Swanson School of Engineering Recognizes William Gaussa as Its 2026 Distinguished Alumnus in Electrical & Computer Engineering
On March 25, the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering held its annual Distinguished Alumni Banquet at the University Club. William Gaussa, BSEE '85, was recognized at the event as the 2026 Distinguished Alumnus in Electrical and Computer Engineering.
“Bill’s journey began here in Pittsburgh. After graduating from Pitt in 1985, he started his career at Westinghouse,” said Alan George, Department Chair, R&H Mickle Endowed Chair, and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “What makes Bill’s career remarkable is that he has spent more than 25 years at the intersection of engineering and entrepreneurship — turning new ideas into industry-recognized, award-winning solutions across the MedTech and HealthTech markets.”
“What I especially value is Bill’s dedication to mentorship,” George added. “He serves as an advisor and coach within nationally recognized programs, and I’m proud to note that the University of Pittsburgh recognized him as Startup Coach of the Year in 2023.”
About William Gaussa
Bill Gaussa, BSEE ’85, is the chief executive officer and founder of NorthCoast Innovation Advisors and Managing Partner of Factor 7 Medical. He has over 25 years of experience in creating new businesses within the MedTech and HealthTech markets. He has worked with a wide range of companies, from startups striving to gain traction to leading innovation for Philips in a $2 billion business. Throughout his career, Bill has consistently launched industry-recognized, award-winning solutions that have grown into global successes, often leading to market leader positions and successful exits or acquisitions.
Currently, Bill is leveraging his experience with startups to move from concept to market launch, developing sustainable growth and strategic partnerships. He is passionate about transferring his know-how to entrepreneurs, as evidenced by his roles as an advisor, coach, and mentor within several nationally recognized programs (ICorp, Techstars, Olympus, etc.).
Bill's background in software engineering and business/marketing allows him to bring a unique perspective to highly technical founders on how to achieve commercial success. He enjoys helping companies identify top ideas, refine value propositions, create market-winning products, secure competitive advantages with IP/trade secrets, and build investor pitches that secure investment.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Business Administration degree from Carnegie Mellon University.