Last-Minute Gifts from Local Pittsburgh Businesses

Christmas is only a few days away, and you've procrastinated buying your holiday gifts. Well, luckily, there are some local goods that you can purchase for everyone on your list. Plus, not only are you supporting local businesses by holiday shopping this way, but you are also likely to find some of the most unique and creative gifts at the places below:

Priory Bakery on the North Side
You can pick up some of their gourmet desserts and treats as the perfect gift for the foodie on your list.

Here are some more ideas from Pittsburgh Buy Local:

WILDCARD - Located in the heart of Lawrenceville, is a city favorite called Wildcard. Wildcard is so much more than cards though. They also carry stationery, bags, wallets, buttons, jewelry, t-shirts, craft supplies, original art, vintage, gallery space and more!

Wildcard4209 Butler St, Pittsburgh, PA 15201
(412) 224-2651

KARDS UNLIMITED – Their supply of cards IS (nearly) unlimited, but that’s not all Kards Unlimited has to offer! A great selection of toys, books, games, wrapping paper, gift bags, calendars, jewelry and so much more means that KU is your holiday one-stop shop extravanganza! Many regulars know the friendly staff by name and every customer receives the same cheerful consideration. If they can’t help you choose between the Author’s Preferred Text of American Gods and a Disappearing TARDIS mug, you can always get a gift certificate in any amount!

Kards Unlimited5522 Walnut St, Pittsburgh, PA
15232 (412) 622-0500

PITTSBURGH PUBLIC MARKET - Come & get it – the goodness of locally grown produce, fresh-baked goods, handmade crafts – everything’s at The Pittsburgh Public Market’s new location in The Strip. If you want fresh food and local products at reasonable prices sold in a friendly atmosphere, then you will appreciate the charm of this local market while buying directly from the person who grew the food or created the product.

Pittsburgh Public Market2401 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(412) 281-4505

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3 Tips to Cultivate More Startups in Your City

The startup community has really boomed in Pittsburgh these last few years. With the surge of tech startups, accelerators and talented graduates from surrounding universities, Pittsburgh has been a great place to start a business. Some of the surrounding cities in the Rust Belt could become more entrepreneur-friendly too with a few tips. Nick Sinatra highlights a few of these in a recent Entrepreneur article saying,

1. Cities need to support innovation. How? 

"In order to attract entrepreneurs and businesses, it’s critical to cultivate an environment that welcomes innovation. The best formula for this is a private sector-led initiative that is supplemented with government support."

     2.   Your location matters. Why?

"To some, the typical images we associate with Rust Belt cities may look somber at first glance, but vacant industrial buildings with great bones and interesting architectural histories offer an extraordinary opportunity for restoration and rebuilding. Creating new and unique spaces that reflect the emerging community gives these cities more leverage to retain a skilled workforce, which entices employees to stick around."

"City officials can look to partner with local, entrepreneurial real estate companies to work on more outside-the-box projects."

     3.   Find your niche. What industry makes your city special?

For instance, Pittsburgh was known as the steel city. Now, it is getting noticed for its technology startups and innovations. Sinatra says,

"Clean energy, health care and consumer Internet services are just three sectors that cities can explore, but remember that pivoting is not a simple process. Elected officials must capitalize on their city’s unique existing strengths and make conscious legislative decisions to attract the industry that they're looking to build. Universities should reinforce this emphasis on a particular sector by offering relevant degrees and coursework. Publicity is also key, so that outsiders are aware of progress being made."

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Changes to Expect in Pittsburgh for 2015

Photo by daveynin

There are some exciting things planned for Pittsburgh as we approach the new year. From investors boosting more funds for area startups to improvements on waterfront trails like the Three Rivers Trail beside our offices, 2015 is looking like a prime time to be in the "Steel City". Keystone Edge compiled a list of some of the development and other projects that are planned for 2015. Here are some of the highlights: 

1. Riverfront Ventures
Investment is booming here thanks to a new Pittsburgh-based fund launched by Innovation Works. This fall, Riverfront Ventures announced it will invest $24 million in local early-stage companies. It’s common knowledge by now that Pittsburgh is home to a burgeoning tech scene supported by first-class universities, grassroots organizations and influential start-up accelerators. Recently, entrepreneurs have been moving back to Pittsburgh because, in addition to those resources, the city now has a growing pool of eager investors. To wit: In Pittsburgh, in the first nine months of 2014, the $250 million in venture capital dollars flowing to growing technology companies outstripped the annual totals for each of the past five years.

2. Waterfront Development
Point State Park and its environs across the Allegheny and Ohio rivers are now beautiful and bikable, thanks to a recent facelift. The Three Rivers Water Trail, a network of non-motorized craft access points in the Pittsburgh region, is a blessing for the ‘Burgh. And the Three Rivers Heritage Trail now extends over 24 miles along both sides of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers, making it an almost complete route for cyclists, walkers, runners and, in some cases, rollerbladers.

