Carnegie Mellon University is hosting Forge to Field, an AI-focused pitch competition offering $1.75 million in total prizes, including $1 million in AWS credits. Six finalists have been selected to present their AI companies and ideas. Judging is scheduled for April 22, the day before the NFL Draft arrives. The timing is intentional—bringing international attention to Pittsburgh's AI innovation during Draft week.
Forge to Field is part of CMU's effort to showcase its AI research and support commercialization. The competition gives entrepreneurs access to cloud credits that would otherwise be expensive, while giving CMU and its partner companies exposure to emerging AI ideas.
AI as Pittsburgh's Future
Pittsburgh's robotics reputation is well established. AI is the natural next step. The city has deep expertise in machine learning, computer vision, and AI applications. Forge to Field positions that expertise as competitive advantage in a global market.
"Pittsburgh's AI community is among the strongest in the world. Forge to Field puts that on display."
CMU AI Strike Team
The finalists represent diverse AI applications, from healthcare diagnostics to autonomous systems to enterprise software. The breadth suggests that Pittsburgh's AI ecosystem is maturing beyond pure robotics into broader applications.
Judging will be livestreamed, with results announced on April 22, 2026.