Newsletter

Pittsburgh weekly roundup: Neighborhood newspaper for tech; Bartel honored at CIO awards; $204M for broadband internet

Plus, Pitt students win Big Idea Competition with neurosurgery device.

An articulated arm at the Robotics Factory (Danya Henninger/Technical.ly)

A neighborhood newspaper for Pittsburgh tech

Andrew Katon is a 31-year-old founder who moved to Pittsburgh for the strength of its robotics scene. He now works as a guide and mentor at Innovation Works’ Robotics Factory, where he’s almost giddy about all the equipment the lab offers.

His story is the kind of thing Technical.ly reports on: stories of individual people who care deeply about their city and are intentional about helping build its future. And in this case, it looks like a solid future — anyone who’s been part of the recent surge can feel it: This is Pittsburgh’s time to shine.

We’re revamping our coverage of the city’s tech and startup scene to help better connect the community as the ecosystem continues its rise.

➡️ Read about our plan for revitalizing Technical.ly’s PGH coverage

Could the life sciences dethrone software for VC?

Though still dominated by software, venture capital appears to be bending toward the life sciences. That shift was a big conversation topic at a recent edition of BioBreakfast, the weekly gathering on Technology Drive — and Technical.ly CEO Chris Wink crunched the numbers.

In 2014, VCs invested about a quarter as much into pharma and biotech firms as in software. By last year the sector had grown to command about a third as much: $21 billion vs. $64 billion nationally, according to Pitchbook.

➡️ Read more from Chris on the increasing commercialization of biotech

News Incubator: What else to know

• A senior engineering student and sophomore arts and sciences student at Pitt were on the winning team that took the $25,000 grand prize in the university’s annual Big Idea Competition. Their product, Malleous, is a device that aims to reduce time spent in neurological surgery. [Technical.ly]

• Who are the most connected people in your industry? The ones who seem to know everyone and how to make action happen. Those are the folks we highlight each year as RealLIST Connectors, and we’re seeking your nominations now. [Technical.ly/Google Forms]

• The storms have been something else lately, but this incredible pic of lightning over the city skyline is a much nicer outcome than the flooding and barges on the loose. [Dave DiCello]

• What do all the AI startups and projects in Pittsburgh have in common? One answer: They use chips made by Nvidia. [Post-Gazette]

• Duquesne University’s Charles Bartel was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the Pittsburgh Technology Council’s CIO of the Year Awards, held in partnership with the Greater Pittsburgh CIO Group. [PTC/PDF]

• The Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority scored $204 million in Broadband Infrastructure Program grants through the federal capital projects fund. Matched by $200 million in private investments, the funding will support 53 internet access and digital equity projects across the state. [City & State]

• 80 roboticists and industry leaders from around the globe spent two days at the Agriculture & Robotics Summit hosted by Innovation Works and the Pittsburgh Robotics Network. [Innovation Works]

🗓️ On the Calendar

• Delve deep into the ever-growing ways AI is affecting the startup, academic and corporate worlds at Impact AI, a daylong event hosted Wednesday, April 24, by the CMU Corporate Startup Lab & Tepper’s Center for Intelligent Business. [Free registration]

• Snag a t-shirt courtesy of Clockwise Apparel with your $20 admission to the next Pittsburgh Robotics Network happy hour, hosted Thursday, April 25, at Kingfly Spirits in Robotics Row. [Details here]

• The 2024 Cyburgh conference takes place May 1 at the Westin Convention Center, with a day of learning and networking for the IT and security community. Registration is $350 or $225 for PTC members. [Details here]

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

Before you go...

Please consider supporting Technical.ly to keep our independent journalism strong. Unlike most business-focused media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational support.

3 ways to support our work:
  • Contribute to the Journalism Fund. Charitable giving ensures our information remains free and accessible for residents to discover workforce programs and entrepreneurship pathways. This includes philanthropic grants and individual tax-deductible donations from readers like you.
  • Use our Preferred Partners. Our directory of vetted providers offers high-quality recommendations for services our readers need, and each referral supports our journalism.
  • Use our services. If you need entrepreneurs and tech leaders to buy your services, are seeking technologists to hire or want more professionals to know about your ecosystem, Technical.ly has the biggest and most engaged audience in the mid-Atlantic. We help companies tell their stories and answer big questions to meet and serve our community.
The journalism fund Preferred partners Our services
Engagement

Join our growing Slack community

Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!

Trending

Trump may kill the CHIPS and Science Act. Here’s what that means for your community.

A Pennsylvania voter’s guide to tech policy on the ballot in the 2024 election

14 tech community events to be thankful for in November

How 4 orgs give back to their local tech community

Technically Media