where he undertook independent research projects in Automated Search and Planning, explored Machine Learning applications in Bioinformatics, and contributed to large-scale open-source libraries such as Hugging Face Transformers. Through CMU, Miguel is committed to being a driver of innovation and new partnerships for an ever-growing network of enthusiastic and highly talented Portuguese entrepreneurs.
Outside of academia, Miguel enjoys practicing Judo, having earned his black belt in 2021, traveling to places off the beaten path, and playing his guitar for as long as his neighbors allow him. He is always open to chat about interesting ideas. Feel free to reach out!
Dr. Shubhaa Chawla
CIT/CFA/Tepper (III)
Shubhaa is a student at the Integrated Innovation Institute pursuing Master of Integrated Innovation in Products and Services. Her focus has been on developing skills to integrate Design, Business and Engineering to develop human centered products through responsible business practices. Her goal is to solve healthcare challenges for people to promote mental and physical well-being.
Shubhaa comes from a unique background, having completed her undergraduate degree in medicine in Delhi, India. Her experiences as a doctor sparked a deep interest in technology, which led her to create her own healthcare venture, s-Triage. She began pitching her idea in India, where Dr. Devi Shetty, a prominent heart surgeon and entrepreneur, offered her a role as a Product Manager. In this position, she worked on improving EMR systems and developing a nursing app from scratch. Her future goal is to launch her own company, focusing on AI-driven decision-making tools to improve clinical outcomes.
Beyond her professional pursuits, Shubhaa is passionate about sustainability, playing music, traveling, cooking, poetry and singing.
Anthony Edwards
Tepper
Coming from Atlanta, Anthony Edwards is a first-year MBA student at the Tepper School of Business, where he is focusing on entrepreneurship, finance and innovation. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Morehouse College, where he developed a passion for finance and leadership. Anthony gained significant experience through a private equity internship at Fortress Investment Group, where he supported key investment strategies, and at Microsoft, where he excelled as a financial analyst, driving impactful financial planning and analysis projects.
Anthony has also been involved with Empowerment Capital in New York, where he deepened his expertise in venture capital and entrepreneurship. As the founder of GoodRuns, he is focused on leveraging technology to help athletes find active games and quality courts in real time.
In addition to being a Swartz Fellow, Anthony is an active member of the Alpha Investment Club, Graduate Finance Association and Graduate Entrepreneurship Club at Carnegie Mellon. His commitment to promoting diversity and leadership is further reflected in his roles as a Forte Fellow and Consortium member.
Outside of academics and professional work, Anthony enjoys playing golf, tennis and chess. He is always open to connecting and networking with professionals. Feel free to reach out to him on LinkedIn!
Gweneth Ge
SCS
Gweneth Ge is a first-year master student in the Robotic System Development Program, and is committed to building next-generation automation labs to accelerate drug development.
Gweneth’s work focuses on experiment protocol generation and optimization with minimal user input, and improvement of automated liquid handling solutions to make it as autonomous as they can while affordable and robust. She is also working on automated design of experiments, improving real-time devices communication, reporting, and collaboration during automated experiments. Additionally, Gweneth is exploring the use of computer vision and VR-based training systems to assist scientists in their research.
Before joining the Robotics Institute, Gweneth earned her bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of California, Irvine, and a master's degree in Automated Science in Biological Experimentation (MSAS) from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science. Then she joined a Cell-Therapy Startup as an automation engineer, where she automated crucial processes to personalized cancer treatments including high-throughput T-cell receptor (TCR) screening, cloning, and validation. Her interdisciplinary background bridges the gap between robotics and life sciences.
Gweneth is looking to collaborate with other entrepreneurs and industry leaders to develop solutions that make advanced laboratory automation more accessible. She aims to help scientists focus on important discoveries rather than routine tasks, ultimately speeding up innovation in biotechnology.
Ashwini Karanth
Tepper
Ashwini Karanth is a first-year MBA candidate at the Tepper School of Business, bringing a strong foundation in Architecture and Strategic Transportation Planning. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from MSR Institute of Technology in Bangalore, India, and a Master’s in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University, New York.
With a deep passion for enhancing public infrastructure in underserved communities, Ashwini’s career spans across private, non-profit and public sectors. At Gannett Fleming, she specialized in transportation technologies like Electric Vehicles, Autonomous Vehicles and Roadway Automation, advising various government agencies on their strategic transportation planning needs. Her contributions include notable projects/publications such as the Roadway Automated Driving Systems Integration for the Federal Highway Administration and New Jersey Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Planning for the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Beyond transportation, Ashwini has managed Green Infrastructure projects for stormwater management with the New York City Department of Design and Construction as a project manager and has led architectural projects, including the Enhanced Station Initiative for Long Island Railroad and transit enhancements in Canada for Metrolinx.
