A new cohort of Pittsburgh startup founders just graduated from a free coaching program that they credit with simultaneously accelerating their business growth and combating the isolation of entrepreneurship.

The Anvil Founder Coaching Program offers early-stage founders free, tailored mentorship on everything from customer discovery to fundraising to team leadership. Last week, several local founders showcased their progress at a cohort graduation event in Oakland.

“Beyond the tactical support, the real value was the cohort.”

Justin Waltrip, Squary AI

For Justin Waltrip, cofounder of the legal-tech platform Squary AI and a member of the graduating class, the program not only offered him warm intros to potential investors but also a new sense of community. 

“Beyond the tactical support, the real value was the cohort,” Waltrip said. “Finding a group of Pittsburgh founders at a similar stage, who show up honestly and share what’s actually working, made the journey feel far less isolated.” 

Since launching the inaugural cohort in 2025, Anvil lead organizer Max Polec says he has noticed a shift in what early-stage founders need most when they walk through the door.

While typical knowledge gaps like problem validation and customer discovery still exist, Polec said founders more so need help figuring out what information is actually worth acting on. 

“I’m seeing more founders with a flood of advice they are receiving, but unsure what to listen to,” Polec said. 

A woman in a blue suit speaks to an audience in a classroom. A projector displays the name “Kiran Cherlakola” on the screen behind her.
Kiran Cherlakola, a member of the graduating class, pitches her skills as a business advisor (Courtesy James J. Nestor)

Anvil seems to be increasingly filling that gap for local entrepreneurs. For instance, the team behind graphite-development startup Graphonos Materials used their time in the program to refine their pitching skills. They went on to win the Pitt Big Idea Competition Grand Prize and were semifinalists at the 2026 Rice Business Plan Competition. 

A long list of testimonials from other founders who’ve participated in the program tell a similar story. 

“Thanks in part to the feedback and guidance I received through Anvil, I was able to secure nearly $100,000 in non-dilutive funding through grants and competitions,”  Mitchell Fogelson, founder and CEO of Beyond Reach Labs, said in his review of the program. 

Applications are now open for the next Anvil cohort. Deadline: July 8. 

Keep scrolling to learn more about the startups that showcased. 

Squary AI

​Cofounded by Justin Waltrip, Sanjay Chopra and Jagriti Pandey

Squary AI creates customizable AI-powered tools to analyze legal documents for mid-market law firms and in-house legal teams. 

A man stands and speaks in front of an audience in a classroom setting, with a large screen behind him displaying a hexagonal logo.
Justin Waltrip, founder of Squary AI (Courtesy James J. Nestor)

Ringlet

Cofounded by ​Todd Feiler and Emily Bogue

Ringlet’s platform connects users directly with trusted neighborhood caregivers, such as babysitters and eldercare assistants.

A man stands in front of a seated audience, speaking into a microphone, with a presentation slide displaying the word "Ringlet" behind him.
Todd Feiler, cofounder of Ringlet (Courtesy James J. Nestor)

Heal, Homie 

​Founded by Jonathan “Quest” Brown

Heal, Homie is an apparel brand that blends streetwear fashion with mental health advocacy. 

A speaker addresses an audience in a classroom, with a presentation slide behind him that reads "Heal, Homie.
Heal, Homie founder Jonathan “Quest” Brown (Courtesy James J. Nestor)

Delta BEAR

Founded by Dan Elliott

Delta BEAR is a cybersecurity consultancy firm that helps organizations secure and rebuild their digital infrastructure.

A man speaks at the front of a room to an audience, with a presentation slide displaying the Delta Bear logo behind him.
Delta BEAR founder Dan Elliot (Courtesy James J. Nestor)

Graphonos Materials

​Founded by Aime Laurent Twizerimana

Graphonos Materials uses a novel tech process developed at the University of Pittsburgh to manufacture high-quality industrial graphite from natural gas.

A man in a blue suit holds a microphone and presents in front of a screen displaying the "Graphonos Materials" logo in a conference room.
Aime Laurent Twizerimana, founder of Graphonos Materials (Courtesy James J. Nestor)

PGH Social Club

Founded by ​Avi Moses and Matthew Fraijo

PGH Social Club hosts in-person events designed to combat loneliness and build community among young people. 

A man stands and speaks into a microphone in front of an audience, with a projection screen displaying "PGH Social Club" behind him.
PGH Social Club cofounder ​Avi Moses (Courtesy James J. Nestor)

Unplugged AI

​Founded by Alex Dalton and Chase Baker

Unplugged AI builds small language models that can run completely offline for teams operating in remote or highly secure environments. 

A man stands in front of a projected screen with the "Unplugged AI" logo, addressing an audience in a classroom or seminar setting.
Alex Dalton, cofounder of Unplugged AI (Courtesy James J. Nestor)

Agilow

​Founded by Shiv Panjwani and Antonio Bojorges

Agilow is a project management consulting firm that guides robotics teams from early-stage prototypes to live commercial deployments.

A man holding a microphone speaks to an audience in front of a screen displaying the Agilow logo.
Agilow cofounder ​Shiv Panjwani (Courtesy James J. Nestor)

Gemba Robotics

​Founded by Jason Okerman

Gemba Robotics evaluates manufacturers’ operations to identify risks and possible inefficiencies before they adopt automated systems.

A man with a microphone presents in front of a screen displaying a logo to a seated audience in a modern office space.
Gemba Robotics founder Jason Okerman (Courtesy James J. Nestor)