Sullivan Center Venture Fellowship with CTGT

VENTURE FELLOWS – Machine Learning
Market and Patent Research/Business Model
Apply by June 21

CTGT is an early-stage startup that accelerates machine learning (ML) training by 87% with novel research. CTGT plans to create a software as a service (SaaS) cloud-based platform that allows customers to train more efficient models from their data based on its methods. To impress the value of its offering, users would be made aware of the notable savings in using CTGT’s platform vs. training traditional ML models on AWS or the like. In a benchmark of 121 classification datasets, state of the art neural nets took 5 hours to train, while CTGT’s proprietary method took only 40 minutes while maintaining the same or better accuracy. Any company that uses machine learning in their tech stacks would benefit from the product, with a particular boon to time sensitive applications such as fraud detection. CTGT achieves state of the art performance on tabular datasets and is working to extend the model paradigm to visual and text-based tasks, paving the way for models on a scale of GPT-3 with massively reduced computational costs.

Other companies seeking to speed up machine learning are focused on making incremental improvements to the current model training process. In contrast, CTGT approaches the problem of deep learning from a wholly unique perspective, fostering a new paradigm of learning that no other known company is a part of. Cyril Gorlla and Trevor Tuttle are the co-founders of CTGT and are currently graduate students at the Halıcıoğlu Data Science Institute at UC San Diego. Cyril has been lauded for his expertise in AI and ML, having had his research published in the field’s top conference and collaborating in his work with leading industry partners. Trevor has facilitated the deployment of large-scale distributed computing solutions, possessing the proficiency required to scale CTGT’s technology to the next level. CTGT is supported by experienced advisors who have served for decades in key technical roles at the forefront of the tech industry.

Application

Team applications, with members from varying disciplines, are favored. However, solo applicants are very welcome – if accepted, solo applicants will be assigned to a team.

Academic Credit

Second-year Rady graduate students may pursue this project as a 2 Unit Independent Study—MGT 499 for Summer 2023.

Team members in Schools outside of Rady may appeal to their respective departments for Independent Study credit per their department policies.

Non-Credit: Any Team is invited to apply and may pursue this project without credit.

Scope

Phase 1: Market Research: Analyze existing market research and conduct additional research to align the product features to the market’s needs. Find competitors and identify ways CTGT can differentiate its product from the competitors. In addition, identify potential strategic partners that may advance the company’s growth and identify how their product will benefit CTGT and vice versa.

Phase 2: Patenting Research: Based on the market research, identify product features that differentiate from existing products and make the product unique enough to file a patent/intellectual property claim. Research and present a timeline and workflow to become ready to file a patent by the end of the year. In addition, look into resources available on the UCSD campus to support a patent application.

Phase 3: Business Model: Propose a basic business model structure for the company. Evaluate product pricing and sales/distribution channel options. In addition, compare the pros and cons of choosing a for profit vs not-for-profit business model and its impact on raising capital and growing the company

Deliverables

The Venture Fellow Team will provide a 6-8-page report and a 6-8 slide PowerPoint presentation to the Center and GTGT Founders, including its findings, sources, recommendations, and other elements outlined under the scope. The report will also include a discussion of challenges the team faced in securing its results, reflections on the Venture Fellow experience, and any recommendations the team may have regarding the Venture Fellows process.

Time Frame

The Project requires approximately 5-6 hours per week for 8-10 weeks, including a weekly Zoom meeting with the Founders and Project Mentor. In-person meetings may also be required.

Expectations

The Fellows will work diligently and professionally with the Institute’s Executive Director, the Founders, and Mentor. The Fellow(s) will meet for ~90 minutes for a kick-off meeting with the leadership team and others relevant to the project.

The Fellows are expected to self-learn skills, techniques, and research methods required to provide meaningful insights to the Founders.

Each Fellow is expected to contribute substantively to the Project. The Executive Director will seek input from each member of the Fellows Team as to their own contribution as well as their perspectives on the contributions of other Team members.

The Fellows are expected to work independently and meet with the Founders and Mentor for approximately 60-75 minutes once a week (via zoom) for the project duration to report on progress and discuss any questions or issues. The Team may also be required to meet and report to the Center’s Executive Director or others on a more regular basis.

Toward the project’s conclusion, the Venture Fellow(s) will meet with the Founders, the Mentor, and the Center’s Executive Director for a 90-minute discussion of the team’s findings. The entire team, including the Founder and Mentor, will be available for a photo.

NOTE: Your team may be joined by a student from another department within Rady or from another area of campus.

PLEASE SEE BRIEF PROFILES OF PAST PROJECTS AT: bit.ly/3CmnV5q
Apply by June 21
https://forms.gle/icvZ9icfxpLo5DqL9