Technology in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh forges a new future, remaking an iconic steel town into a modern innovation factory.

Pittsburgh has undergone a dramatic environmental transformation and technological makeover. Pittsburgh ranks among the top cities in the United States for green certified building space and is consistently ranked among the top 10 tech cities in the country.

Once a center for the production of steel, iron and glass, Pittsburgh is now an advancing leader in aerospace, AI, medicine, education, health care, robotics, software engineering and other tech-forward industries.

Pittsburgh Is Reinventing itself as an Innovation Hub
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Ascender

Ascender is a hub for Pittsburgh’s starters and builders, providing programming, insight and connectivity.

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Innovation Works

Innovation Works is the largest seed stage investor in the Southwestern Pennsylvania region, and one of the most active in the country.

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Pittsburgh's Tech Transformation

To help understand the tech-forward future of Pittsburgh, consider the sleek transformation of the East Liberty neighborhood, where the repurposing of the Nabisco factory into Google's regional headquarters symbolizes Pittsburgh's tech-driven resurgence.

Pittsburgh is a city that embraces its history while eagerly embracing the future. Google's presence in East Liberty has significantly contributed to the area's economic growth and technological advancement. With various startups and tech companies establishing a presence in the vicinity, East Liberty has become a hub for innovation, attracting a diverse pool of talent to the area.

Similarly, language-learning platform Duolingo, headquartered in Pittsburgh, adds another layer to the city's dynamic landscape. Founded in 2011, Duolingo has grown to become the most popular language-learning app globally, boasting millions of users worldwide. Its commitment to making education accessible has resonated with Pittsburgh's ethos of innovation and progress. Duolingo's success highlights the city's influence in the realm of technology and education, further solidifying its reputation as a multifaceted metropolis that seamlessly integrates its storied past with cutting-edge developments.

Pittsburgh Tech Tourism: How to Enjoy Pittsburgh’s Tech Scene

Pittsburgh has grown into a premiere technology hub, incorporating innovative and high-tech experiences for visitors.

To start, visit Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center's Fab Lab, a digital fabrication laboratory for innovation and invention, for a unique and educational spin on technology.

Explore the science and history of a real Cold War-era Submarine. Go behind the scenes of the USS Requin SS 481 Submarine and take a tech tour into areas rarely seen by the visiting public. See how these amazing vessels and their crew faced life underwater. Explore unrestored compartments, see the conning tower, and check out the periscope.

Older children will love the Children's Museum museumlab™, a place where youth eight and older can work with makers to create everything from furniture to apps, experiment with cutting edge technology in the creation of art, climb three stories on a unique sculpture, collaborate on one-of-a-kind art installations and more!

Explore Pittsburgh's history of innovation at the Duquesne Incline, the oldest running funicular in the United States. Visitors are able to see the machine room and observe the original hoisting equipment from 1877 that is still in operation today. If that's not enough, the top of the Incline presents you with Pittsburgh's most iconic, must-see view of the city!

Moonshot Museum

Joining the Modern Space Race

Our century-old funiculars are reminiscent of the bygone era, standing in stark contrast to the city's more futuristic endeavors. While the funiculars transport visitors to a time when steel was king, Pittsburgh's role in the space race is a testament to its ceaseless evolution.

Today, the city that once made steel beams now crafts lunar landers, embodying the transition from industrial powerhouse to cutting-edge innovation hub. At the forefront of this transformation are notable companies in the space industry that have set up their operations in Pittsburgh. One such company is Astrobotic, a pioneer in commercial lunar exploration, headquartered in the city.

Astrobotic is known for developing lunar payload delivery services and is actively engaged in various lunar missions. Additionally, Space Robotics, a company specializing in advanced robotic systems for space applications, has established a significant presence in Pittsburgh. These companies, along with others in the region, underscore Pittsburgh's transformation into a space technology hub, where the city's industrial past seamlessly integrates with its forward-looking approach to exploring new frontiers in space.

