PowerUp Pittsburgh

PowerUp Pittsburgh is a collaborative strategy that brings together government, business, universities and entrepreneurs to align our region’s resources for the creation of jobs.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl created this partnership to coordinate strategy and collective response to opportunities through a commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. Founding partners include: Allegheny Conference on Community Development; University of Pittsburgh; Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh Technology Council; Innovation Works; Idea Foundry; Urban Innovation 21; Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse; and others.

Our mission is to accelerate the commercialization of technology innovation activities to create jobs in the Pittsburgh region, particularly in the City of Pittsburgh’s underserved neighborhoods.

We plan to achieve this mission by:

  • Creating an online clearinghouse of services, programs and financing available to entrepreneurs in the region;
  • Connecting entrepreneurs with each other in order to share ideas and talents; and
  • Disseminating relevant information about current and up-coming innovation opportunities.

The URA’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is an engaged partner of PowerUp Pittsburgh.

You can find innovation and entrepreneurship resources on our partners’ websites.

Fun Industry Facts

  • 9,908 technology firms represent nearly 16 percent of all companies in the Pittsburgh region
  • These firms represent 26 percent of the Pittsburgh region’s workforce with an annual payroll of more than $18 billion
  • Over the course of a five-year period ending in 2010, 101 companies received more than $788 million in venture capital.

State of the Industry Report, 2011 - Pittsburgh Technology Council

For more information or to meet us, please contact Jennifer Wilhelm, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategist, at 412.255.6580 or .

“ We challenged
our university and business leadership to identify specific ways we can work together to take our innovation economy and job creation efforts to the next level and to ensure that opportunities reach every neighborhood. The fact that they have committed to joining this partnership means great things for Pittsburgh and our economy.”
“ Business,
government and university leaders, who relentlessly drive pervasive partnerships at every level across the innovation ecosystem, are the key ingredients in what continues to propel Pittsburgh.”
“ PowerUp
Pittsburgh is an initiative that recognizes the critical importance of creating a true partnership between government, our tremendous research institutions and the business community in order to capitalize on our opportunities to grow technology-based jobs in the region.”