For 2015, let’s take that bike beauty and stretch it east. Over 30 more miles of trails are planned, including continuation along the Allegheny River as part of theErie to Pittsburgh Trail Alliance. Strong bike trail connectivity would be a boon to Pittsburgh’s reputation as a place for healthy living and easy commuting.

3. Pittsburgh Bike Share
While we’re on the subject of outdoor recreation, let’s look ahead to the Pittsburgh Bike Share, set to launch in 2015 on Earth Day. Pittsburgh Bike Share plans to open with 500 bikes across 50 stations, with the goal of expanding to 1,500 bikes across 500 locations.

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Study: Young Entrepreneurs Have More Support in Pittsburgh

A new study by NerdWallet found that it is easier for young entrepreneurs to pursue and fund their business ventures in Pittsburgh than in many other US cities. In the list, Pittsburgh was listed as the 13th best region for entrepreneurs that are aged 25-34. There are a number of things that can contribute to the high ranking like access to business loans, the tech boom in the city and the numerous startup accelerators like RCI that support entrepreneurs.  The study found that:

"Broadening the gap between the cost of living and how much people earn I think in the long run will become the most important issue for everyone in the region, particularly young entrepreneurs,” he said. 

Networking, which was tied to the percentage of the population 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree, and access to mentors, which was tied to the number of businesses per 100 people in a city, were also deemed critical to small business success.

“I’m coming from the Colorado [area], which has a very robust startup scene, and they’ve got nothing on Pittsburgh,” said John Mason, director of entrepreneurial studies at Duquesne University’s Palumbo Donahue School of Business.

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You Can Support Young Entrepreneurs-Here's How

The organization, Entrepreneuring Youth, fosters and supports entrepreneurship in young people by teaching them business skills that they can apply in real life. The program also connects middle and high school aged future entrepreneurs to business owners, so that they can gather insight into what it takes to run a business from the people who have actually done it.

If you are an entrepreneur, you could be a perfect mentor for a young person with the same drive. Entrepreneuring Youth is holding their 4th Annual Retail Expo at One Oxford Centre on December 13. From 11am to 2pm you can meet 30 teen entrepreneurs, take a look at the homemade products they will be selling and offer business tips and advice.

For more information, visit www.eyouthamerica.org.

Pittsburgh is Revamping Its Innovation Plan

If you didn't know about Pittsburgh's Innovation and Performance Department before, then you should get to know it now. The department was created in February and has the goal to further innovation. Its impact could change how the city operates, and technology is being viewed as one of the primary drivers behind the innovation movement.

The group's biggest project they have underway is what has been dubbed Pittsburgh's "Innovation Roadmap," which will provide a basis to guide major innovation activities over the next three years. 

Speaking Wednesday evening at anMIT Enterprise Forum hosted at Carnegie Mellon University, Lam unveiled the early work on the plan. 

What's important, she said, is that the plan go beyond the latest trends and fads to provide a proactive blueprint to drive strategies. 

Ideas for the project were generated this summer through a series of five roundtables that brought together about 120 stakeholders to discuss the strengths and weaknesses in Pittsburgh's innovation community. 

Topics included: the maker moment, clean technology, co-working and accelerators, startups and entrepreneurs and venture capital and angel investors.

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Urban Innovation Districts Are The Next Big Thing

Oftentimes, when people think of areas of innovation, places like Silicon Valley come to mind. However, some are saying that a new model for innovation is on the rise: urban innovation districts. One article in the Harvard Business Review defines urban innovation districts as, "geographic areas where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with start-ups, business incubators, and accelerators. Compact, transit-accessible, and technically-wired, innovation districts foster open collaboration, grow talent, and offer mixed-used housing, office, and retail.”

Pittsburgh has been named as one of the leading U.S. urban innovation districts. Some other insights from the article highlighted this.

Globally, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, London, Medellin, Montreal, Seoul, Stockholm, and Toronto all contain emerging innovation districts. In the United States, the most iconic districts can be found in the downtowns and midtowns of Atlanta, Cambridge, Detroit, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis. In each, advanced research universities, medical complexes, and clusters of tech and creative firms are sparking business expansion as well as residential and commercial growth.

What does the rise of urban innovation districts mean?

Much of this activity reflects a fundamental rethinking by corporate management about how and where innovation happens. In turn, it is making the case that discrete urban geographies can be instrumental in strengthening the competitive advantages of specific firms and clusters.

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Why Veterans Can Make Excellent Entrepreneurs

Photo by Elias Friedman

Veterans Day isn't until next week, but this week is National Veterans Small Business Week, orchestrated by the Small Business Administration (SBA). All week long, veteran business owners and those interested in starting their own companies were invited to participate in local business workshops and events. During an event this week, one speaker highlighted the key skills that can make veterans excellent entrepreneurs.

