Pittsburgh is leveraging its technical strength in AI and autonomous systems to build a dynamic and diverse startup ecosystem. The birthplace of AI, Carnegie Mellon University, and regional partners are driving the future of AI across all innovation sectors. The city’s many notable companies include Aurora Innovation — the $10B autonomous vehicle startup that acquired Uber ATG — as well as home-grown startup Argo AI, Motional, Waymo, and a dozen other mobility companies who have put down roots to solidify Pittsburgh as a global hub for self-driving technology.

It’s also home to AI XPrize finalist Marinus Analytics, a women-founded startup that uses facial recognition to disrupt human trafficking and cyber fraud. Pittsburgh is growing its startup ecosystem with a focus on inclusion, widening the tech talent pipeline to ensure more women and people of color can access careers in tech. Black Tech Nation (BTN) also offers education and funding for Black technologists to create a more welcoming, inclusive community.

VCs are doing their part, too. Innovation Works, Magarac Venture Partners, and BTN Ventures are all prioritizing investment in diverse founders. Entrepreneurs are inspired in an ecosystem alongside Duolingo — a language learning app that IPO’d in August 2021 at $6.5B — as well as R&D offices for tech giants that choose Pittsburgh for their most challenging projects: Facebook Reality Labs, Amazon Alexa, and Google Cloud. Pittsburgh’s startup ecosystem makes you part of a community of purpose-driven builders, makers, and innovators who work local but have global impact.