Pittsburgh weekly roundup: $278M in Q4 VC; A new plan for downtown revitalization; The future of coworking

Welcome to the weekly roundup of the latest from Pittsburgh's tech and entrepreneurship scene. Want this in your inbox? Subscribe for free.

This week in Pittsburgh, how coworking founders plan to survive return to office, the region brings in $278 million in VC investments and more.

Read on for Technical.ly’s weekly roundup of top news in the region.

📰 News Incubator: What else to know

• A new University of Pittsburgh study revealed more than one in four public company executives say their company’s reported earnings were misrepresented at least once in the past five years, indicating more widespread manipulation than previously thought. [Journal of Accounting Research] 
 
• President Donald Trump could disrupt the tech world in major ways during his first 100 days in office, including changes to the management of billions in tech manufacturing and job growth funding. [Technical.ly]
 
• Approximately 40% of BNY’s workforce, nearly 21,000 employees, use Eliza, an AI assistant for research, technical questions, customizing investment portfolios and the hiring process. Eliza 2.0, which has a “more humanlike thought process”, is set to roll out later this year. [Pittsburgh Business Times/Technical.ly]
 
• Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership released a new strategic plan yesterday to accelerate downtown revitalization from 2025 to 2028, focusing on increased outreach to the homeless and office-to-residential conversions. [WESA/Technical.ly]
 
• Educators in the California Area School District, south of Pittsburgh, are using STEM skills like 3D printing to create violins for students and lower socioeconomic barriers to arts education. [WESA]
 
• Trump revoked an executive order from former President Joe Biden that established standards and research on AI risks to consumers and national security. Trump has yet to introduce a replacement AI policy framework. [Technical.ly]

🗓️ On the Calendar

• Queery Coding Club, an LGBTQIA-friendly group for individuals in the tech industry, is holding its monthly meeting on Jan. 25 at Prototype PGH. [Details here]

• Professional and hobbyist video game developers are welcome at PGH Game Makers’ Jan. 25 meeting at the Pittsburgh gaming lounge Looking For Group. [More info]

• Join developers, tech entrepreneurs and business-tech enthusiasts at the Pittsburgh B2B Software Group’s monthly meetup on Jan. 27. [Details here]

• Thinking of starting a business? Join the University of Pittsburgh’s Small Business Development Center for a two-step webinar on Jan. 28 to explore funding options and learn how to secure financing with a proper business plan. [RSVP here and here]

• Discover how AI is transforming medical device development at a panel discussion hosted by PDMA Pittsburgh and Women in Bio on Jan. 28 at Bally Design. [Get tickets]

• Partner event: Take a crash course in how to think, work and build like a startup at Techstars Startup Weekend Pittsburgh from Feb. 7-9. You’ll meet fellow builders, mentors, investors and more. [Find out more]