Pittsburgh weekly roundup: A coffee map of local spots; A law firm amps up its tech practice; Digital Dream Lab lawsuit

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A local engineer is mapping all the coffee

Home to more than 140 cafes, Pittsburgh is full of caffeination options. Coffee fuels much of the Pittsburgh workforce — especially the tech scene.

A local software engineer is strengthening that bond by documenting every cafe in the region. John-George Sample started pgh.coffee as a spreadsheet in 2023, turning to the open-source community on GitHub to transform it into an interactive map. 

With roughly 90% of locations listed, the side project has seen more than 4,000 unique visitors, and growing.

➡️ How the website is already impacting the local coffee scene

Learn business from a whiskey mogul at CMU

Tech and innovation leaders can come from any sector, just look at this month’s edition of Power Moves. 

Meredith Meyer Grelli, cofounder of Wigle Whiskey and Threadbare Cider & Mead, will use her entrepreneurship experience to help Carnegie Mellon spinouts build their businesses. 

Plus, a local law firm brings on a former electrical engineer to staff its technology practice.

➡️ Get up to date on all the latest Power Moves

Free advice from global business lawyers

Lawyers at Morgan Lewis are back with a new series of webinars that provide practical tips and address topics relevant to entrepreneurs and investors.

The Oct. 10 edition brings a look at IPOs and the path to liquidity for founders. The Nov. 21 session covers legal strategies for fintech and venture capital financing. On Dec. 11, lawyers discuss the trends affecting investing and fundraising for high-growth emergent companies. It’s all available totally free when you RSVP in advance.

➡️ See the full schedule with details and register online

This sponsored blurb supports our journalism. Want to see your message here? Find out more.

News Incubator: What else to know

• The Pennsylvania attorney general is suing East Liberty-based Digital Dream Labs. According to the lawsuit, the edtech company failed to fulfill millions of dollars in orders. [AG/Technical.ly]

• A decision on the US Steel-Nippon merger may not come until after the election. The national security panel reviewing the deal wants to push its deadline, and the president cannot act on the acquisition without the panel’s recommendation. [Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]

• Google’s philanthropic arm donated $250,000 to youth organization 4-H. The money will go toward training rural students in AI skills, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai stopped by a local school to talk about the effort. [Technical.ly/Pittsburgh Business Times]

• NASA chose the Allegheny Observatory and Riverside Park to plant its “moon tree.” The sweetgum tree seedlings flew around the moon during the Artemis I mission in 2022. [University of Pittsburgh]

• Seven Pittsburgh companies landed on Time’s list of the world’s best. They include PNC, Dick’s Sporting Goods, American Eagle Outfitters, Kraft Heinz and more. [Time] 

• Medical marijuana users in Pittsburgh may soon get more legal protections. A bill recently approved by City Council would make them a protected class, with some industry-specific exceptions like construction. [WESA]

On the Calendar

• Partner event: Climate Tech Cocktail’s Electric RV Roadshow will be making a Pittsburgh stop on Sept. 19. The Pittsburgh Innovation District and Third Derivative will host a chance to network and hear from leaders in the space at Avenu Workspaces. [Register]

• If you’ve been curious about HackPGH, but not sure how to get involved, attend its open house on Sept. 21. The makerspace hosts tech tools, 3D printing, jewelry making and more. [More information]

• GetWITit will host an all-day conference on Sept. 25, Pittsburgh WITCON 2024: CollabHERate!. The $100 ticketed event features speakers from companies like Two Frays Brewery, BNY, Innovation Works and more. [Details here]

• Tour a new robotics testing site with the Pittsburgh Robotics Network on Sept. 26. You can meet them on-site near the airport, or hop on a free shuttle from Lawrenceville to the event. [Find out more]

• Carnegie Mellon University and Innovation Works are teaming up on Sept. 26 to host the seventh annual AI & Robotics Venture Fair. [Learn more]

• Join ProductTank Pittsburgh to reflect on one year of its relaunch. The meetup will be on Sept. 26 at Pins Mechanical Co. in SouthSide Works. [Sign up]