Pittsburgh Innovates

When it comes to dressing the man, let the man and not the style be the guide.
 
So says Angela Lynn, the founder of Engineered Style, an Alpha Lab company creating mobile tools to help the fashion-challenged male.
 
“The demographic I’m going for is your average guy who won’t pay someone to help him with his style,” explains Lynn. “The app teaches men what they need to know to look good, to help them feel empowered. It makes the process less painful.”
 
Lynn has stellar qualifications in this department. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon, she worked in the fashion industry in New York and went on to establish herself as a personal style coach. She also dabbled in costume work, working with Ann Roth and dressing celebrities like Kate Winslet for the HBO mini series Mildred Pierce.
 
“What I learned is the difference between fashion and style,” she explains. “You’re not dressing the actor, but the psychology of the character. That’s the basis of my system. I bring out people’s personalities and help it match their lifestyle. What is reflected on the inside is what is reflected on the outside.”

The Fashion Field Guide takes skin tones and body types as its cue in helping men to establish a professional, finished look for any season. Users create a profile and proceed through several exercises to determine fit, which is crucial, she says.
 
“The most common mistake guys make is wearing clothes two or three sizes up to hide the gut,” she says. “Once we get them in the right size, we begin to educate them (on styles and where to buy them).”
 
Engineered Style is in the process of building its team. The company hopes to launch its first app, focusing on casual wear, in beta in March. The larger goal is to eventually license the technology to major retailers who can engage with customers on their own websites.
 
Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Angela Lynn, Engineered Style

Pop City reports on companies hiring in the region each week. This week several very cool companies report the hiring of five or more employees.
 
Deeplocal regaled the entrepreneurial community with an open house at its expansive new digs in the Strip District last Thursday evening. As Nathan Martin, CEO, put it in his remarks to those in attendance, let the hiring begin.
 
The highly creative marketing firm is revving its engines with clients like Disney, Reebok and Nike.  Current openings include account manager, Android and iOS mobile developers, web developer and two interns for mobile development and software engineering.
 
Branding Brand works the mobile commerce space and counts American Eagle, Ralph Lauren and Sehora among its clients. The firm is hiring nine people in a variety of positions: lead software engineer, web application developer, account manager, project manager, iOS developer, director of account management, VP of project management, quality assurance director and a financial analyst.
 
4 moms is the company behind creative robotic technology that is taking the art of parenting to the next level. The Strip District firm has more than doubled each of the last four years and expects to double again this year.
 
The firm is hiring 13 people at the present time, looking for mechanical and software engineers, a user experience designer, network administrator, logistics and quality technicians and product developers.  There’s an internship for an industrial graphic designer too.
 
EDMC, one of the largest providers of post-secondary education opportunities, is hiring four for marketing and IT positions: admissions representative, academic advising manager, systems analyst III and software supervisor.

The Jewish Healthcare Foundation is hiring a chief learning officer.
 
Kelly Strayhorn Theatre in East Liberty is hiring an event manager.
 
MEMS Industry Group is looking for a marketing associate.
 
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra is hiring a director of media relations.
 
SnapRetail is looking for a sales rep for its Pittsburgh-based tech company that helps to market independent retailers through its online marketing system.
 
College Prowler, the online service that guides students through the college decision process, is hiring a quality assurance analyst.
 
Philips Electronics, developer of medical devices for the care of neonates and infants, is hiring a technical writer for its Children’s Medical Ventures New Product Development Dept.

Premier Medical Associates, is growing rapidly and hiring and hiring 16 for its Monroeville, Forest Hills and Penn Hills offices. Positions include: medical assistants, physician assistants, patient care coordinators, accounts receivable and patient care reps.

The architectural and urban design firm of Rothschild Doyno Collaborative is in need of talented and motivated team members with one to five years of post-degree professional experience.  The ideal candidates must also possess excellent communication and graphic skills with both hand-drawn and digital media. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in urban design.
 

