Requests for ProjectsSpring 2026
Inspired by YC's Request for Startups (RFS), this is a collection of ideas we'd love to see built by the Pitt CSC community.
The Ideas
Rec Center Crowd Pulse
Nobody likes walking all the way to the new Rec Center just to find out it's packed. Build a system that tracks crowd density in real-time. This would involve working with Pitt staff to run data analytics on the badging system at the rec center. The goal is to give students a live 'busyness' score so they can optimize their workout times.
Library Occupancy Monitor
Finding a seat at Hillman during finals week is a battle. Create a solution that estimates how full different floors or sections of the library are. Similar to the Rec Center project, this could leverage Wi-Fi density data or NFC check-in tags at tables. A successful implementation would help students find quiet study spots instantly without wandering up and down the stairs.
Campus Dine Optimizer
Meal plans are expensive, and maximizing them is an art. Build a tool that scrapes or uses the DineOnCampus API to show what's serving where, but with a twist: optimize for nutritional value or specific dietary restrictions. It could also track current meal swipe usage and predict if a student will run out or have too many swipes left by the end of the semester.
Pitt2Pit Travel Share
Rides to the airport (PIT) can be expensive. Pitt2Pit helps students coordinate travel pooling during peak times (Thanksgiving, Winter, Spring breaks) by grouping users into optimal 'pods' to split Uber/Lyft costs or organize carpools. We understand the 28X Flyer serves this purpose, but sometimes you'd rather travel in comfort and spend less time on an already long commute. This is just the beginning - the platform could expand to other car-dependent trips like Costco runs, allowing students to pair with drivers and share costs.
Who is this for?
- Students looking to spend 5-10 hrs/week building something real.
- Any skill level — from first-years to seniors.
- People who want to solve actual campus problems.
Who is this not for?
- Those just wanting a line item for their resume without passion.
- Projects that will be abandoned after one week.
Have an idea we missed?
We know we don't have all the answers. If you have a burning problem you want to solve or a project idea that needs a team, add it to our list.
Submit an Idea