Committed to diversity and mentorship, Ashwini advocates for women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQ+ community in the workplace through organizations like WTS and the ACE mentorship program.
At Tepper, Ashwini aims to focus on improving the electric vehicle charging experience, particularly for underserved communities, leveraging the analytical and business skills offered by Carnegie Mellon University.
Outside of her professional and academic pursuits, Ashwini is a part-time stand-up comedian and comedy producer. She will always be up for going with you on a slow walk on a sunny day!
Aimee Langevin
Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, School of Computer Science
Aimee is a first-year graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence and Innovation (MSAII) at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science. With a passion for healthcare, her goal is to make a meaningful impact in the field and contribute to the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Through CMU, Aimee aims to deepen her expertise in AI systems, ethics and the development of software solutions for healthcare.
Before beginning her graduate studies, Aimee earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Mathematics Engineering with a focus on Computing & Communications from Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada. During her undergraduate years, she worked on several healthcare-related AI projects, including developing a model and web application to detect diabetic retinopathy. Her capstone project focused on using neural networks to compress X-ray images, improving the efficiency of storing and transferring patient data.
Outside of academics, Aimee enjoys working out, hiking and spending time with friends and family. A competitive dancer for over 10 years, she has consistently balanced her academic, professional and extracurricular commitments.
Yu-Hsiang (Eagle) Lo
Master's of Computational Data Science, School of Computer Science
Yu-Hsiang Lo, who goes by Eagle, hails from Taiwan and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Computational Data Science (MCDS) at CMU's School of Computer Science. His focus is on the Systems track, where he is honing his skills in computer systems design. Prior to joining CMU, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from National Taiwan University.
Eagle has a strong interest in building websites, apps and designing backend systems. In 2023, he co-founded Taiwan's first murder mystery game website, LAnRenPao (http://lanrenpao.com), with Hao-Ping Tien and Shih-Yu (Fiona) Wu. The platform quickly became a success, achieving a 500% growth in organic traffic within the first six months and significantly expanding its user base. Following the success of LAnRenPao, Eagle, Hao-Ping and Fiona co-founded Bypon Design Ltd., a web design agency that provides creative solutions tailored to customers' needs.
Eagle has a solid foundation in web development and computer systems design, and he is passionate about leveraging technology to solve real-world problems and foster connections between people. He is currently exploring new entrepreneurial ventures in AI, social media, and digital platforms, aiming to create innovative solutions that enhance communication and foster global collaboration.
In his spare time, Eagle enjoys watching movies, listening to music and singing, which helps him balance his creative and technical pursuits. If you're interested in learning more about his experiences, feel free to connect with him on LinkedIn.
Abhishek Mathur
SCS
Abhishek is a first year Master’s student at the Robotics Institute, School of Computer Science, where he is pursuing an MS in Robotics Systems Development.
He is a passionate innovator and entrepreneur, deeply rooted in exploring and developing cutting-edge robotics and AI technologies. His work spans intelligent robotic manipulation, planning and computer vision combined with machine learning and applied AI for solving complex, real-world problems.
Having earned a bachelor's degree from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Goa, he took part in a number of research groups at the Robotics Labs of IIT Mumbai and IIT Delhi to explore various aspects of robotics. He successfully built revolutionary medical robotic products which were vision-based navigation systems for minimally invasive surgical robots and autonomous robotic ultrasound systems.
Abhishek’s entrepreneurial journey began when he co-founded a digital mental wellness community, where he used machine learning to create impactful solutions for mental health. He learned from this experience how crucial it is to develop not only cutting-edge products but also strong business plans that can support and market these innovations.
While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Abhishek successfully led a group of students in software subsystems to win the FSEV 2021 Concept Formula Car Challenge, a nationwide contest for designing a racing car. He also mentored and taught underprivileged students with remedial teaching. He is a people's person and loves to socialize and make new friends. Abhishek has a creative side. He has written his own mystery fiction book, and is a voracious reader and admirer of mystery thrillers. He enjoys singing and playing the guitar. He is also an avid marathon runner and car enthusiast.
Abhishek is focused on launching a company that leverages his expertise in robotics to provide AI-driven, dexterous manipulation systems for humanoid robots that target industries like healthcare, manufacturing and beyond. His ultimate goal is to transition from B2B to B2C, making highly advanced robotic solutions accessible to consumers and enhancing everyday lives and that can solve more day to day problems in the household that range from home maintenance, caregiving and automation of monotonous tasks that makes people's lives more simpler. So an interaction with Abhishek is like a delightful dish that tastes of creativity and innovation all blended together!
