Duquesne University SBDC

06/09/2026

Back-to-back wins!

The Duquesne University SBDC has earned the 2026 Happy Client Award for the second year in a row at the PASBDC Growth Summit—recognizing the highest client satisfaction in the state.

Thank you to our amazing clients for making this possible!

Read full blog post here - sbdc.duq.edu/Blog-Item-Duquesne-University-SBDC-Earns-Back-to-Back-Happy-Client-Award-at-2026-PASBDC-Growth-Summit

06/07/2026

Project Spectrum Webinar
June 11, 2026
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

CMMC compliance is an achievable, mandatory requirement for Department of Defense (DoD) contractors. Because the CMMC program is now formally incorporated into the Code of Federal Regulations, baseline cybersecurity standards are required at all levels of the defense supply chain.

To help in your compliance efforts, DoD funded Project Spectrum offers free resources for businesses who need to comply with the controls outlined in the NIST 800-171 but lack the technical skills necessary. Join us at this free webinar where our speaker will discuss topics central to CMMC compliance with an emphasis on CMMC Level 1.

Topics
- How can Project Spectrum help my business become compliant with CMMC?
- How do companies get started with Project Spectrum?
- What are the requirements placed upon applicants?

Register by June 10th, 2026:
57461f9e-be38-4e8f-813e-97de28625aa0@97ce3622-0d85-4ace-b77b-3de9c2f38282" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/57461f9e-be38-4e8f-813e-97de28625aa0@97ce3622-0d85-4ace-b77b-3de9c2f38282

For more information, contact Jim Free at [email protected] or 724-741-1004.

06/06/2026

IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS - BizBurgh Presents: AI Small Business Conference (June 16) - a hands-on, in-person event for small and mid-sized businesses ready to put AI to work now.

Instead of theory, you’ll build:
- Practical prompts
- Real content & multimedia
- A simple AI workflow

Breakfast, lunch, and parking included.

No tech background required—just come ready to learn and build.

Save your seat:
https://www.sbdc.duq.edu/Event-BizBurgh-2026-AI-Small-Business-Conference

Watch the promo video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLihup5G0pk

06/05/2026

Patriot Pitch Competition

Is your high-potential small business innovating and working to shape the future in your industry? If so, the SBA wants to hear from you!

SBA is hosting a nationwide pitch competition that will bring together entrepreneurs from across the country who are building and scaling businesses within their communities.

Selected businesses will be invited to participate in a live pitch competition in Washington, DC, which will culminate in a $1 million prize pool to celebrate the innovation and ambition that has driven American ingenuity for the past 250 years.

Submission guidelines
While not required to do so, you may use the suggested topics and example pitch to tell us all about your business and what you’re doing to drive innovation.

Upload your pitch using the submission link for your local District Office, below, by June 10 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Submissions must be in PDF format and are limited to 1 file upload.

Go here for more information on the competition and where to submit - https://preview.sba.gov/freedom-250/

06/04/2026

Congratulations to the Graduate Assistant Team at Duquesne University SBDC!

We’re proud to celebrate their recognition as Student Project of the Year at the 2026 PASBDC Growth Summit for their innovative work on an AI-Powered Client Intake and Consultant Assignment System.

This forward-thinking solution helps modernize how Small Business Development Centers serve clients—improving efficiency, enhancing consultant matching, and supporting better outcomes for small businesses.

Kudos to the Graduate Assistant Team for advancing the future of SBDC services through responsible AI innovation.

Read more about their achievement and the project itself here - https://www.sbdc.duq.edu/Blog-Item-Duquesne-SBDC-Graduate-Assistant-Team-Earns-2026-Student-Project-of-the-Year

06/03/2026

We Created THIS Video for MaxxCole Salon & Skin Spa!
[DUQ SBDC No-Cost Media Production Program]

The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), through the center's Digital Media Production Program, was able to assist MaxxCole Salon & Skin Spa in creating an explainer video highlighting their Level 1, DMK Enzyme Treatment. The video features interviews from the owner, as well as one of the Estheticians who performs the treatment. MaxxCole intends to utilize this video on their social media platforms as well as their website in order to garner more interest in this signature treatment!

View the video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp4UV2SVKls

The Duquesne University Small Business Development Center (SBDC), t...

06/02/2026

Celebrating Our Students’ Year-End Presentations!

Recently, we had the pleasure of seeing our Fellows students and Graduate Assistants showcase their hard work through their end-of-year presentations—and they did an outstanding job!

Our Fellows students delivered an insightful presentation on “How to Secure a Business Loan Professionally,” equipping future entrepreneurs with the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate the lending process.

Our Graduate Assistant students followed with a practical and impactful presentation on “Client Ready Guide on Starting a Business,” providing a strong foundation for individuals ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship.

We are incredibly proud of the dedication, professionalism, and expertise these students demonstrated. Experiences like this continue to highlight the value of applied learning and student development.

To see the presentations and documents, read here - https://www.sbdc.duq.edu/Blog-Item-Celebrating-Our-Students-Year-End-Presentations

05/30/2026

BizBurgh Presents: AI Small Business Conference (June 16) - a hands-on, in-person event for small and mid-sized businesses ready to put AI to work now.

Instead of theory, you’ll build:
- Practical prompts
- Real content & multimedia
- A simple AI workflow

Breakfast, lunch, and parking included.

No tech background required—just come ready to learn and build.

Save your seat:
https://www.sbdc.duq.edu/Event-BizBurgh-2026-AI-Small-Business-Conference

Watch the promo video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLihup5G0pk

05/29/2026

Rich Longo, Director of the Duquesne University Small Business Development Center, was welcomed by the Mayor of Pittsburgh, and alumni of Duquesne University, Corey O'Connor. Mayor O'Connor presented to our center a proclamation recognizing our incredible work empowering local entrepreneurs, supporting startups, and creating pathways for long-term growth right here in Pittsburgh.

https://www.sbdc.duq.edu/

05/28/2026

Have you seen the latest episode of the Bridges to Business Podcast? 🎤👀

Kaylie Painter, owner of All Knotted Up and student at Duquesne University, joined us to discuss her small business, working with our center, balancing both school and entrepreneurship, and much more!

Link 🔗 to the full episode is in the comments below! ⬇️