Victor Maga's eyes darted around a roomful of veterans, who were listening intently about how he built his business. They were hoping to do the same.

Maga's construction company sets a foundation out of concrete, but he said his firm is built upon a sturdy set of principles – the same ones that sustain the military.

“As veterans,” he said, “we possess some qualities that are irreplaceable for anyone looking for a contractor: planning, execution, leadership, discipline and tenacity.

Maga, a former Army paratrooper, was the featured speaker during a business workshop for veterans Tuesday inside California University of Pennsylvania's Center for Innovation at Southpointe.

The program was aimed at assisting small business owners and those planning to launch a similar enterprise. It was organized by the Pittsburgh office of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center and Cal U.

SBA, which has at least one office in every state, provides counseling for startups, loans and loan programs, information on applying for grants and programs such as the one last week.

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Pittsburgh Halloween Weekend Events

In the months leading up to Halloween, Pittsburgh has tons of haunted houses, hayrides and other spooky attractions to celebrate. Now that the scariest day of the year is just a day away, there are even more things to do in the city. If you haven't made any Halloween plans yet, here are a few ideas:

1. Bacchanalia
Don your craziest costume and join us for a night of revelry and mischief. Feast on goodies from some of Pittsburgh’s premier restaurants and bars while you enjoy outrageous live entertainment and all night dancing. The best part? All this indulgence is for a good cause: a portion of the proceeds benefit the Delta Foundation. You don’t want to miss out on this unforgettable night. Purchase your tickets here. 

2. Trick-or-Treating
Nothing beats good old fashioned trick-or-treating! Pittsburgh and its surrounding neighborhoods offer many chances for little ones to show off their best costumes and earn some candy. You can never go wrong with a classic, and the weather promises to be chilly so dress warmly! Click here for a full list of trick-or-treating times by location. 

3. Night of the Singing Dead #22
Every year the best late performers return to the Rex Theater for one night only during the Night of the Singing Dead. This musical comedy features some of Pittsburgh’s most popular musicians and media personalities as they bring the dead back to life with humor, music and irreverent fun. Now in its twenty-second season, the show is completely rewritten each year to include the most up-to-date celebrity passings. To purchase tickets or find out more check out their website.

4. Horrorpocalypse
This Variety Hour theater show celebrating the American Horror Film is making its world premiere at Brillobox on Halloween eve. The performance includes dance, comedy, flow art, singing, burlesque and other special spooky surprises and is sure to shock. DJs will provide pre- and after-show music and costumes are encouraged, so come ready for an unforgettable night. To learn more about this Vaudeville Slasher Revue, check out the event’s website. 

5. 21+ Nights: Spirits and Sprites
Join the Carnegie Science Center for a night of spirits, spooks and science. The Science Center is collaborating with Wigle Whiskey, Maggie’s Farm Rum and Independent Brewing Company to bring you mixology lessons, science and alcohol-related ghost stories. Learn the science behind some of your favorite Halloween frights while you sip brews and take in a laser show. Tickets can be purchased here.

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The Steel City is Now Recognized as a "Tech Hub"

Years ago, Pittsburgh was mostly known for being the city of steel and bridges. Now, however, it is getting a new title as one of the major high tech hubs in the U.S. In a recent Business Facilities article, Pittsburgh is noted for its booming startups, particularly ones that have blended manufacturing and technology into their business. Below is an excerpt from the article:

Pennsylvania is leading a new wave of technological transformation. Innovation and technology are driving growth across key industries including advanced manufacturing, energy, ICT, financial and business services, and healthcare and life sciences. 

In 2013, the Pittsburgh region captured 302 economic development deals—a 12 percent increase over the previous year. Advanced manufacturing was the most active sector with 65 wins in 2013. 

“High-tech/advanced manufacturing is one of our sweet spots and a differentiating strength for the region,” said Patty Horvatich, VP of Business Investment for the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance (PRA), an affiliate of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and the 10-county Pittsburgh region’s economic development marketing organization.

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Pittsburgh 2014 Startup Investments Surpass Previous Year

Pittsburgh startups are getting noticed. Some of the year's investment events like the 3 Rivers Venture Fair and Steve Case's Rise of the Rest Tour have highlights Pittsburgh's talented entrepreneurs and growing startup community. And now, data collected from Thomas Reuters is showing that 2014 investments in local startups has already surpassed last year's third quarter totals.

A combined $104.3 million was pumped into 26 Pittsburgh-area tech and life sciences companies during the third quarter by investors including venture capital and private equity firms, economic development groups, corporations and high-net-worth individuals. That's according to the MoneyTree Report, released Friday by PriceWaterhouseCoopers LLP and the National Venture Capital Association, based on Thomson Reuters data. 

The dollars were almost double the $54.3 million invested locally during the third quarter of 2013. For the nine-month period, $242.8 million has been raised by 56 young Pittsburgh companies, passing the $130.5 million raised during the entire 12 months of 2013 and passing all full-year totals going back to 2002. In 2001, local companies raised $360.3 million.

