Pittsburgh, let’s celebrate: You picked these 5 winners for your 2023 Technical.ly Awards

Our annual awards series recognizes people who go above and beyond in their local tech communities. And in Pittsburgh, from educational apps to communities of software engineers, you had a lot of solid contenders to choose from.

Voting for those 25 nominees across five categories was open to the public for almost two weeks and closed Nov. 30. You all really turned out — we received over 8,000 votes across all five of Technical.ly’s markets.

Based on those results, below are the 2023 winners of your Technical.ly Awards.

Plus, while you’re here: Check out Technical.ly’s 2024 editorial calendar, featuring 12 themes we dedicate extra reporting to in the new year, and consider nominating a person or company for one of our RealLISTs. (RealLIST Startups returns at the top of the year!)

Drum roll, please!

Invention of the Year — Bright Sky App

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence estimates that more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence annually in the US. Through a collaboration between the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and the Vodafone Americas Foundation, the Bright Sky App offers its users with education and resources in times of crisis. The app allows users to identify the types and signs of domestic violence, assess the safety of their relationship or that of a friend or loved one, and access information about how to help a friend who may be affected.

Tech Community Leader of the Year — Code & Supply

For the past decade, Code & Supply has been dedicated to creating a community for technologists in the city. The organization consists of thousands of members and offers services such as coworking space, conferences, and a pool of other technologists to work with and befriend (and to compare notes on compensation).

CTO of the Year — Jasmine Kwasa

Kwasa is the chief technology officer for Precision Neuro, which is developing neurotech to make medicine more inclusive. Last December, the company won first place in the 2022 UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge and the corresponding $150,000. At the time, Kwasa said the money would be used to fund the company’s journey toward gaining FDA clearance, which would allow it to operate in hospitals. In June 2023, Kwasa became a Fulbright US Scholar.

Tech Company of the Year — Free Market Health

This company is behind a streamlined marketplace platform for the specialty pharmacy industry. Free Market has tripled its customers and closed a $20 million Series B raise in November, with hiring to come.

Culture Builder of the Year — Pop District

This 2022-launched arts center’s paid Warhol Academy connects tech trainees with paid professional opportunities. The goal: Help future Andy Warhols stay in Pittsburgh. Within the Pop District, participants have the opportunity to build their portfolios through its social media and documentary fellowships. The org also offers students between the ages of 15 and 18 the chance to learn about art and activism by working with nonprofits.

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.