Department of Innovation and Performance Announces PGH Lab Cohort 11.0 Participants

“Pittsburgh has always been a center of innovation and future technologies are being built here,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor. “My Administration is committed to supporting the growth of our technology ecosystem and are excited to partner with these local startups who are providing advanced, efficient solutions for the City.”  

Launched in 2016, PGH Lab is celebrating 10 years of operations and offers a six-month paid program for local startups to test new technologies and services with the city government. In 2024, the program introduced a $25,000 payment to each participating company, recognizing the value of their work and ensuring equitable access to the opportunity. Participants gain valuable feedback, connect with municipal leaders and help make Pittsburgh’s government more efficient, transparent, sustainable and inclusive. 

“For more than 10 years, PGH Lab has served as a bridge between innovative entrepreneurs and the City of Pittsburgh, transforming bold local ideas into real-world solutions for the City. Now in its 11th cohort, the program continues to demonstrate the power of real collaboration,” said Sylvia Harris, Acting Director for the Department of Innovation and Performance. “This cycle, the City is piloting with four companies to responsibly explore next-generation technologies that prepare the City for the future, support modern City services and translate innovation into measurable outcomes for residents.” 

The four companies selected for PGH Lab 11.0 were chosen from a competitive pool of 35 applicants, the largest submission pool in the program's history. This year’s cohort includes: 

• Aquatonomy Inc. – Partnering with Pittsburgh’s River Rescue Team in Public Safety, this pilot will focus on evaluating the use of autonomous underwater robotic scanning in low- and zero-visibility conditions to support the search and recovery of people and objects in Pittsburgh rivers. 

• Pittsburgh Drone Services – Working alongside City Planning’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience, this pilot will leverage drones equipped with thermal measurement technology to help the City evaluate buildings that present challenges related to Pittsburgh’s Climate Action Plan, focused on areas of energy inefficiency and heat loss. 

• The Orange Peel Collaborative – Collaborating with the Department of Innovation and Performance, this pilot will support the City workforce in creating Generative AI guidelines to improve staff efficiency and problem-solving while protecting City data, ensuring trustworthy tool use and safeguarding the rights and safety of city residents. 

• Vridian – Teaming up with Pittsburgh’s Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Team in the Department of Innovation and Performance, this pilot will develop digital twin best practices and use cases by exploring what maps and assets the City is currently using across departments that are candidates for a transition to a digital twin platform. 

The PGH Lab program is committed to fostering powerful public-private partnerships to drive meaningful change. For more information on PGH Lab, visit: https://www.pittsburghpa.gov/Business-Development/PGH-Lab.