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Three Rivers Venture Fair Kick Off

The annual 3 Rivers Venture Fair is kicking off today! The event is taking place until tomorrow and is featuring some of the area's up-and-coming startups. Each year investors from all over come to see the chosen companies pitch their ideas, and featured companies have gone on to raise over $500 million. Many startups from around the Pittsburgh region are showcasing their innovations and pitching to investors, one of RCI's own resident businesses', Diamond Kinetics, Inc. is among this year's presenting companies.

Some 42 tech and life sciences firms, 25 of which hail from the Pittsburgh region, are scheduled to make pitches with the goal of garnering capital commitments at Heinz Field during the Oct. 7-8 event. 

“One in four people will be an investor,” said Kelly Szejko, president of the Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association, which has presented 3RVF every 18 months since 2002. She said about 600 are attending, of which 150 are either venture capitalists or private equity or angel investors from across the country. 

The strong response is due to the large number of presenting companies, which in turn is possible because of how the event is being staged this year, Szejko believes.

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Things to do in Pittsburgh: Free RADical Days

Photo by Anne Oeldorf-Hirsch

If you are on a tight budget or if you are just looking for some fun things to do in Pittsburgh this weekend, you should take advantage of the free RADical days! The Allegheny Regional Asset District (RAD) sponsors RADical days to thank the community for supporting all the locally funded parks, libraries, museums and other recreation organizations and facilities in the region. Until November 9th there will be a line up of exciting events and things to do for free, but for now, here is a look at what you can check out this weekend: 

FRIDAY 

Pittsburgh Glass Center: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Featuring heat-defying acts of art, including glassblowing, flameworking and s’more-making demonstrations. See the Pittsburgh Biennial at PGC featuring the work of 12 local artists: Bob Beckman, Jeremy Boyle, Melissa Fitzgerald, Jason Forck, Toby Fraley, Vanessa German, Ashley McFarland, Juliet Pusateri, Travis Rohrbaugh, Will Schlough, Kara Skylling and Margaret Spacapan. (5472 Penn Ave., Garfield)
Pittsburgh Center for the Arts: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Gallery tours and family friendly art activities in the PCA Galleries. (PCA Galleries, 6300 Fifth Ave., Shadyside) 

Pittsburgh Filmmakers: Ann Arbor Film Festival Touring Show — 7:30 p.m. (Program A); 9:15 p.m. (Program B). The Ann Arbor Film Festival offers programs of recent independent and experimental short films across all genres: experimental, documentary, animation, narrative and hybrids. (477 Melwood Ave., Oakland) 

SATURDAY 

National Aviary: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Discover more than 150 bird species from around the world under one roof. (700 Arch St., North Side) 

Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania — Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve birding walk or seed collection: 10 a.m. Join Audubon for a naturalist-led walk on the trails. Also: collect native plant and wildflower seeds. Reservation required for both activities. aswp.org or 412-963-6100. (614 Dorseyville Road, Fox Chapel) 

Boyce Mayview Park — The Outdoor Classroom: 2-8 p.m. Guided nature hikes, geocaching, crafts and campfire treats (campfire 5-8 p.m. only). (1531 Mayview Road, Upper St. Clair) 

Allegheny Land Trust — Wingfield Pines Conservation Area: 2-8 p.m. A variety of activities for all ages, from guided nature walks about water and wildlife to self-led fun such as bird watching and crafts. (1550 Mayview Road, Upper St. Clair) 

Pittsburgh Filmmakers: Ann Arbor Film Festival Touring Show — 7:30 p.m. (Program B); 9:15 p.m. (Program A). (477 Melwood Ave., Oakland)

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Now Leasing Office Space

Office space is a hard thing to come by in Pittsburgh these days. In fact, we have one of the lowest office vacancy rates in the U.S. right now according to a recent study by Avison Young. With the tech and other industries making more and more headway in the 'steel city', demand for office space has risen. However, that doesn't mean that it is impossible to find an office for your business within the city.

We are now leasing office space at our RCI location on the Northshore. If you aren't familiar with us yet, here is a brief overview of Riverside Center for Innovation (RCI) and how we act as a business incubator in the region.

"RCI works to create a healthy environment for the region’s entrepreneurs and small businesses to prosper by providing incubation support, training, innovation strategies, and brownfield development."

Some of our graduate tenants include companies like: WebKite, BusinessWise, LLC, YourTalentsAgents, McGuire Anderson and HeadRightGames.

If you'd like more information about leasing space at RCI, then feel free to visit our website or give us a call at 412-322-3523.

