The City of Pittsburgh announced it is ready to welcome the next wave of startups into its PGH Lab pilot program following the opening of its latest application round.
Run by the Department of Innovation and Performance, PGH Lab aims to create partnerships between the city government and local startups by connecting solutions made by startups to various city agencies. Now in its seventh iteration since its 2016 launch, the PGH Lab program lasts six months and serves as a way for startups to receive market feedback for a product while the city's government gets to try new ways of using technology and services to improve efficiencies and other measures.
According to a city press release, PGH Lab 7.0 is looking for startups that can meet at least one of the following four categories:
- Resident Engagement — improve and increase the accessibility of local government to citizens with solutions that enhance communication
- Improve Operations — collect and analyze city and municipal partner data with measurable results that will improve civic technology and results in the community. Pilots in this category will also help Pittsburgh continue to develop as a “smart city” by exploring newer and smarter technologies as well as data to support economic development, quality of life and improved accessibility, especially for people with disabilities
- Climate Change and Environment — further the city's sustainability and resiliency work and adhere toward the Climate Action Plan, such as in food waste management, circular economy or reuse/creating new products out of waste and recycling streams.
- Addressing City Challenges — create a pilot to directly address an internal city process or operation.
The city also said it would hold an open call spot for a pilot project from a startup that does not fall under one of the above categories so long as it can still provide a benefit to the City of Pittsburgh and participating agencies.
Applications for this year's cohort can be submitted here and must be completed before Nov. 1 to be considered for the latest group of participating startups.
