Pittsburgh weekly roundup: $10M for AI cancer detection; Paper-based pill bottles; Schools denounce fed overreach

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This week in Pittsburgh, a record-breaking Q1 for local VC, a statewide immigration office stuck in limbo and more.

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

📰 News Incubator: What else to know

• Looking to sell your online business? A blog from They Got Acquired outlines four smart strategies, like pitching ideal buyers, working with brokers, listing on marketplaces and growing your business to attract interest. [Technical.ly]

• Tech firm Leidos is investing $10 million in the University of Pittsburgh’s Computational Pathology and AI Center of Excellence to accelerate the development of AI-powered tools for faster detection of diseases like heart disease and cancer. [University Times] 

• Local startup accelerator AlphaLab is now accepting applications for its 2026 cohort. The accelerator program offers early-stage companies up to $100,000 in funding, lab space, mentorship and direct connections to investors. [AlphaLab] 

• The University of Pittsburgh and Amazon Web Services have launched a Health Sciences and Sports Analytics Cloud Innovation Center, where paid student interns will begin developing applications to tackle real-world challenges in healthcare and sports starting this summer. [University of Pittsburgh]

• Local startup Parcel Health has partnered with Allegheny Health Network (AHN) to roll out the company’s sustainable, paper-based pill bottles across AHN pharmacies, starting at Allegheny Valley Hospital. [Pittsburgh Biz Times]

• Near Earth Autonomy secured a $790,000 contract to provide its miniaturized autonomous flight system for delivering supplies, Firefly, to frontline Marines in tough terrain. [Vertical Magazine] 

• Leaders from local universities, including Carnegie Mellon and Chatham University, co-signed a letter denouncing federal overreach and political interference in higher education. [AAC&U/TribLive] 

🗓️ On the Calendar

• Partner event: Are you a Salesforce expert, or trying to be? The annual MidAtlantic Dreamin’ conference invites tech folks from across the region for a day of learning, brainstorming, networking and fun in Philadelphia on May 5. [Register Here]

• Explore the latest in AI-era cybersecurity at Cyburgh, PA on May 1 at the Sheraton Pittsburgh Hotel. The event will feature expert insights on how to protect your business and networking with industry leaders. [Register]

• Celebrate the region’s top venture leaders at the Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association’s 30th Annual Awards Dinner on May 1. [RSVP]

• Join the LLM Agent Developers event at Hackers Guild PGH on May 1 for an informal meetup focused on building and exploring AI agents. Connect with developers, researchers and hobbyists to share projects, swap insights and discuss trends in agent development. [Details here]

• Meet local sustainability startup Ecotone Renewables, tour its warehouse and connect with green-tech investors at the company’s 2025 Investor Summit on May 2, hosted at the Richard King Mellon Foundation. [More info]