Pittsburgh Listed in the U.S. Top 25 Metro GDPs

Pittsburgh has been named the 23rd U.S. metro area with the highest gross domestic product (GDP), according to the latest report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The report lists Pittsburgh's GDP at $131.265 billion in 2013, a 3.3% increase from 2012. Since 2001, the city's economy has been growing pretty steadily overall. The rising rank could signal a growing business climate in the region. The Pittsburgh Business Times', Paul J. Gough, weighed in on the report saying:

The gross domestic product, also known as the gross national product, is the dollar amount of all goods and services within a national border. The Pittsburgh region's share of the GDP has been growing steadily from $88.75 billion in 2001 until the most recent figures. It only declined one year, in 2009, due to the impact of the recession.

But the region lags when it comes to change since 2010, according to a Buffalo Business First analysis of the federal data. It's 12.6 percent growth since 2010 puts it only at No. 124 in terms of three-year change.

Pittsburgh's GDP is higher than any other metro region in Pennsylvania except Philadelphia (No. 8, $383.4 billion). It's ahead of neighboring big cities including Columbus, Ohio (No. 30, $114.25 billion), Cleveland (No. 26, $122.88 billion) and Buffalo, N.Y. ($51.63 billion, No. 56).

The largest part of Pittsburgh's GDP is in the financial category, which contributed $24.735 billion in 2013, up slightly from 2012. That includes finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing activity. Professional and business services were the second highest at $21.189 billion.

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Is Pittsburgh the Future of Tech?

Pittsburgh used to be known as the city of steel, but in recent years, it has been more commonly associated with something else-technology. Technology startups and the entrepreneurs that fuel them are being mentioned more frequently in media and the business world. In a recent Forbes article, the Young Entrepreneur Council pointed to Pittsburgh's renaissance as a source of learning for entrepreneurs. From Steve Case's Rise of the Rest Tour to Peduto's tech roundtables, Pittsburgh is getting some major attention from both the tech industry and the entrepreneur community. Just this week, tech leaders gathered in Pittsburgh at the Thrival Festival and discussed, "what's next for tech?" Here's what they had to say:

Hardware and software coming together. Women. CEO-level talent. More venture capital.

These are some of the things that will make Pittsburgh's tech future, according to a group of local entrepreneurs who gathered on Thursday night at AlphaLab Gear to talk about technology in Pittsburgh and how it will transform the city.

Dennis Yablonsky, chief executive officer of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, moderated the event.

Yablonsky said there are two things he thinks will solidify Pittsburgh as a tech hub. One is local venture capital. There's not enough, he said, and when Pittsburgh companies are funded from the outside, he believes they tend to leave. 

“If the lead investor is in Pittsburgh, the company will stay in Pittsburgh,” he said. 

Yablonsky said the area also needs more executive talent and a great source is “boomerangers” like him, people who left the city in their youth, and now, because of a low cost of living and opportunities to succeed, see the right reason to return.

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What are your thoughts? Can Pittsburgh really be the future hot spot for technology?

Are Collaborative Workspaces Good for Startups?

A newer trend in office design has been to create either open or collaborative workspaces. Collaborative workspaces are offices design to emit a free-flowing and sharing environment. Sometimes they are reserved to one company and other places may be a central hub for a group of like-minded professionals to gather and do work together. Some of the benefits listed in favor of collaborative workspaces is that is foster collaboration and productivity. On the other hand, they are also criticized for impeding productivity with noise and chatter. What do you think about collaborative workspaces? 

A recent Forbes article had a few thoughts for them:

There’s more to innovation than finding clever people and throwing them into a conference room in hopes that game-changing collaboration will follow. Today, to drive innovation and attract the best talent, it’s crucial to create workspaces that cater to diverse forms of collaboration.

In the same article, writer Sarah Miller listed four collaborative office qualities and how they foster innovation and teamwork.

- Space that is flexible: Workspace that is movable and reconfigurable supports spontaneity. Flexibility can come in the form of mobile furnishings, roving white boards, or even architectural elements like sculpture that allow users to configure the space to their immediate needs. Example: Google. 

- Space that inspires: Natural lighting and exterior views stimulate and sustain creative thinking. One factor linked to innovation edge is an ability to imagine and visualize the future. Spaces that contain fantastical images and access to technology tools help employees construct new scenarios for markets, products, and services are key in this endeavor. Example: Facebook. 

- Space for small teams: The best collaborative work is done by teams of 2 – 8 people. Cozy spaces located near an individual’s dedicated work area are ideal for small team gatherings, and encourage frequent use. These spaces need to offer full connectivity, too. Example: Groupon

- Space that reflects culture and brand: In a global economy, recalling that the work you’re doing in one geography impacts customers in other geographies is paramount. Connecting employee efforts to pride in past success creates engagement and a willingness to drive future change. Displays of existing products or collective achievements also inspires pride and risk-taking. Read the full article here.

In Pittsburgh, there are a few collaborative workspaces that are not central to a particular company. One of those is called The Hardware Store, a co-working office space where professionals can work with other professionals. The group is holding a Fall Picnic and Pitch Fest at its headquarters on September 18 that entrepreneurs may want to check out.