Shiv Panjwani
Tepper
Shiv Panjwani is a first-year MBA student at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business, concentrating in entrepreneurship and organizational behavior. He is also the founder of Panjwani Consulting Group (PCG), a startup focused on transforming workforces through modern management frameworks, people analytics, and accessible training. As a Swartz Fellow, Shiv is scaling PCG’s impact by integrating AI and data-driven solutions.
Raised in Mumbai, Shiv began his career in aerospace before transitioning to management consulting, inspired by the opportunity to bridge gaps in workforce training for lower-income groups. PCG empowers diverse teams by teaching Agile and management principles to employees across industries—whether highly skilled or underserved. Shiv believes structured, empathetic management creates happier, more productive employees, contributing to a more equitable society.
With a focus on digital-native e-commerce and retail brands, Shiv envisions expanding PCG’s reach to sectors like supply chain, hospitality, and healthcare, helping organizations build high-engagement, high-retention teams.
A dedicated lifelong learner, Shiv is also an advanced scuba diver, student skydiver, double black diamond skier, mindfulness practitioner, and semi-professional soccer player. Each of these pursuits fuels his resilience and drive for continuous improvement, qualities he brings to his work with PCG.
Sapna Rohra
CIT/CFA/Tepper (III)
Sapna is a graduate student in the Master’s of Integrated Innovation in Products & Services (MIIPS) program at Carnegie Mellon University, where she is expanding her expertise in product development and business strategies.
Sapna began her professional journey with a Bachelor of Architecture from NMIMS University’s Balwant Sheth School of Architecture, where her education emphasized creativity, rigorous design thinking and "ideas outside the box." With over five years of architectural experience, Sapna contributed to projects with wide-reaching social impact, including a Jain heritage museum and a 4300-student hostel complex. Her work on large-scale projects at SJK Architects honed her ability to balance high-level design vision with meticulous detail, often navigating complex stakeholder landscapes to align construction processes with design intent.
Her notable projects include managing a multi-specialty hospital valued at over Rs.80 crore during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she collaborated with cross-functional teams to maintain quality, manage risks, and ensure thorough documentation. In a competition for IIT Bombay, she secured 2nd place for her firm with a rapid, five-week conceptualization of a student hostel facility. She specializes in taking ambitious briefs and transforming them into radical ideas, delivering large-scale projects on tight timelines and within budget.
Driven by her passion for tangible impact, Sapna co-founded an e-commerce fashion business that revitalized a brand and adapted it for digital retail during the pandemic. She led strategy, product development and customer engagement, gaining hands-on experience in product lifecycle management and operational scaling through cross-functional collaboration. This entrepreneurial venture enhanced her resilience and adaptability, skills she now applies to her studies in product innovation.
Sapna envisions a future where architecture, urban planning, and technology converge to tackle urban challenges, particularly optimizing underutilized spaces. As a James R. Swartz Entrepreneurial Fellow, she aims to enhance her skills in product development and innovation strategy. Passionate about design's potential to address "wicked" problems, she is committed to creating impactful, scalable solutions for complex real-world issues.
Outside of work, Sapna is an avid learner, currently diving into psychology and human behavior. She completed a course on Bach Flower remedies to deepen her understanding of human emotions, cultivating qualities of empathy and insight. She loves exploring different cultures, meeting new people, nurturing her plants and reading.
Michael Shang
Masters in Business Administration, Tepper School of Business; Master of Software Engineering, School of Computer Science
Michael is a dual-degree MBA and MSE student, the only one in the past three years. Previously, he co-founded and exited a post series-A cybersecurity startup, served as the Director of Product at Alibaba Cloud IDaaS (Identity-as-a-Service), and authored a widely acclaimed book Nature of SaaS in China. Throughout his career, Michael has launched tech startups across various industries, including AI video, education, security, hotel sharing, social platforms and entertainment, spanning cities such as Silicon Valley, New York, Los Angeles, Beijing, Raleigh and very soon Pittsburgh, PA.
Currently, Michael is exploring the potential of the AR/VR software market. He believes strongly that the future of software lies in evolving from predominantly 2D designs to immersive 3D experiences. This process will take decades, perfectly difficult in his eyes to make a great use of energy and time. He is eager to connect with like-minded individuals who share this vision and explore whether this pursuit merits his next decades of focus.
An idealist with a passion for innovation, Michael is always open to new connections and inquiries. He is enthusiastic about supporting fellow CMU entrepreneurs in taking bold steps on their entrepreneurial paths.
Thank you to our Swartz Center Patrons