Nothing here? Take a look at last week's postings. Have hiring news? Email Pop City and include the job links.   Writer: Deb Smit

ModCloth, the vintage-inspired and Indie fashion company that went from a CMU dorm room to an overnight Internet sensation, is launching a new Plus Size Line this week.
 
And Pittsburgh is invited to the party.
 
The online clothing company is throwing a party at Bakery Square on Thursday evening, Feb. 7^th, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. In addition to unveiling the new Spring Plus Line, attendees can try the clothes on and play model for a day--maybe longer.
 
The ModCloth stylist team will also be on hand to solicit feedback on the line and to scout potential models, says Alyssa Catalano, head stylist.
 
While ModCloth has always offered Plus Sizes, the new line is an expansion of the existing line with more styles. The company will put just as much emphasis on style and fit of the new line as we do on the street sizes.
 
“ModCloth wants to become a plus destination for the online shopper,” says Catalano. “We’re inviting the public to come, see the new products, try things on and offer feedback on the fit. It’s a get together to celebrate the revamping of the line.”
 
Since the company’s online catalogue is shot in Pittsburgh, many of the models are recruited from the area, she adds.

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP through ModCloth’s Facebook page.
 
Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Alyssa Catalano, ModCloth

The 2013 Carnegie Science Awards were announced this week, an illustrious list of educators, researchers and business leaders working to improve the lives of others. The awards celebrate the accomplishments of individuals working in the fields of science, technology and education in Western Pennsylvania.
 
The winners include:   
 
The ExOne Company’s David Burns, Advanced Manufacturing Award 
Burns was recognized for positioning this promising North Huntingdon company as a leader in additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing. ExOne recently announced a public offering.
 
Edward Argetsinger, Jonathan Stinson, Paul Turner, Paul Jablonski, National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Advanced Materials Award NETL assisted in the design of a new alloy for coronary stents used by physicians to open blocked or restricted arteries.

Nancy Minshew, University of Pittsburgh, Catalyst Award
As the head of the Center for Excellence in Autism Research, Minshew has extensively studied autism and applied the findings to practice and public policy. Her work has led to the region’s recognition as a world-class center for autism research.

Tracy Cui, Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering, Emerging Female Scientist Award Cui is researching smart biomaterials for neural implants and neural tissue engineering.

Raul Valdes-Perez, Jerome Pesenti, Vivisimo, Entrepreneur Award
The Squirrel Hill-based company, recently acquired by IBM, has taken an untraditional and creative approach in helping companies and governments discover, analyze and navigate large volumes of data.

Bob Enick, Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering, Environmental Award
Working in collaboration with a GE Global Research Team, Enick has developed a unique method of capturing carbon dioxide from the stack of coal-fired power plants, a technique that may cost far less than current technologies.

Patrick Daly, Cohera Medical, Start-Up Entrepreneur Award
As president and CEO of this promising Pittsburgh startup that grew out of research conducted at Pitt, Daly is helping to move the company’s first product, TissuGlu, into the market. The adhesive is designed to reduce the need for surgical drains in plastic surgery procedures and speed healing time.
 
David Vorp, Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering and NETL-RU, Life Sciences Award Dr. Vorp's work on aortic aneurysms has changed the way clinicians view this disease and research on vein graft modification may one day change arterial bypass surgeries.
 
Peter Lucas, Joe Ballay, Mickey McManus of MAYA Design, Science Communicator
MAYA is helping the world to think more scientifically about design through informational films and interactive websites as well as the book, "Trillions: Thriving in the Emerging Information Ecology."
 
Check out the complete list of 2013 Carnegie Science Award winners.
 
Writer: Deb Smit

Award recipients Dr. Robert Enick and Dr. Tracy Cui, courtesy of Carnegie Science Center 

Some people come home from work and kick back. Not Jon Meck, a professional puzzle creator by night.
 
The Dormont resident and Pitt grad has been known to pull all-nighters when it comes to his puzzle designs. The work paid off with the publishing of his first book last October, "Kansuko: A New Game Based on Classic Sudoku." A second book is in progress.
 