Labor Day in Pittsburgh

Labor Day, also known as the unofficial end of summer, is this weekend. It is also the holiday dedicated to all those in the workforce and is best celebrated by just taking the day off. We know, if you're an entrepreneur, days off can sometimes be hard to come by. However, this is one weekend that you really should rest, relax and have fun. In Pittsburgh, there are tons of fun activities that you can do this weekend too. Here are a few: 

Take a hike

We have an amazing and beautiful park system in the city. Frick, Highland, Riverview and Schenley Parks all have a developed trail system with easily walkable trails (and bike trails) covered with lush canopies of trees. Grab a friend, your friend’s dog or your mom and take a stroll. When you are done, you can walk to have a bite near any one of the many eateries within walking distance. Your tax dollars at work for good! www.pittsburghparks.org

Ride a bike

For those less inclined to hike, you can ride — even if your bike is out of commission. Head down to Golden Triangle Bike rental and grab some wheels. Hit the Three Rivers Heritage trails along the Allegheny and the Mon rivers. Complete info at www.bikepittsburgh.com (and you can reserve a bike in advance.)

Slip into a kayak

“Yep, we got dem kayaks n’at dahn on the river.” And they are very cool— in more ways than one. With temperatures rising you can head to the North Shore under the Clemente Bridge to rent your gear and paddle along for a tour of the city you will never forget. Reasonable rates and instruction included. www.kayakpittsburgh.com.

Visit the county parks before Labor Day

Allegheny County’s free Summer Concert Season ends this weekend. Head to South Park to see the River City Brass Band on Friday night, set up your chair early and then drive to the other side of the park to see the bison at the game reserve. Totally Cool. Over at Hartwood Acres, the Allegheny County Music Festival will feature Rusted Rood, Derek Woods Band and so much more. Hartwood has a $20 per car donation to benefit children and youth served by the Department of Human Services. Food trucks (yum) at both. http://​www.alleghenycounty.us/

Get wet, kinda.

Well, we do that a lot around here, but here is a new twist. Park the car before dusk and take a walking tour of all of the neat fountains in the Golden Triangle. We all know about the grand dame, the Point State Park fountain, But you should also visit the water feature at PPG Place, fountains at Gateway Center, large water walls at Point Park University and Heinz Hall, or the large water structure at Katz Plaza. The latest romantic spot is Mellon Square, where a three-year, multi-million-dollar restoration reminds you why the American Planning Association listed it as one of the 10 great public spaces in America. There are more, just walk around.

Let’s go to the Fair!

Lot of county fairs this weekend in the outskirts and they are a blast. Take in 4H competitions, food, music and more. On deck are the Indiana County Fair, The Great Stoneboro Fair, The Cambria County Fair and the Big Knob Grange Fair. A complete list can be found at www.pafairs.org.

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Where Are All The Women Entrepreneurs?

Lately, there have been several articles, studies and other pieces of media that ask the question: where are all the women entrepreneurs? The recent fourth annual OPEN State of Women-Owned Business report provides some insight into the world of female business owners. The report analyzes various aspects of existing female-owned businesses. Some of the highlights of the report are:

• As of 2014, there are 9.1 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. 
• Nationally, the number of women-owned businesses has grown by 68% since 1997. 
• Pennsylvania is number 7 on the list of top ten states with the highest number of female business owners. 

Although the report listed some positive figures, there are still some areas for improvement. Here are a few highlights from the report that are worth remembering too.

• While the numbers of women-owned firms continue to grow in number and economic clout, the average size of women-owned firms has not changed appreciably over the past 17 years. 
• Women-owned firms are still much smaller than the average U.S. business. 

Read the full report here.

What else can we do to promote a more diverse entrepreneurial community in Pittsburgh and other areas? If you have suggestions, feel free to share them with us in the comments or on our social pages.

Finding Office Space in Pittsburgh

Finding the perfect office space for your business is hard. According to a new study by Avison Young, the growing success of Pittsburgh as a hub for businesses also makes it one of the cities with the lowest office vacancy rates in the US.

Its 8.7 percent vacancy rate is just behind Columbus, Ohio, (8.6 percent) and San Francisco (6.4 percent), Avison Young said in its Office Market Report Mid-Year 2014.

"Continued success is the story of Pittsburgh's office market at mid-year 2014," the report said.

Specific deals mentioned include the Bakery Square 2.0 expansion by Google, the sublease by UPMC at Heinz 57 Center and Michael Baker International's pending move of its headquarters from Moon Township to 500 Grant St. Read more about the study here. 

There are some programs and organizations in Pittsburgh that aim to make business space more available to Pittsburgh startups and small businesses. In addition to other local entrepreneurship advocacy, Riverside Center for Innovation along with North Side Industrial Development Co. (NSIDC) redevelops brownfields, sites that are abandoned and potentially contaminated, into places for new businesses. To learn more about NSIDC and their brownfield work, view the blog here. Visit the RCI website to learn more about our office options and programs. 

