TechVibe Pittsburgh

Jonathan Kersting

Curious about Pittsburgh's growing technology and innovation industry and the opportunities it has for you? This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the companies, people, and institutions that are making Pittsburgh's tech industry thrive. Discover the newest tech startups emerging from Pittsburgh; Meet dynamic entrepreneurs driving innovation and creating a rich landscape for tech company growth; and Stay on top of the latest trends from recognized industry experts and thought leaders. Audrey Russo and Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council have interviewed thousands of tech entrepreneurs and business experts across the tPittsburgh region's tech and innovation ecosystem. Get an inside look at the companies, people, and trends that are making Pittsburgh a worldwide center of technology innovation. Start by diving into Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem with a fan-favorite episode: "Meet the New Head of CMU's Machine Learning Department." Don't miss out—click to listen now! TechVibe Pittsburgh is produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council to explore the Pittsburgh region's technology, entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Tune in Sundays at 6 AM 10 100.1 FM AM 1020 KDKA.

  1. 1d ago ·  Video

    Building Better Code: MESCIUS Talks About Powerful Web App Tools at Pittsburgh TechFest

    Who knew developing amazing web applications could be as simple as reaching into a powerful tool box or browsing a rich library for the right code? Join Jonathan Kersting from the Pittsburgh Technology Council for a TechVibe conversation with Joel Parks of MESCIUS, a developer tools company building component libraries that help coders ship better software faster. With Pittsburgh Tech Fest coming up on October 30th at Robert Morris University, Joel breaks down what MESCIUS brings to the table — from their flagship Wijmo web component library (available for Angular, React, Vue, Svelte, Next.js, and more) to the newly released Flex Scheduler calendar control. Joel also covers ActiveReports for reporting, Spread.NET and SpreadJS for embedded Excel functionality, the legacy C1 .NET controls, and Document Solutions for PDF and Word manipulation. The discussion explores how pre-built components save developers from reinventing the wheel, why day-one framework support matters in the fast-moving JavaScript world, and how MESCIUS has evolved from its ComponentOne and GrapeCity roots into a comprehensive .NET and JavaScript tooling provider. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just curious about the tools powering modern web applications, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the software that helps developers focus on what matters — building great applications. Recorded at the Huntington Bank Studios. Presented by the Pittsburgh Technology Council.

  2. 1d ago ·  Video

    $24 Billion and Counting: Inside Pittsburgh's 2026 Tech Economy

    Pittsburgh's technology sector now generates $24 billion in annual payroll — more than 28% of all wages across the region's 13 counties. In this episode, we break down the six numbers from the Pittsburgh Technology Council's 2026 State of the Industry Report that reveal where the region stands today and where it's heading next. We cover: • Scale — 9,179 tech establishments employing 241,000 people, nearly 1 in 5 workers, at an average wage of $105,000/year • Growth sectors — Manufacturing (56,000+ jobs) and health services (107,000+ jobs) continue to expand, proving Pittsburgh tech goes far beyond software • Research engine — $2.3 billion in university R&D spending, up 26% in three years, led by the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon • Talent pipeline — 13,756 graduate students in science, engineering, and health fields, with CMU and Pitt accounting for 76% of the total • Lab to market — 199 patents issued, 313 licenses executed, 26 university-connected startups, and $42.9 million in licensing income • Early-stage capital — $59.2 million in SBIR/STTR funding, up 48% in a single year and nearly double from two years prior But numbers alone don't tell the full story. The real opportunity lies in connecting these pieces — research to commercialization, graduates to careers, startups to capital. That's what the Pittsburgh Technology Council is all about: not just asking what Pittsburgh invented, but what we build with it next. Read the entire report here.

  3. 4d ago ·  Video

    Empire of Lights: Power, Permits & Playbooks for Data Center Development in Pennsylvania

    Data centers are coming to Pennsylvania — but getting them built is a whole different story. In this episode of The Empire Lights, powered by Comcast Business and Babst Calland, host Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council sits down with Kate Cooper, shareholder at Babst Calland, to unpack the rapidly evolving landscape of data center development across the state. From the Governor's GRID Standards and behind-the-meter power generation to the complex permitting maze at the DEP and municipal level, Kate breaks down what's really happening on the ground. The conversation dives into how tech-world uptime expectations — like "four nines" availability — are colliding with old-school land development, creating a high-stakes negotiation environment where no playbook exists yet. They also explore Pennsylvania's competitive advantages: brownfield sites, natural gas infrastructure, and a deep bench of environmental and land-use legal expertise that's putting the Pittsburgh region at the center of the data center boom. If you want to understand what it actually takes to bring a data center from announcement to groundbreaking — and why Pennsylvania's approach might be smarter than you think — this episode is a must-listen. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produce TechVibe and the Empire of Lights to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.