Meck has taken the popular numbers game Soduko and turned it on its head. While his game has raised the ire of a few Sudoku purists, most people say they enjoy a different challenge, he says. He came up with the idea while “messing around” with a Soduku puzzle late one night.
 
The secret to the design is in the inner workings of Excel. “I’m something of an Excel guru,” he says. “People would be surprised if they knew what Excel could do.”
 
Unlike Soduko, Kansuko involves addition and double digits. The game is comprised of 3x3 grids stacked on top of each other. Players fill in the empty squares so that each column and grid only contain the numbers 1-9 once. The twist is the far right column is the sum of the numbers in that row, but only the ones place digit is recorded; the numbers 1-9 only appear once in this column as well.
 
For example, if you had a row with the numbers 8 + 5 + 2, that adds up to 15 so you would enter a 5. Try it. Meck created a special puzzle just for Pop City. (It's intermediate level for our sharp readers. Look closely and you'll see Pop City.)
 
His first book contains 100 puzzles and is on sale at Barnes and Noble and through Amazon.com. It’s doing well, he says, although he doesn’t expect to be retiring from his job with Community Care Behavioral Health Organization of UPMC anytime soon. His dream is to achieve syndication--and get it out in app form. Several newspapers are running it so far, including the Harvard Crimson.
 
“My puzzles are a little quicker puzzle to solve and a little smaller,” he explains. “You can do it in a quick burst and finish one or try a harder one and devote 10-15 minutes. The vertical layout makes it more ideally suited for playing on a (mobile) phone or publishing it in a book. The shape works well.”
 
Meck recently discovered that his game may also be played using a deck of cards. So perhaps a board game is in the future?
 
“It’s been a really fun project for me,” he says. “I’m ecstatic that people are coming to the website and playing the puzzles, going to Barnes and Noble and buying the book. Getting rich would be a nice bonus, but I’ll keep my day job.”
 
Writer: Deb Smit
Souce: Jon Meck

Each week Pop City posts the latest company and hiring news:
 
The architectural and design firm of Rothschild Doyno Collaborative is in need of talented and motivated team members with one to five years of post-degree professional experience.  The ideal candidates must also possess excellent communication and graphic skills with both hand-drawn and digital media. Preference will be given to applicants with experience in urban design.
 
Lunametrics has three openings for a digital analytics manager, a PPC (paid search) manager and sales manager for digital consulting services. All are full-time positions at the firm's South Side office. Lunametrics claims to be the the only Google Analytics Certified Partner in the region and one of three companies that do the GA Seminars for Success training in the US.

The Pittsburgh Magazine, the region’s flashy monthly publication with offices on Washington’s Landing, is looking for a new Editor In Chief. The ideal candidate will have a journalism degree or related field and a minimum of 10 years of experience in publication editing and management. The pub, founded by WQED, was acquired by Denver-based Wiesnermedia in 2009.
 
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership (PDP) is hiring a vice president of special events and development, a position that requires the dedication necessary to ensure that Pittsburgh remains a vibrant destination for employees, residents and visitors. The successful candidate will have a strong background in event production and sponsorship development and carry on successful traditions such as Light Up Night, Project Pop-Up Night Market and the Holiday Market in Market Square.

NuRelm, a provider of web software and services based in Uniontown, is seeking an entry-level programmer to build content managed websites. Recent college grads may apply! An Innovation Works portfolio company, NuRelm is looking to acquire space and move downtown this year.
 
Schell Games is seeking an exceptionally skilled online community manager to guide their current team working on projects that range from the creation of online worlds and handheld games to themed interactive attractions. The ideal candidate possesses outstanding communication, organization and passion for video game development.
 
Chatham University is looking for someone to serve as director of corporate, foundation and government relations. The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing and following a strategic fundraising plan and all that goes with it. He or she will also lead the effort to expand government funding opportunities. A Bachelor’s and Advanced degree is preferred, as well as a demonstrated ability to raise funds from corporations and foundations.
 
Dick’s Sporting Goods is hiring a graphic designer responsible for collaborating with the creative manager to develop graphic communications. Must have a strong eye for design and experience in integrating photography, typography and copy to enhance the DSG brand.
 