City Of Pittsburgh Looking For More Ways To Support Startup Accelerators

We like to think that Pittsburgh is a growing hub for innovation and small business. Now, with events like Steve Case's Rise of the Rest Road Tour, even more people are taking notice of the city for its startups and entrepreneurs and the accelerators behind them. Mayor Peduto has focused a series of round table discussions on technology, with the most recent one focusing on how city government can help support accelerators. Below are some of the major highlights: 

Infrastructure is still an issue 

Leonore Blum, distinguished career professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University and founding director of Project Olympus, said it can be difficult to attract investment from the West Coast if those investors can't get here easily.

"Without daily service to the West Coast, those investors come in, harvest the companies and take them away," Blum said.

And it's not just air service that can be an issue. Mark Musolino, director of RevvOakland, said having better transportation options in the city is needed to attract and keep talent in addition to marketing Pittsburgh as a destination for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

Connecting underrepresented populations to opportunities 

While resources have been put in place to foster technology startups, Peduto said the city has to think about entrepreneurship beyond that scope. 

"How do we make sure the person that works at Pep Boys and wants to open their own service center has the same opportunity and access as a software developer at Carnegie Mellon?" Peduto asked.

He said the goal is to create ladders of opportunity for everybody, especially in neighborhoods that have been left out of the city's redevelopment.

Bill Generett, director of Urban Innovation21, said when companies locate in a community, it spurs other economic development.

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Listen to Peduto's Roundtable with Pittsburgh's Tech Leaders

Photo by Clara Michelle

Pittsburgh's Mayor Peduto is holding a series of roundtable discussions with area technology and innovation leaders. The series focuses on the tech and maker culture that is part of the region. If you are interested in listening in on the conversation, check out the details below.

The events are being held in conjunction with the White House Business Council, according to Peduto's office.

The series kicked off June 9 with a roundtable on the maker movement. A discussion on co-working and accelerator spaces is set for Aug. 6 and another on startups is slated for Aug. 13.

Thursday's event will not be open to the public due to space constrains, but will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. on the City Cable Channel. 

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Registration is Now Open for the 3 Rivers Venture Fair

Photo by The Editor

The 3 Rivers Venture Fair is taking place on October 7th and 8th at Heinz Field! If you aren't familiar with the event yet, it showcases the region's hottest and up-and-coming technology startups to investors. A selected group of entrepreneurs pitch their innovations with the chance to attract funding. 

Registration to attend the event is now open. If your company would like the chance to present your idea to investors, you can find the free application here.

Since its debut in 2002, the mission of the 3 Rivers Venture Fair has remained steadfast; to foster the commercialization of promising technology innovations through investment.\

In the twelve years since, the 3RVF has grown both in size and stature and is, today, heralded as one of the largest, most respected technology investment showcases in the U.S and a must-see for influential investors seeking lucrative ground-floor opportunities. 

Companies featured at the 3RVF have gone on to raise over $500 million, a testament to the caliber of our presenters and the potential of their innovations to transform business and industry, from manufacturing to marketing and every sector in between. 

Read more at the 3 Rivers Venture Fair website.

11 Pittsburgh Startups Receive Investments from CMU's Open Field Entrepreneurs Fund

Photo by Joey Gannon

Eleven Pittsburgh-based startups were awarded investments from CMU's Open Field Entrepreneurs Fund. Investments were given to a total of 16 startups, 37 since the fund began in 2012. Recipients of the award are Carnegie Mellon alum and entrepreneurs that have graduated in the last five years. More information about the fund and the list of this round's recipients are below.

Each OFEF recipient received a $50,000 investment, along with personalized mentoring from CMU faculty and alumni. Peter Stern, Kaplan’s classmate and co-founder of Datek Online, provides advisory support for the fund and serves as a mentor to one of the OFEF award recipients.

The local recipients and a brief description of what each does are listed alphabetically below:

• BandPass provides bands with direct assets to the shows they want to play and gives venues the information they need to book shows.
• Bistrobot uses robotics technology to create fresh food in a timely manner.
• Collected allows users to uncover and reuse existing work by providing related content from the user’s cloud accounts as they type.
• Digital Dream Labs teaches children how to build programs as they guide characters in a video game through puzzles, learning the fundamentals of computer sciences along the way.
• Greenovation designs, builds and develops affordable and sustainable housing.
• Innovesca develops processing technologies to provide users with a detailed account of food’s nutritional benefits.

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Young Entrepreneur of the Year Celebration and Symposium

Congratulations to ActivAided Orthotics CEO, Kelly Collier, on being named the Young Entrepreneur of the Year! The award is given by the Western Pennsylvania Small Business Administration (SBA) to a rising entrepreneur that is making a significant impact to the local community with his or her innovation and business savvy. 

