The Pittsburgh Startup News for the Week of December 1st
Duolingo’s Japan Playbook: Konbini Pop-Up Targets Holiday Retention Drop - PSN
Gecko Robotics promotes longtime engineer Ed Bryner to CTO - Pittsburgh Business Times
Gray Swan AI‘s prompt injection benchmark featured in the Claude Opus 4.5 launch - Anthropic
The DashStrom program cuts screen time by challenging kids to move - Post-Gazette
Three Mile Island’s Nuclear Revival Pits Those Who Fled Against Job Seekers - WSJ
Energy Justice with Peoples Energy Analytics Founder, Dr. Destenie Nock - Climate with Kiana Podcast
Here are the 49 US AI startups that have raised $100M or more in 2025 (feat. Abridge) - TechCrunch
New Gather AI VP of operations talks about robotics, warehouse intelligence - AutomatedWarehouse
The 2% Flaw Holding Back America’s Next Tech City with Ven Raju of Innovation Works - Thought Liters
How AI is Advancing Business in Downtown Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh Robotics Network
Bryanna Pardoe appointed to lead the state’s tech efforts - State Scoop
RareMed Wins Pittsburgh Business Times Fast 50 Award: A Triumph as #1 in Strategic Growth - RareMed
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What’s Happening This Week
Monday, December 1st
McGinnis Venture Competition - Deadline for Coach Assignments
Virtual | Midnight Deadline
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Tuesday, December 2nd
BioBreakfast
Bakery Square | 8 AM
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Annual Day of Giving Holiday Mixer
CoHatch Southside Works | 4:30 PM - 7:30: PM
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CMU Connects: How to Handle Your (and others’) Intellectual Property
Virtual | 5 PM - 6:15 PM
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Tues, December 2nd - Wednesday, December 3rd
Construction & Robotics Summit
Avenu: Meyran | 6 PM - 8 PM
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Tuesday, December 2nd
Black Startups & Tech Meetup
Avenu: Meyran | 6 PM - 8 PM
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Wednesday, December 3rd
LSPA - Pittsburgh Holiday Luncheon 2025
The Distillery Complex | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
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The Pittsburgh Tomorrow Intersection: Why Pittsburgh?
The Assembly | 5 PM - 8 PM
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Thursday, December 4th
PVCA Joint HOLIDAY PARTY with local ACG, CFA Society, FEI, FIN, NACD & TMA Chapters
The Fairmont | 5 PM - 8 PM
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Thursday, December 4th - Saturday, December 6th
20th Anniversary GPNP Summit: AI, Advocacy and Action
Nova Place
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Friday, December 5th
Technically Coffee
Bakery Square | 8 AM
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Saturday, December 6th
Pitch and Run Pittsburgh
The Strip District Terminal | 9 AM
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This Week’s Startup Job Opportunities:
Hiring? Email us your latest startup job opening to be featured here.
BlasPoint
Customer Success Manager | East Liberty
Apply Here
OpenHands
Forward Deployed Engineer | Remote
Apply Here
Gecko Robotics
Enterprise Applications Solutions Engineer | Northside
Apply Here
Gather.ai
Product Marketing Manager | Northside
Apply Here
Programs Worth Considering:
As our city prepares for its next chapter, Mayor Elect Corey O’Connor wants to hear directly from you - business owners, community leaders, residents and neighbors who care deeply about this place. Share your ideas and insights around ten key topics and help shape the city’s priorities moving forward.