  4. Oct 2 ·  Video

    RIDC's Don Smith: Building Pittsburgh's Tech & Manufacturing Future

    What do a shared-use SCIF, autonomous driving test track and one of Pittsburgh's top advanced manufacturers have in common? They are all currently under the wing of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC). Jonathan Kersting sits down with Don Smith of the RIDC for a wide-ranging update on the projects reshaping Pittsburgh's tech and manufacturing landscape. At Mill 19 on Hazelwood Green, RIDC is building a $10 million shared-use SCIF — a hyper-secure facility where companies can engage with classified government projects from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and beyond. Partnering with Parallax on an accelerated build-out, the SCIF gives Pittsburgh startups a home-field advantage for defense procurement — no more driving to the Pentagon. Meanwhile, Hellbender is bringing manufacturing back inside the city limits with plans to scale to 500 jobs — potentially the largest manufacturing deal in the City of Pittsburgh in decades. Don and Jonathan also cover: The evolution of Lawrenceville from NREC's early robotics hub to today's thriving ecosystem Neighborhood 91 at the airport, where a 108,000 sq ft spec building is under construction ReBuild Manufacturing's rapid ramp-up at the former Alcoa site in New Kensington The PennSTART dual-use test track — a two-mile facility for autonomous vehicle testing and first-responder training, opening in 2027 RIDC's 70-year history of transforming stranded industrial sites into modern innovation spaces Why Pittsburgh's robotics, AI, and defense ecosystem is attracting companies from around the world The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation economy.

  5. Sep 30

    The Power of Partnership: How RedChair Pittsburgh Helps Women Move Forward in Tech

    What can happen when one person gives you the encouragement to take the next step? For Geeta Tahiliani, a simple connection to RedChair Pittsburgh helped change the trajectory of her career and eventually inspired her to help other women find their own path forward. TechVibe Radio sits down with Kelly Fetick, Geeta Tahiliani and Sunnie Fenk for a conversation about the power of mentorship, community and creating opportunities for women in technology. Geeta shares her journey from discovering RedChair almost by accident to earning scholarships that connected her with executive coaching, new perspectives and a stronger sense of where she wanted to take her career. Along the way, Sunnie became one of the people encouraging her to apply, get involved and keep pushing forward. The conversation also previews RedChair Pittsburgh's annual event on October 20 at Robert Morris University, built this year around the theme "The Power of Partnership." The event will explore how mentors, allies and professional relationships can shape careers and lives. Tune in to hear how: Mentorship can unlock opportunities you may not see for yourself. RedChair scholarships are helping women navigate critical mid-career transitions. Professional communities can combat isolation and create real, lasting connections. One act of encouragement can ripple outward as the person being helped becomes a mentor to someone else. It's a conversation about careers, confidence, community and what becomes possible when someone believes you should take the next step. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology and innovation ecosystem.

  6. Sep 29

    Pittsburgh Builds Tomorrow: Pittsburgh Is Getting a Quantum Computer. Here's Why It Matters!

    Pittsburgh is getting a quantum computer. But what exactly does that mean, how does quantum computing work, and why is Pittsburgh one of the places helping push this strange and potentially transformative technology forward? In the debut episode of Pittsburgh Builds Tomorrow, TechVibe's Jonathan Kersting takes a decidedly non-physicist trip into the world of qubits, quantum entanglement, superposition and computers that operate at temperatures colder than outer space. Along the way, University of Pittsburgh Senior Vice Chancellor for Research Rob Rutenbar helps explain why quantum computing is moving from science fiction to engineering, with potential applications ranging from cybersecurity and financial services to drug discovery, advanced materials and medicine. And there's a distinctly Pittsburgh story behind it all. The Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center has spent four decades pushing the boundaries of high-performance computing. Now the region is taking another big swing as it prepares to bring quantum computing into that ecosystem. Come for the qubits. Stay for Einstein's "spooky action at a distance," the million-dollar refrigerator and a computer that looks like it belongs in Versailles. Pittsburgh Builds Tomorrow explores the people, technologies and big ideas shaping what comes next for Pittsburgh. Listen to Rob's entire interview here.