Moon-based global energy company Eaton is hiring a marketing communications manager. The successful candidate will lead all aspects of the Residential Products Division and work closely with business unit personnel.
 
American Eagle is looking for an aggressive and passionate person to work as an assistant online buyer, someone who possesses a keen sense of fashion exhibited through personal taste. The ability to assist the buyer in analyzing, merchandising and making communication decisions to develop online strategies is key.

Having hiring news? Email Pop City and include the links.
 
Writer: Deb Smit

Bill Kaigler wanted his mother to enjoy living independently at home for as long as possible while she was living. He also wanted to ensure her well-being.
 
She lived in the South Hills; he lives in the North Hills. Hoping to find a solution online, he scoured the Internet for a product that would inform him if her daily life was changing in some way, or if she needed assistance. He found a few products, but they were pricey and involved a labor-intensive installation.
 
“There had to be something simpler than putting motion sensors all over her house,” he says.
 
A seasoned healthcare entrepreneur, Kaigler saw the value in an affordable solution that keeps daily tabs on elderly and at-risk people living at home. So he founded NewCare Solutions in Oakmont, a spinoff of his company medSage, which was subsequently sold to Netherlands-based Royal Philips Electronics in 2011.
 
Last May NewCare released its first product, ConnectCare, a home monitoring kit that follows the daily sleeping and appliance activity of residents; it sells for $200 plus a monthly service fee.
 
NewCare has also moved into the nursing home space, which is proving to be more lucrative. The company’s second product, the SilentAlert Resident Attendant System, helps to reduce the risk of patients falling by placing a monitor under the mattress.
 
Studies show that almost half of all falls happen at night, says Kaigler. The system alerts staff with a text each time a patient gets out of bed, a more effective use of staff time than patrolling the floor all night.
 
“Both products work without cameras, which is an invasion of privacy,” Kaigler explains. 

Newcare Solutions employs nine; the company company will double or triple in size in the next three years, he says.
 
“We bring peace of mind to the people who care for others by providing them an inexpensive and convenient way to let them know how their loved one is doing on a daily basis.” 

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Bill Kaigler, NewCare Solutions



 

How free are the apps in our smartphones?

That depends on the price you put on your personal information. Many are sucking sensitive information from our phones only to be sold for a profit.

More disturbing, most people don’t even realize it.
 
Researchers at CMU’s School of Computer Science say 80% of all mobile users are unaware that their smartphone is sharing their location, contact lists and other personal information around the clock. Users should be forwarned of the hazards associated with the great, unregulated Internet.
 
“The study basically shows that there’s a very sophisticated amount of information being collected and most people don’t even know it,” Norman Sadeh, a professor at CMU’s School of Computer Sciences and co-founder of Wombat Security, an Oakland-based firm working on tools that teach how to identify suspicious online activity.

Among the 10 invasive apps that surprised users, in a crowdsourced study: Brightest Flashlight, Toss It (game), Angry Birds, Talking Tom (virtual pet), Backgrounds HD Wallpapers, Dictionary.com, Mouse Trap (game), Shazam (music) and Pandora Internet Radio.
 
Apps like GoogleMaps raised few concerns because most knew they were giving up location information, says Sadeh. The bottom line is nothing is free. App developers are in the business of making money by aggregating information that is used to push display ads our way.
 
Insurance companies, for example, have apps that may one day track our location and the speed at which we are traveling, information that will undoubtedly be used to modify our insurance premiums. So what can mobile users do to protect themselves in this wild frontier?
 
Become vigilant of the ambiguous popups that periodically surface asking for access and tap Deny, says Sadeh. iPhone users have some degree of control of this information by going to settings and toggling privacy settings on for each app.
 
“You can always protect yourself by uninstalling an app,” he adds.
 
While the problem carries over to personal computers, the smartphone is more at risk because it travels with you and details and location information are much richer.
 
For the researchers, the study was the first step in identifying the problem. The team hopes to develop smart tools and launch a website that will systematically scan apps and make it easier for users to gain this information.
 