Kelly's company, ActivAided Orthotics, is dedicated to supporting active lifestyles through the development of innovative products that work to retrain proper posture and biomechanics. In celebration, ActivAided and the Western Pennsylvania SBA are holding a "Celebration and Symposium on Evolving Physical Medicine After the ACA" at RCI on August 4! To attend, please RSVP by July 28. For more details, view the flyer below.

Fourth of July 2014 Pittsburgh Events

Photo by Chris Collins

The Fourth of July is this Friday and Pittsburgh is booming with various events and activities to celebrate the entire weekend. From fireworks to the Three Rivers Regatta, there is something for the whole family to enjoy. Here are a few of the affordable or free events happening around the city: 

• Three Rivers Regatta (July 2nd-4th): Pittsburgh’s Official 4th of July Celebration! All FREE Family Fun… July 2, 3 & 4. Inflatables, face painting, caricatures—just a few of the activities kids can venture into at Regatta’s Colcom “Cool Off” Kids Zone. [more info]
• 4th at Fort Pitt (July 4th): the Fort Pitt Museum will fire its new replica 18th century cannon to kick off the annual fireworks display at Point State Park [more info].
• Heinz Field 4th of July Celebration (July 4th): Stadium gates open at 2 p.m. and admission is free. FREE concerts on Heinz Field Stage all day! The Steelers Merchandise Store WILL BE OPEN and Steelers memorabilia in the FedEx Great Hall WILL BE OPEN for fan viewing [more info].
• Gateway Clipper July 4th Dinner Cruise (July 4th): Ticket includes sightseeing cruise, live music, a buffet dinner and Best view of the colorful sky!  [more info]
• Y108 Freedom Fest @ Butler County Fair (July 4th & 5th): Carnival rides, fair food, petting zoos, farm animals and more (every day during the fair)! Fireworks on the 4th and Freedom Fest on Saturday the 5th. [more info]
• Kennywood Celebrate America! (July 1st – 6th): Featuring patriotic music, special daily entertainment and, of course, FIREWORKS nightly (weather permitting). Plus, save $10 off gate admissions with coupons from participating Giant Eagle locations. [more info]

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Cut KIZ and R&D Tax Credit Programs Could Hurt Pittsburgh Startups-What You Can Do About It

Photo by Kevin Myers

A number of tax credit programs that help grow startups and other businesses and provide jobs and other economic resources in western Pennsylvania could be in a two-year long hiatus starting July 1st. Two of the programs to be cut are the Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ) and Research & Development (R&D) Tax Credit programs. Although, it may seem like a quick fix for the budget deficit to lawmakers, it could do long-term damage to the region's economic development, taking millions of necessary incentives away from Pittsburgh startups.

The credit provides small businesses a 20 percent tax credit and large businesses a 10 percent tax credit for increased expenditures on R&D in Pennsylvania. What's important, Russo said, is that small businesses have the ability to sell unused credits to other Pennsylvania businesses, which is "enormously" helpful for cash-strapped startups. 

She [Pittsburgh Tech Council President, Audrey Russo] said the credit is equally essential to the state's traditional manufacturing economy, which faces constantly changing markets where innovation is essential to survival and job retention. 

"For all of these reasons, the Pittsburgh Technology Council is urging legislators to explore other options to balance this year’s budget that will have less of an affect on the states advanced manufacturing, life sciences and information technology-related industries," Russo writes.

The Tech Council has set up an online tool to send a note to legislators.

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Steve Case's Rise of the Rest Road Trip Coming to Pittsburgh Startups

AOL co-founder Steve Case will be visiting Pittsburgh next week, June 25 as part of his "Rise of the Rest Road Trip". The event will be held at AlphaLab Gear at 2:30 PM and is open to the public. The trip is showcasing 4 cities in America that have promising startup ecosystems in development-Pittsburgh, Detroit, Cincinnati, and Nashville. For each city Case visits he is investing $100,000 to the winning startup in a pitch competition. 

Case is currently chairman and CEO of Revolution, an investment firm that has backed the likes of Zipcar, LivingSocial and AddThis. Sponsors of the tour include UP Global, Google for Entrepreneurs, Engine and Seed Here Studio.

“It’s important to remember that America itself was once a startup, and became the greatest economy in the world thanks to the efforts of entrepreneurs who built not just companies, but entire industries in the heart of the country,” said Case in a statement issued by his Washington, D.C.-based investment firm.

The point is not to just celebrate entrepreneurship, but advance it, Case adds.

He intends to do that. In Pittsburgh, Case will hold a fireside-style chat at AlphaLab Gear in East Liberty on Wednesday afternoon, June 25, at 2:30 p.m. The event is open to the public.

The pitch competition will be held shortly thereafter. Pittsburgh startups are encouraged to apply to pitch before the June 15th deadline. The winners in each city will earn a $100,000 investment from Steve Case.

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