The City of Pittsburgh is once again partnering with local startup companies to offer these budding businesses opportunities to test out their respective products and services in exchange for feedback and networking opportunities with the local government.
With the launch of PGH Lab 8.0, a cohort of seven startups will look to find innovative ways to make the city's government become more efficient, transparent, sustainable and inclusive. The latest cohort is also larger than that of its PGH Lab 7.0 predecessor cohort, which included four startups.
These are the startups featured in the latest cohort:
- Airviz Inc. — making a device that helps in the detection, understanding and enhancement of air quality in Pittsburgh
- Element Exo Inc. — creators of a patented lower back lift assist exoskeleton that aids users with tasks that require bending and lifting
- Ecotone Renewable — designing a system to rehabilitate Pittsburgh soil and reduce food waste through the incorporation of nutrients from repurposed food waste
- Green Bean — building a platform that provides employers with tools to offer stipends, discounts and policy support for employees who make energy-related purchases like solar panels, efficient HVAC systems, heat pumps and electric vehicles
- Pittsburgh Drone Services — offers a drone training service for communities of color while also educating the public on the use of drone technology
- Poly Platform — designing an integrated, user-friendly platform to make government more accessible to all levels of the socioeconomic divide
- Roto Software — crowdsourcing platform that enables users to post when free or extra food is available for pickup by the public.
Since its launch in 2016, the six-month program has received 148 applications and saw 44 startups complete their pilot projects. Officials said 17 applicants applied for the latest cohort.
"PGH Lab offers our city an unparalleled opportunity to encourage collective problem solving through civic collaboration, while creating a more open and transparent government," Mayor Ed Gainey said in a press release that announced the latest cohort.
Added Heidi Norman, the director of Innovation & Performance which oversees the management of PGH Lab: "Pittsburgh’s strategy for delivering better results is grounded in nurturing talent and innovation. We look forward to working with this year’s cohort to help make our government more efficient, open and responsive."
