Pittsburgh daily roundup: $17M for drone startup; Federal courthouse renovations; Abridge to California

$17 million for drone-based inventorying

Things are looking up for Squirrel Hill-based robotics company Gather AI. The company, whose drone warehouse inventory platform took off during the pandemid, just secured a $17 million raise in a Series A-1 round.

Founder and CEO Sankalp Arora says the firm’s tech heralds a paradigm shift. “AI-powered cameras will transform supply-chain traceability” he predicted, “to have a similar impact that barcodes did in the 1980s.”

➡️ Get the details on Gather AI’s latest raise

How to make working in an office appealing again

During the height of COVID restrictions, remote work was forced. As employers pushed for employees to return to their officers, they found many actually preferred working from home.

So, for orgs that prefer an in-person work model how do they get their workers on board? Technical.ly CEO Chris Wink suggests creating workplaces employees want to spend time in as opposed to being forced to be there. “But in-person work matters still,” Wink wrote. “Employers that invest in offices can create business value, and this in turn does create civic value.”

➡️ Check out Chris’s full column on RTO here

News Incubator: What else to know today

• Abridge AI is partnering with California-based Sutter Health to distribute its AI-driven transcription app for healthcare workers. [Pittsburgh Business Journal] 

• Family Dollars are closing in Western PA due to a recent quarterly earnings report. Among the 600 stores slated to close in one located in Lawrenceville. [Pittsburgh Business Times]

• The Biden administration is investing $16 million in renovations to the federal courthouse located in Downtown Pittsburgh. Those involved say they’re seeking to balance preserving the historic building while using environmentally friendly materials as they renovate. [WESA]

• While it’s only been spring for a little over a week, summer camp fills up fast. Here are some options for any teens you know looking to get away. [Kidsburgh]

[Pittsburgh Business Times]

🗓️ On the Calendar

Atiya Irvin-Mitchell is a 2022-2024 corps member for Report for America, an initiative of The Groundtruth Project that pairs young journalists with local newsrooms. This position is supported by the Heinz Endowments.