Application Due: 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
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 5-7 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.
Apply
by June 21
*𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 "𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥" 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘢 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 12.5 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 (𝘰𝘯𝘦-𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘩) 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢, 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘈𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘴, 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘰/𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴 (𝘜𝘊𝘖𝘗: 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘈𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴, 2003).