Deep Dive: Meredith Grelli's Leap from Whiskey to Tech Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University
10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
Release Date: 07/31/2025
Ready For a Rebrand? How a Tech Entrepreneur Should Know When It's Time
10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
Has your market and technology evolved so much that it might make sense to rebrand your company? Maybe you acquired a company and the new services are just itching to grab a customer's attention! For security company Intertech CI this was the case on all three points. When Ron Petnuch, President and CEO of Intertech CI, stopped byTechVibe Radio, part of his conversation landed on the company's rebrand as direct reaction to the fast pace of technology evolution in the security industry. From AI-enabled cameras to advanced card readers, technology was not only advancing, but also had to be...
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10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
Can an entrepreneur have his proverbial cake and eat it too? Mike Vindler, co-owner of , a Pittsburgh-based 3D printer, seems to be doing just that. Hit PLAY to learn how Mike is growing Tronix3D while also having a ton of fun pursuing passion projects. In this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks Mike reveals how TroniX3D's profitable bread and butter defense projects pave the way for projects that ignite his creative spark and opens ideas to potential new lines of business. Let's get a taste of the Tronix3D cake and hear from Mike right now. To get his full TechVibe Radio interview ...
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Making Tech Accessible: Ad Agency Entrepreneur Creates Simplified Geofencing Solution to Fill a Marketplace Need
10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
Ever see a glaring need in the marketplace not being met by a current service or technology and wanted to something about it? Entrepreneur/ad agency owner Jeff Swartz sure did when he saw an increasing interest from clients wanting to use geofencing as a marketing tool, but were scared away by the complexity and high cost. He got an idea for a tool that could be more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly. Something tailored for local businesses like a neighborhood pizza shop. With a successful financial year as a backdrop, Jeff decided to invest in this vision of simplifying...
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Deep Dive: Meredith Grelli's Leap from Whiskey to Tech Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University
10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
So what happens when a whiskey making entrepreneur takes the reins of one of the world's top university startup programs? If you're curious about how Pittsburgh is transforming into one of the best places in the world to launch a tech company, this episode delivers a firsthand look at the bold leadership and innovative programming driving that growth at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). Meredith Grelli was the founder of Wigle Whiskey and Thread Bear Cider. For her second act, she joined Carnegie Mellon to teach entrepreneurship. Meredith is now the director of Project Olympus, a startup...
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Strange Bedfellows: How Wigle Whiskey Founder Meredith Grelli is Transforming CMU's Entrepreneurial Landscape
10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
What do whiskey, robotics, and AI startups have in common? At Carnegie Mellon, they all thrive under the same roof—and Meredith Grelli is helping lead the charge. If you’re a founder, innovator, or ecosystem builder looking to launch or grow a company, this episode reveals how one of the world’s top universities is turning bold ideas into real businesses—and why Pittsburgh might just be the best place to do it. Learn how Meredith’s journey from building Wiggle Whiskey to directing Project Olympus is reshaping tech entrepreneurship at CMU. Find out how CMU is supporting student,...
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Can You Be a Good Human and a Great Entrepreneur? This Tech Founder Says Yes By Embracing Possibility, Accountability, Championship, Trust
10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
If you're building a team, growing a business, or simply trying to lead with more purpose, this episode will shift how you think about culture, leadership, and doing business "the right way"—even when it’s harder. We welcome Alex Reneman, Founder of Mountain Leverage. If you don't know mountain leverage, it makes hands-free technology for warehouse workers, end customers, and leaders in the supply chain. In this episode, you will: Discover how a clear set of values can shape company culture across 70+ remote employees. Learn how to lead a profitable tech company that still puts human...
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Top Tips for Tech Entrepreneurs to Leverage AI in their Businesses
10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
Trying to figure out how integrate the power of AI into your business, but don't know where to start? There's a lot of hype, confusion and fear out there often paralyzing entrepreneurs from taking their first steps. But, in this episode of 10 Minute Tech Talks we have insights from Anna Maria Berta and Joseph Giampapa of LindenAI to help you navigate the complexities of leveraging AI in your business. Get top takeaways from LindenAI's TechVibe interview with Ana Maria and Joseph so you can learn the importance of balancing technological advancements and safety guidelines, particularly...
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Hiring Right: For Entrepreneurs, The Right Talent Might Just Be Closer Than You Think
10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
Hiring can be any company's greatest challenge. We often look everywhere, but right under our own noses to find the right people. One person who knows this well is serial entrepreneur Rob Brown. He's in the process of scaling his third startup DataStrike. If you don't know DataStrike, it is North America's leading provider of 100% onshore data infrastructure managed services. Rob knows the power of hiring local people and looking beyond the traditional resume when considering candidate. He also highlights the importance of offering career paths to individuals from diverse educational...
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Overcoming Success: 3 Key Strategies for Tech Entrepreneurs to Prepare for Growth and Setbacks
10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
We all try to be prepared for setbacks, but are you prepared for success? Lifelong tech entrepreneur Mike Vertolli, Founder of ComTec Systems shares critical advice for aspiring business owners. He recently appeared on TechVibe Radio to tell us how he founded his first company in high school and how ComTec helps businesses find savings in their energy and telecommunications spends. We pulled some key highlights from his TechVibe interview to share with our time-crunched listeners. Hit play and learn how Mike emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals, maintaining proper...
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Harnessing Data Analytics: Lessons Every Entrepreneur Can Learn from Highmark's Journey
10-Minute Tech Talks: Business Insights and Growth Hacks for Time-Crunched Entrepreneurs
Undoubtedly, you've run up against a wall trying to harness your data. Maybe you're contemplating a project or a new business and it requires advanced data analytics, but you don't know where to start. Or maybe you're stuck somewhere in the middle. As luck would have it, we might be able to help you today as 10 Minute Tech Talks brings you an excerpt of the Pittsburgh Technology Council's Healthcare Reinvented podcast featuring Ian Blunt and Richard Clarke of Highmark's data analytics team. And if you don't know Highmark, they are one of the nation's largest healthcare providers and we got...
info_outlineSo what happens when a whiskey making entrepreneur takes the reins of one of the world's top university startup programs? If you're curious about how Pittsburgh is transforming into one of the best places in the world to launch a tech company, this episode delivers a firsthand look at the bold leadership and innovative programming driving that growth at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU).
Meredith Grelli was the founder of Wigle Whiskey and Thread Bear Cider. For her second act, she joined Carnegie Mellon to teach entrepreneurship. Meredith is now the director of Project Olympus, a startup incubator at CMU, focused specifically on tech startups. And if that's not enough, she was also just named the interim director of CMU's Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship.
Whether you're a founder, investor, or ecosystem builder, you'll hear how cutting edge ideas are turning into real world startups right here in our backyard.
Learn how Project Olympus and the Swartz Center are wrapping CMU founders and targeted support talent and capital. Discover how CMU's deep tech commercialization success is setting national benchmarks, and hear why Pittsburgh's future as a startup hub may depend on embracing unorthodox leadership and bold regional collaboration.
Hit PLAY to hear how Meredith Grelli is shaking up the startup scene at CMU and why that's great news for Pittsburgh's innovation economy.
Produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, this is a podcast for tech and manufacturing entrepreneurs exploring the tech ecosystem, from cyber security and AI to SaaS, robotics, and life sciences, featuring insights to satisfy the tech curious.