  7. Sep 28

    Building the Pittsburgh-to-Morgantown Tech Corridor

    What if Pittsburgh and West Virginia stopped thinking like neighboring regions and started acting like one connected technology corridor? TechVibe Radio goes back to West Virginia with Melissa McKenna of Trilogy Innovations and Bill Walker of West Virginia University for a wide-ranging conversation about the innovation, research and economic opportunities taking shape from Pittsburgh to Morgantown, Bridgeport and beyond. The discussion uncovers some remarkable work already underway, including WVU research that can extract critical minerals and rare earth elements from acid mine drainage while helping clean up legacy environmental damage. McKenna and Walker also detail new life being brought to former pharmaceutical infrastructure in Morgantown, growing opportunities in health care and energy, and the $321 million NSF-backed regional initiative connecting WVU, Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and partners across a 78-county region. At the center of the conversation is one big idea: the Pennsylvania-West Virginia state line may be a political boundary, but it does not have to be an innovation boundary. Hear how closer connections in research, commercialization, workforce, cybersecurity, energy and investment could create a stronger technology corridor along I-79, and why the Mountain State Cyber Summit and Tech Yeah on October 28 in Morgantown could be an important place to start building those relationships face-to-face. If you think you know West Virginia tech, this conversation may change your map. The Pittsburgh Technology Council produces TechVibe to explore Pittsburgh's technology innovaton ecosystem.

  8. Sep 27

    How Titan Robotics' Autonomous Systems Handle the Dull, Dirty and Dangerous Work

    Stuart Lawrence, founder and CEO of Titan Robotics, joins Jonathan Kersting and Audrey Russo from the Huntington Bank Studios to share the remarkable story behind his Pittsburgh-based robotics company.  What started as a Carnegie Mellon / Air Force Research Lab project to strip paint off fighter jets with high-powered lasers became a 14-year journey of grit, pivots, and breakthroughs. Stuart walks us through:  The origin story: How a torpedo defense engineer turned robotics builder landed at Carnegie Mellon's NREC, got hooked by 25-ton robots with 40-foot reach and lasers, and spun out Titan Robotics  The near-death moment: When a three-star general blocked $75 million in contract awards, forcing a years-long pivot from government-only work to commercial manufacturing  Solving "dull, dirty, and dangerous": How Titan's autonomous systems tackle weld removal, grinding, and sanding of composites without requiring a programmer to operate them  The labor gap advantage: Why the welding skills shortage is Titan's biggest commercial opportunity, and how adaptive robotics empower operators instead of replacing them  14 years, zero fundraising: How Stuart bootstrapped Titan to ~70 employees on government contracts alone, and why now is finally the time to consider outside capital  Leadership lessons: Why "don't lie to yourself" is his #1 piece of advice, and how instrumenting ROI data guided every technology decision  From vaporizing carcinogenic coatings down to 10 pounds of safe material (versus 2,000 pounds of hazardous waste from traditional methods) to giving factory workers a robot that works like a hammer—intuitive and in their control—Titan Robotics is quietly building the future of autonomous industrial robotics in Southwestern Pennsylvania.  Learn more at titanrobots.com

See All (252)

About

Curious about Pittsburgh's growing technology and innovation industry and the opportunities it has for you? This podcast gives you a front-row seat to the companies, people, and institutions that are making Pittsburgh's tech industry thrive. Discover the newest tech startups emerging from Pittsburgh; Meet dynamic entrepreneurs driving innovation and creating a rich landscape for tech company growth; and Stay on top of the latest trends from recognized industry experts and thought leaders. Audrey Russo and Jonathan Kersting of the Pittsburgh Technology Council have interviewed thousands of tech entrepreneurs and business experts across the tPittsburgh region's tech and innovation ecosystem. Get an inside look at the companies, people, and trends that are making Pittsburgh a worldwide center of technology innovation. Start by diving into Pittsburgh's tech ecosystem with a fan-favorite episode: "Meet the New Head of CMU's Machine Learning Department." Don't miss out—click to listen now! TechVibe Pittsburgh is produced by the Pittsburgh Technology Council to explore the Pittsburgh region's technology, entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. Tune in Sundays at 6 AM 10 100.1 FM AM 1020 KDKA.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Kersting
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    252
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    TechVibe Pittsburgh

You Might Also Like