Pittsburgh is a great place to build a startup, but most of the early-stage entrepreneurs we speak to are not aware of the local resources that are available to help them.

With applications for the Pittsburgh Founder Institute now open, we are excited to release the Pittsburgh Startup Ecosystem Canvas, which has been updated to v4 below! It was developed by the Pittsburgh Founder Institute and local leaders David Cerniglia, Greg Coticchia, Pitt Admin, Randy Eager

This is just a draft, and while we spent many hours on this research, more input is needed. Please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document to help us complete the list.

Are you looking to build a startup in Pittsburgh? Then apply to the Pittsburgh Founder Institute today!

The links are also listed below, for searchability.

Startup Stages

There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.

1. Idea Stage

This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.

A. Inspire

Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters, Startup Digest)

Inspirational Events: Open, inclusive, beginner startup events (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)

B. Educate

Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspire, like 1 Million Cups, Startup Grind, Startup Found 101, etc).
1. Ascender Starter & Builder Series
2. Cafe Innovation
3. EdTech PGH
4. General Assembly Pittsburgh
5. Google Developer Group (GDG) Pittsburgh
6. Keiretsu Forum
7. ngPittsburgh
8. Pittsburgh ProductCamp
9. Pittsburgh Startup Founder 101
10. Pittsburgh Technology Council
11. Pittsburgh Technology Innovation Group
12. Start Smart Legal Seminars and Workshop (IPI/Pitt Law School and Project Olympus)
13. Startup Grind Pittsburgh

Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development. (Ex. bootcamps and comprehensive training programs, like Founder Institute, General Assembly, Lean Startup Machine, code camps, etc)
1. Academy Pittsburgh
2. Alice Bootcamp
3. All Star Code
4. Ascender Bootcamp
5. Big Data (Next Gen Hadoop) Ingest & Transform
6. Concept to Launch
7. Connects
8. Dale Carnegie Training (leadership, communications, presentations, sales skills)
9. Founder Institute
10. Lean Startup Machine Pittsburgh
11. ONLC Training Centers
12. Own Our Own
13. PGH Lab
14. Pittsburgh Agile
15. Pittsburgh Code & Supply
16. Pittsburgh Startup: Idea to IPO
17. Praxis
18. ProductTank Pittsburgh
19. QuestionPro Survey Training
20. Startable Pittsburgh
21. Startup Ideation Bootcamp
22. Startup Pitch Bootcamp: Learn How to Pitch from Top Entrepreneurs
23. Startup Recipes

C. Validate

Team Formation: Resources for teaming up. (i.e. events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)
1. CoFoundersLab
2. Ellevate
3. Entrepreneurs' Organization
4. FounderDating
5. LaunchPGH
6. Network After Work Pittsburgh
7. Pittsburgh Entrepreneurs Forum
8. Startup Job Fair (CMU and Pitt)
9. Tech Happy Hour - Pittsburgh

Build First Product: Hackathons & resources to build. (i.e. hackathons and other builder-focused events and resources)

2. Launch Stage

In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.

A. Start

Establish: Law firms & banks for startups

Workspace: Co-working and flexible workspaces (note: “official” office space goes in 3.1.a. Infrastructure)

B. Develop

Formalize: Accounting, development and HR for early-stage startups.

Prepare for Seed: Incubators and advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources for startup TEAMS)

C. Launch

Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs (Techstars-style programs that provide funding)

Pitch & Demo: Show local startups for investment (i.e. demo days for companies seeking seed investment)

3. Growth Stage

Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.

A. Recognition

Investor Networking: Connect professional investors with founders. (i.e. events or groups that facilitate connections with professional investors)

Major Media: Mainstream local business press. (i.e. major local or regional publications that frequently champion local businesses)

B. Funding

Angels / Micro-VCs: Seed-stage investors

Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond

C. Growth

Infrastructure: Office space, HR, local business insurance. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)

Expansion: Growth accelerators/consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)

D. Success Stories

Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.

Supporters

To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.

1. Evangelists

Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies. (i.e. Local leaders who have taken a leadership position, speak at a lot of startup events, mentor all the programs, etc. )

2. Government/Non-profits

Public organizations that facilitate local economic development

3. Talent

Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.

Local Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)

Local Employers (Major technical employers, like Microsoft or Google or large local companies, with large local offices)
1. Aethon
2. Alcoa
3. ATI Inc
4. Amazon
5. ANSYS
6. Apple
7. Aptiv
8. Argo AI
9. Ariba
10. Astrobotic
11. Aurora Innovation
12. BlackBox
13. Bossa Nova Robotics
14. Carnegie Robotics
15. Cisco
16. Comcast
17. Deeplocal
18. Facebook
19. Ford
20. GE
21. Google
22. IBM
23. Identified Technologies
24. Industrial Scientific
25. Intel
26. Lumos Fiber Internet
27. Microsoft
28. Modcloth
29. Near Earth Autonomy
30. Nokia
31. Oculus
32. Oracle
33. Petuum
34. PPG Industries
35. Re2
36. Redzone Robotics
37. SAP
38. Seegrid
39. Siemens
40. TeleTracking
41. Thermo Fisher Scientific
42. Uber
43. Westinghouse Nuclear

* * *

Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the Pittsburgh Canvas on this collaborative Google document (This is just a DRAFT, and more input is needed!)

Jan 04, 2023 | Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Startup Resource List: 500+ Accelerators, Incubators, Investors, and more

Are you looking to build a startup in Pittsburgh? Then apply to the Pittsburgh Founder Institute today!

Startup Stages

1. Idea Stage

2. Launch Stage

3. Growth Stage

Supporters

1. Evangelists

2. Government/Non-profits

3. Talent

Are you looking to build a startup in Pittsburgh? Then apply to the Pittsburgh Founder Institute today!

Related Insights

South Carolina Startup Resource List: 100+ Accelerators, Incubators, Investors, and more

Georgia Startup Resource List: 240+ Accelerators, Incubators, Investors, and more

Impact and Sustainability Startup Resource List: 550+ Accelerators, Incubators, Investors, and more

Are you ready to apply to the world's largest pre-seed accelerator?

Are you looking to build a startup in Pittsburgh? Then apply to the Pittsburgh Founder Institute today!

Startup Stages

1. Idea Stage

2. Launch Stage

3. Growth Stage

Supporters

1. Evangelists

2. Government/Non-profits

3. Talent

Are you looking to build a startup in Pittsburgh? Then apply to the Pittsburgh Founder Institute today!

Related Insights

South Carolina Startup Resource List: 100+ Accelerators, Incubators, Investors, and more

Georgia Startup Resource List: 240+ Accelerators, Incubators, Investors, and more

Impact and Sustainability Startup Resource List: 550+ Accelerators, Incubators, Investors, and more

Are you ready to apply to the world's largest pre-seed accelerator?

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