Volume 30 No. 12
December 2014
AlphaLab Demo Day a launching Two Northside projects thrive point for local tech companies in GTECH ReClaim program By Justin Criado
Photo by Justin Criado
AlphaLab, a program of Innovation Works, hosted the 13th annual AlphaLab Demo Day Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the New Hazlett Theater By Justin Criado Pittsburgh tech investment company, Innovation Works, held its 13th annual AlphaLab Demo Day Wednesday, Nov. 12 at the New Hazlett Theater in Allegheny Center, which highlights a group of local start-up companies. AlphaLab is a 20-week program of Innovation Works that provides $25,000 of seed-funding to startup tech companies in Pittsburgh. “The goal during this period is for the companies to learn as much as they can of their market and get to a point where they’re delivering products to their customers that their customers love,” AlphaLab executive director Jim Jen said. This year, five Pittsburghbased companies --most from area colleges like Carnegie Mellon University-- presented
INSIDE
business plans, technologies and market opportunities to a group of 450 investors, mentors and other stakeholders. “When you think about the fact that most of these companies weren’t even incorporated a couple months ago and they now have products, customers, business models in place, I still get awestruck about what these entrepreneurs accomplished,” Innovation Works president and CEO Rich Lunak said. The products and services from this year’s companies range from a real-time music collaboration program to an app for moms to find other moms. “It’s all about the companies,” Lunak said. “It’s all about the tremendous work and progress See Demo, Page 9
-Chronicle founder passes, Page 8 STORIES, COLUMNS, -NSCD Fund luncheon, Page 19 FEATURES & MORE -Education, Page 25
Even in a crowded room Lisa Freeman stood out. Making her way from tables to booths to bar stools, Freeman talked passionately to patrons and supporters alike about her most recent Northside project. “I’m here to save the world,” Freeman said throughout the night. GTECH, which stands for Growth Through Energy+Community Health, held a benefit happy hour Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Franktuary restaurant in Lawrenceville to promote several ReClaim ambassador program projects, including two in Northside. A Manchester native, Freeman started the Growing Together Community Garden three years ago through an ambassador program offered by GTECH, and is now working on maintaining the space and expanding her efforts, which includes developing an old warehouse in to a popmarket and business district near her home on Liverpool Street in Manchester. GTECH has endorsed her recent Kiva Zip initiative. “Now I’m doing real hardcore brick and mortar development,” Freeman said. “I 100 percent took advantage of what they had to
offer and I just love the experience. It all goes back to playing in the dirt. It all started with GTECH.” Freeman’s various community outreach projects have already brought the community together as she’s proved to people what you can do if you want to save the world. “It’s made me a better citizen,” Freeman said of her overall GTECH experience. “It’s made me a better social worker. It’s given me a better understanding and passion for people.” Through the ambassador program classes this past year, Freeman met fellow Northsider Crystal Tackett, who also created an edible community garden on 104 W North Ave. in Central Northside. “I had originally wanted a certain lot that I was denied,” said Tackett, who currently lives in Fineview. “Lisa was in my class and I mentioned about how it was denied and she said call the Salvation Army now. They want something to do with it. “I called and they said this is great. They said I can do whatever I want to the lot as long as the kids can be involved.” In partnership with the Salvation Army, the Northside See GTECH, Page 3
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