The National Science Foundation, Google and the Army Research Office sponsored the work.
 
Writer: Deb Smit 
Source: Norman Sadeh, CMU

One of the smartest and fastest research computers in the world has come to live in Pittsburgh.
 
Aptly named Sherlock after the British private eye known for his razor-sharp reasoning, the high-performance computer will be unveiled this week at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center. It’s the only computer of its kind open to the national research community.
 
“In broad terms, Sherlock brings a really unique way of solving problems to the region and to the country,” says Nick Nystrom, director of strategic applications. “It will enable people to do things that they can’t do any other way.”
 
Sherlock, which has 1 terabyte of memory and supports up to to 512 terabytes of global memory, will allow scientists and industries to sift through large-scale data sets and unlock new relationships and hidden patterns buried in complex bodies of information, assisting researchers in the sciences, medicine, health care, cyber security, social sciences and economics.
 
Sherlock can leap beyond the memory wall with 128-thread computing power. The massive multi-threading means Sherlock can power ahead faster without having to double back to the memory wall for information retrieval. The typical desktop computer runs only one or two threads at a time, Nystrom says.
 
The PSC is a joint effort of CMU and the University of Pittsburgh together with Westinghouse Electric Co. Sherlock was funded through the Strategic Technologies for Cyberinfrastructure program of the National Science Foundation.
 
Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Nick Nystrom, PSC

Each week Pop City reports on the latest company news and hiring:
 
Black Box Corp., a global technical services company, is hiring a web marketing manager responsible for web marketing strategy, direction and management for the company’s technology product solution offerings. The ideal candidate will have a minimum seven years of professional experience in technology-based markets and five years in website management.
 
Google Pittsburgh is looking for a lead content writer for its Bakery Square office, as well as software engineers and a Data Scientist. Generally speaking, the ideal candidates will be working in a fast-paced environment with a highly innovative team of people. All the positions are full-time.
 
MARC USA is seeking a creative director-copywriter for its ad agency that is brimming with new business. The ideal candidate should be a “killer writer” and “strategic thinker” as well as a pioneer in all media. 
 
Astrobotic, the CMU spinout in the business of establishing commuter missions to the moon, is hiring an experienced Administrative Assistant to join the team. A bachelor’s degree and experience with graphic design, Photoshop and/or video editing experience is sought. Must be willing to oversee all aspects of an office of a small company. 
 
The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is looking for a chief communications officer, someone who will lead the Food Bank’s marketing, communication, education and advocacy efforts in the pursuit of hunger relief in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Marketing and communication skills and the ability to lead a team strategically forward are key.
 
Carnegie Learning is looking for a team-oriented, self-directed software engineer-user interface to create custom components and layout managers in a message-driven environment. Strong software design skills and experience with the Java programming language including Swing and Java 2D are necessary.
 
Pittsburgh law firm K&L Gates is looking for a Website Administrator for its Pittsburgh office, a position that will be responsible for the coordination of an array of relevant content. Sharepoint and Social Media Web 2.0 technologies is a must.

Is your company hiring? Email Pop City and send us your link! Check out more listings from last week.
 
Writer: Deb Smit

Bosch-Akustica rolled out a digital family of four high-definition microphones this month for consumer devices that promises to dramatically improve sound quality.
 
The latest additions to the company’s product line of HD voice microphones for smartphones, tablets and other consumer electronics was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this month.
 
“A lot of the accuracy for speech recognition today depends on the quality of the microphones, which are continually getting better,” explains Davin Yuknis, vice president of sales and marketing. “They are getting so clear you can hear a pin drop.”
 
The South Side Akustica office has announced a managerial shift within the global company as well. Dr. Stefan Finkbeiner, former CEO of Akustica, has moved to Germany to lead Bosch Sensortec, a sister company to Akustica.
 
Dr. Horst Muenzel has taken over as CEO and general manager of Akustica. Muenzel, who has been with Bosch since 1989, was previously regional president of the Robert Bosch Research and Technology Center in Palo Alto, Calif.
 
