The mayor said seven startups will join the latest cohort of the PGH Lab program.
"Piloting new ideas within city government is a win, win, win," said Alaa Mohamed, the city's senior civic engagement specialist. "It's a win for residents, for innovators and for city government."
The PGH Lab, now launching its eighth cohort, is a six-month program that provides participating businesses with the opportunity to pilot products and services with city government. The initiative allows startups to gain feedback, network with other experts and learn how to work with government.
"It's a great opportunity for them to understand how government works," Gainey said. "Government can be a complex structure. Having the opportunity to open doors — that's valuable."
The goal is to allow city leaders to learn from innovators in the city and incorporate their ideas into city government, Mohamed said. The city will continue to work with them after the program is completed.
The program was launched in 2016 and has seen about 145 applicants since then, with 44 companies completing pilot projects, the mayor said. Four companies later moved to paid engagements as a result of the program.
This year, the city selected seven startups from a pool of 17 applicants.
Green Bean — a platform that provides employers tools to offer stipends, discounts and policy support for employees who make energy-related purchases — will partner with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services.
The Department of City Planning's Sustainability & Resilience Division will team up with Roto Software, a platform where users can post when free or extra food is available for others to pick up.
Element Exo Inc. will partner with the Department of Public Works. The company offers a patented lower back lift-assist exoskeleton that makes lifting easier and safer and reduces the risk of lower back injuries, said CEO Tim Pote.
"There's a great benefit to being able to help those men and women that are doing those difficult jobs that often we take for granted," he said.
Poly Platform — a platform designed to make government more accessible to all residents through an integrated, user-friendly platform — will partner with the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services.
Ecotone Renewable will partner with the Department of City Planning's Sustainability & Resilience Division to use its system that aims to repurpose food waste for fertilizer.
"We want to make sure we're working with the public to address this food waste issue," said Kyle Wyche, the startup's chief operating officer.
The Department of Permits, Licenses & Inspections and the Department of Mobility & Infrastructure are teaming up with Pittsburgh Drone Services to provide drone training for communities of color and to educate the public on drone technology.
Airviz Inc., which produces a device that works to detect, understand and improve air quality, will partner with the Office of Sustainability and Department of Public Works.
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