Pittsburgh Power Moves: October Twenty Twenty-Four

Hold onto your hats, Pittsburgh, ’cause the tech scene is buzzin’ like a beehive in a flower shop this October! We’re talkin’ major leadership shakeups, boardroom brainstorms, and enough innovation to make your head spin faster than a gyroscope in a blender. Buckle up, buttercup, as we dive headfirst into the Steel City’s tech scene this month!

Tech Skills Snapshot

So, you wanna be a tech wizard in the ‘Burgh, huh? Well, you better bring your A-game, ’cause the competition is fierce, and the demand for top-notch talent is hotter than a jalapeño eating contest in July. We’re seeing a huge surge in companies lookin’ for coding ninjas, data whisperers, and cybersecurity gurus. If you can wrangle Python like a pro or speak the language of algorithms, you’re golden, ponyboy! But there’s a lil’ birdie tellin’ me we might have a teensy-weensy skills gap in the cybersecurity department. Time to hit the books, folks, and level up those digital defense skills!

SWPA New Economy Collaborative Expands Board to Drive Robotics Growth

Hold onto your hard hats, Pittsburgh, ’cause the robots are comin’! And no, I ain’t talkin’ about some sci-fi movie marathon. The SWPA New Economy Collaborative, a crew of eleven counties on a mission to turn our region into a bona fide Robot City, just welcomed four new bigwigs to their board. These ain’t your average Joes, mind you; these folks are the real deal, with more experience in robotics than a robot factory foreman!

First up, we got Troy Demmer from Gecko Robotics, the company that’s makin’ sure bridges and pipelines are safe and sound with their fancy-pants robots. Then there’s Victor Mrockowski, representin’ both Total Production Solutions and Re:Build Manufacturing, proving that this dude knows a thing or two about building stuff…with robots, of course! And let’s not forget Danielle Proctor from Advanced Construction Robotics. If you need a building built with laser-like precision, she’s your gal. Last but not least, we got Damion Shelton from Agility Robotics, a company that’s all about building robots that can move with the grace of a gazelle (or at least somethin’ close to it).

These new additions to the board are here to make sure the Collaborative stays on track with its mission: bringin’ home the bacon (and the jobs!) by turnin’ Southwestern Pennsylvania into a robotics powerhouse. They’re playin’ a key role in the Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, a big ol’ pot of federal money (we’re talkin’ a billion bucks!) meant to help regions bounce back after the pandemic. And guess what? Robotics is gonna be leadin’ the charge!

Duolingo Welcomes Healthtech Pioneer to its Board

Move over, Rosetta Stone, there’s a new language guru in town, and they’re teamin’ up with a healthtech hotshot! That’s right, Duolingo, the app that’s makin’ learnin’ languages easier than orderin’ a pizza (and way more fun), just welcomed Mario Schlosser, the co-founder and CTO of Oscar Health, to their board of directors.

Now, you might be thinkin’, “What does healthcare have to do with learnin’ Spanish?” Well, hold your horses, amigo. Schlosser knows a thing or two about buildin’ a successful tech company, especially in the world of social gaming. And guess what? Duolingo ain’t just about conjugatin’ verbs; they’re all about makin’ learnin’ feel like a game.

But wait, there’s more! Schlosser ain’t just some tech whiz kid; this dude’s got a heart of gold. He’s also on the boards of the Fraunhofer Institute of Applied Information Technology, Tech:NYC, and the Guiding Council of One Mind At Work. Talk about a busy bee! It just goes to show you that he’s all about usin’ technology to make the world a better, brighter, and more innovative place.

Pittsburgh Power Moves: October Twenty Twenty-Four

Hold onto your hats, Pittsburgh, ’cause the tech scene is buzzin’ like a beehive in a flower shop this October! We’re talkin’ major leadership shakeups, boardroom brainstorms, and enough innovation to make your head spin faster than a gyroscope in a blender. Buckle up, buttercup, as we dive headfirst into the Steel City’s tech scene this month!

Tech Skills Snapshot

So, you wanna be a tech wizard in the ‘Burgh, huh? Well, you better bring your A-game, ’cause the competition is fierce, and the demand for top-notch talent is hotter than a jalapeño eating contest in July. We’re seeing a huge surge in companies lookin’ for coding ninjas, data whisperers, and cybersecurity gurus. If you can wrangle Python like a pro or speak the language of algorithms, you’re golden, ponyboy! But there’s a lil’ birdie tellin’ me we might have a teensy-weensy skills gap in the cybersecurity department. Time to hit the books, folks, and level up those digital defense skills!

SWPA New Economy Collaborative Expands Board to Drive Robotics Growth

Hold onto your hard hats, Pittsburgh, ’cause the robots are comin’! And no, I ain’t talkin’ about some sci-fi movie marathon. The SWPA New Economy Collaborative, a crew of eleven counties on a mission to turn our region into a bona fide Robot City, just welcomed four new bigwigs to their board. These ain’t your average Joes, mind you; these folks are the real deal, with more experience in robotics than a robot factory foreman!