Education's Role in Pittsburgh's Technology Scene

Carnegie Mellon University: Home to the first emoticon in 1982, CMU is recognized as one of the first computer science programs in the world and continues to rank as one of the top. The university is known to collaborate with companies such as Apple, Intel, Caterpillar and Disney, helping to expand technology ties in Pittsburgh. Carnegie Mellon University has page after page of robots they've created, too.

University of Pittsburgh: Established in 2013, the University of Pittsburgh launched the Innovation Institute, a hub innovation and entrepreneurship. The Innovation Institute provides various services for Pitt Innovators including protecting intellectual property, commercializing new discoveries, educational programming and mentoring, and more.

Pittsburgh Tech Headquarters

4moms: Company that creates high-tech strollers and other baby accessories embedded with robotics and additional patented technology features.

Alphalab: Software accelerator that helps early-stage tech companies quickly figure out the best way to build and grow in an immersive funding program.

Anglr Labs: Specializes in tech savvy fishing products; mobile app and online platform that allows users to track and log their fishing trips; developed the AngLR Tracker.

Astrobotic: From Pittsburgh to the Moon! Astrobotic opened the doors to its new lunar logistics headquarters in Pittsburgh. The 47,000 square foot complex is the largest private facility in the world dedicated to lunar logistics.

Diamond Kinetics: A sports tech company that created the Swingtracker and Batfitter, two devices designed to enhance the performance of baseball players with extensive performance data.

Duolingo: Online language learning platform; was Apple’s best free iPhone app in 2013.

GeekWire HQ2: A national technology news site that provides breaking news, expert analysis and unique insights into the technology industry.

Jazz: Applicant tracking system; the first company to put powerful, easy-to-use recruiting software in the hands of startups, growing companies and presidential campaigns.

Niche: Online site that helps discover colleges, K-12 schools, neighborhoods, cities and suburbs.

Notable Corporate Offices In Pittsburgh

  • Alcoa
  • Allegheny Energy
  • Allegheny Health Network
  • Amazon
  • American Eagle Outfitters
  • Apple
  • Astrobotic
  • Atlas Energy
  • Bayer Corporation
  • Consol Energy
  • Deeplocal
  • Dollar Bank
  • DuoLingo
  • Education Management Corporation
  • EQT
  • Facebook Reality Labs
  • Google - Corporate Campus
  • GNC
  • Heinz
  • Highmark
  • Howmet Aerospace
  • Latitude AI
  • Lovelace AI
  • Mellon Financial
  • Pearl Street Technologies
  • PG Industries
  • PNC Financial Services
  • PwC
  • Schell Games
  • Techstra Solutions
  • Uber: Advanced Technologies Center; Advanced Technologies Group; Greenlight Hub; Self-driving Car Test Track
  • U.S. Steel

Pittsburgh Tech "Firsts"

  • First newspaper west of the Alleghenies (1789) - The Pittsburgh Gazette
  • First Ferris Wheel (1893)
  • First Motion Picture Theater in U.S. (1905) – Nickelodeon
  • World's First Commercial Radio Station (1920) - KDKA
  • First All-Aluminum Building (1953) - Regional Enterprise Tower (formerly the Alcoa Building)
  • First Polio Vaccine (1954) - Dr. Jonas Salk at the University of Pittsburgh
  • First U.S. Public Television Station (1954) - WQED
  • First Retractable Dome (1961) - Mellon Arena
  • First Mass Transit Busway System (1964) - Allegheny County Port Authority
  • First Robotics Center (1979) - Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute
  • First Internet Emoticon, the smiley :-) (1982) - Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist Scott Fahlman
  • First Gold and Platinum LEED®-Certified Convention Center (2004, 2012) – David L. Lawrence Convention Center
  • First Gold LEED®-Certified NHL Arena (2012) – PPG Paints Arena

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