His many years in MEMs research and technology makes Muenzel an excellent choice for continuing Akustica's mission to deliver innovative microphones and products that meet changing market requirements, says Yuknis. 
 
“Stefan was the integrator within the Bosch structure, a $70 billion company.” Yuknid says. “Horst has run the research and technology center for all of Bosch and is very familiar with Pittsburgh.”
 
New management marks the next phase of bringing new products to market for both the cell phone and consumer products. Akustica will remain in a growth phase and hiring is expected in the coming year.
 
Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Davin Yuknis, Akustica

Venture capital investment across the region continued to climb steadily in 2012 with 79 deals that totaled $168.97 million, a 7.9% increase over 2011 when $156.53 million was raised and spread over 55 deals. 

The news in Pittsburgh was a bright spot; nationally VC figures declined by 10 percent from the prior year. All figures are from the MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), based on data from Thomson Reuters.

“We’re bucking a trend here in Pittsburgh which is very positive,” noted Gary Glausser who joined Innovation Works this month as Chief Investment Officer.

A longtime venture capitalist in the local community, Glausser was with South Side-based Birchmere Ventures for 13 years. He most recently handled alternative investments for the Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System, a total portfolio of $7 billion. He is also a member of the IW Board of Directors.

Among the highlights of the MoneyTree report for 2012:

The strongest showing in Pittsburgh was the life sciences and software sectors. More than 23 companies received funding in life sciences, predominantly medical device companies, and 19 software and IT services companies were funded. The number of software company deals last year is a sign of the region’s strength in this sector since software companies generally don’t require large infusions of cash, noted Terri Glueck of Innovation Works.

Innovation Works and The Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse (PLSG) were the largest overall investors, IW with 12 deals and PLSG with six according to the MoneyTree report.

The companies that raised the largest rounds included: Avere Systems ($20 million), Thorley Industries ($20 million), TriStar Investors ($15 million) Duolingo ($15 million) Knopp Biosciences ($14.94 million) and BodyMedia ($11.89 million). 

Other local investors included: Birchmere Ventures, Draper Triangle Ventures, Adams Capital Management, BlueTree Allied Angels, Eagle Ventures and Pittsburgh Equity Partners.

“I personally think the next few years will be exciting,” Glausser adds. “We’re looking at a pipeline of opportunities here. Our mission is going to be to get the capital to put into these companies.”

Writer: Deb Smit
Source: NVCA and MoneyTree 

One of the biggest hurdles any company faces when it moves into the global marketplace is language.
 
Corporate communication, both digital and print, must be reinvented in many tongues if a company and its mission is to be understood. Squirrel Hill-based Safaba is a rising star in the field of machine translation, using software to translate vast amounts of text from one natural language into another. It's a feat that has taken years of development.
 
The startup was launched by Carnegie Mellon associate research professor Alon Lavie and co-founder Bob Olszewki in 2009.  While the company quietly operated under the radar for several years, developing custom and affordable solutions for commercial clients, it's now ready for primetime, says Udi Hershkovich, vice president of Business Development.
 
Companies like Google and Microsoft translate text between multiple languages, but there are limitations to their platforms, Hershkovich says. Enterprises today need more powerful solutions to tackle the corporate collateral, tackling vast amounts of textual material including online marketing, websites, technical documentation, manuals and support documentation.
 
Global ecommerce company PayPal signed on with Safaba as a client in 2011, using it for its ecommerce in the Nordic languages. The solution proved superior to the system they had been using. In 2012, Safaba began working with global computer giant Dell and its Dell.com ecommerce division.
 
The escalating need for language translation designed for mobile enterprises is also driving business. The Squirrel Hill office is currently at 11. Hershkovich anticipates aggressive growth in 2013.
 
Machine translation is poised for explosive growth as the technology improves, requiring less post-editing and becoming more commercially viable, he adds.
 
“Companies today all need a more personalized experience and communication in real time, in today’s online world. To allow companies to be successful in the home market, they need to transition into other languages.”
 
Writer: Deb Smit
Source: Udi Hershkovich, Safaba