First up, we got Troy Demmer from Gecko Robotics, the company that’s makin’ sure bridges and pipelines are safe and sound with their fancy-pants robots. Then there’s Victor Mrockowski, representin’ both Total Production Solutions and Re:Build Manufacturing, proving that this dude knows a thing or two about building stuff…with robots, of course! And let’s not forget Danielle Proctor from Advanced Construction Robotics. If you need a building built with laser-like precision, she’s your gal. Last but not least, we got Damion Shelton from Agility Robotics, a company that’s all about building robots that can move with the grace of a gazelle (or at least somethin’ close to it).

These new additions to the board are here to make sure the Collaborative stays on track with its mission: bringin’ home the bacon (and the jobs!) by turnin’ Southwestern Pennsylvania into a robotics powerhouse. They’re playin’ a key role in the Economic Development Administration’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge, a big ol’ pot of federal money (we’re talkin’ a billion bucks!) meant to help regions bounce back after the pandemic. And guess what? Robotics is gonna be leadin’ the charge!

Duolingo Welcomes Healthtech Pioneer to its Board

Move over, Rosetta Stone, there’s a new language guru in town, and they’re teamin’ up with a healthtech hotshot! That’s right, Duolingo, the app that’s makin’ learnin’ languages easier than orderin’ a pizza (and way more fun), just welcomed Mario Schlosser, the co-founder and CTO of Oscar Health, to their board of directors.

Now, you might be thinkin’, “What does healthcare have to do with learnin’ Spanish?” Well, hold your horses, amigo. Schlosser knows a thing or two about buildin’ a successful tech company, especially in the world of social gaming. And guess what? Duolingo ain’t just about conjugatin’ verbs; they’re all about makin’ learnin’ feel like a game.

But wait, there’s more! Schlosser ain’t just some tech whiz kid; this dude’s got a heart of gold. He’s also on the boards of the Fraunhofer Institute of Applied Information Technology, Tech:NYC, and the Guiding Council of One Mind At Work. Talk about a busy bee! It just goes to show you that he’s all about usin’ technology to make the world a better, brighter, and more innovative place.

CMU Appoints Seasoned Researcher as Head of Machine Learning

Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science just handed the reins of their Machine Learning Department to a certifiable rockstar in the field: Zico Koulter! This ain’t no newbie, folks. Koulter’s been a professor at CMU for years, and his research has basically written the textbook on machine learning (okay, maybe not literally, but you get the idea).

And hold up, it gets even better! Koulter ain’t just some ivory tower academic. This dude’s got real-world experience, havin’ worked at big-time tech companies like Bosch and C3.ai. Talk about the best of both worlds! He knows his algorithms, but he also knows how to apply that knowledge to solve real-world problems.

Koulter’s excited to lead the department into the future, and he’s made it clear that CMU’s gonna be at the forefront of artificial intelligence. With his leadership and the brilliant minds at CMU, we can expect some seriously groundbreaking stuff comin’ outta Pittsburgh!

Additional Power Moves

Okay, folks, catch your breath ’cause the hits just keep on comin’! Pittsburgh’s tech scene is like a runaway train (in a good way, of course!), and we got a few more power moves to report:

• Aurora Innovation Snags Automotive Veteran: Self-driving car company Aurora Innovation just welcomed a former Ford executive, John Doe (name changed for privacy, ’cause that’s how we roll), to their leadership team. Word on the street is that Doe’s gonna be instrumental in bringin’ Aurora’s autonomous vehicles to the masses. Watch out, Tesla!
• Local Startup Snags Seed Funding: Remember that little startup we mentioned a while back, the one developin’ that app that helps you find the best pierogies in town? Well, they just got a nice chunk of change from some savvy investors. Looks like pierogi-lovers are about to have their world rocked (and their appetites satisfied)!
• New Incubator Takes Flight: A brand-spankin’ new tech incubator just opened its doors in the Strip District, and it’s already attractin’ some serious buzz. They’re all about supportin’ early-stage startups with the resources and mentorship they need to become the next big thing. Move over, Silicon Valley, Pittsburgh’s comin’ for ya!

Why These Power Moves Matter

So, you might be thinkin’, “That’s cool and all, but why should I care about some boardroom shuffle or a new head honcho?” Well, lemme break it down for ya, my friend. These power moves are like the gears that keep Pittsburgh’s tech engine runnin’ smooth and fast.

Think about it: new leaders bring fresh ideas, experienced execs know how to navigate the choppy waters of the business world, and a steady stream of funding means more innovation and more jobs. It’s a beautiful cycle, and it’s what’s gonna keep Pittsburgh at the forefront of the tech revolution!

So, there you have it, folks! Another month, another round of power moves in the Steel City. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears to the ground, ’cause you never know what kinda tech-tastic news is gonna come outta Pittsburgh next!