Emerging Pittsburgh Technology Companies Thrive in Oakland Community
Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) January 16, 2014 -- Revv Oakland, the Oakland Business Improvement District (OBID), and Oakland Real Estate partnered in October 2013 to kick off Startup Oakland, a project that captures the benefits of locating startup technology businesses in Oakland and provides a home for new businesses to thrive and achieve success.
Revv Oakland, a community of technology startups that offers affordable and productive work environments for early stage companies, has already attracted 17 new companies that have created 75 new Oakland-based jobs and expanded startup workspace into more than 10,000 square feet of upper-floor space in the heart of the Oakland business district.
“In order to compete in a 21st century global economy, Pittsburgh must focus on job growth,” said Dan Gilman, Pittsburgh City Councilman District 8. “The companies starting in Oakland will continue to grow and provide a new tax base to the City, new consumers at our retail establishments, new homeowners in our neighborhoods, and new investors in the next generation of innovation. Startup Oakland is critical to the long-term vitality of not only Oakland, but the City and region.”
Not only are new businesses vital to Oakland’s economic success, but businesses also benefit from locating their startups in the neighborhood of Oakland. Shoefitr, a Revv Oakland business, was founded in 2010 by Carnegie Mellon University graduates Matt Wilkinson, Nick End, and Breck Fresen. The company created software that uses 3D scanning technology to help online shoe shoppers find shoes that are the proper size and fit.
Shoefitr now has 41 clients who use the Shoefitr app on their website. There are 700 brands of shoes in their database, which grows daily. The app is accessed from 10 countries in 7 different languages. OBID recently published a feature article on Shoefitr’s growth and success on their blog.
“We have a lot of pride in this city and are excited to be a part of its transformation into a tech town,” said Matt Wilkinson, Co-Founder of Shoefitr.
The goal of Startup Oakland is to spur a technology movement that attracts many more businesses to Revv Oakland and for 100 companies to become OBID members and use Revv Oakland business space in the long-term.
“This partnership highlights Oakland as the perfect location for new and emerging technology companies and as a 21st century destination attracting future visitors, employees, students and residents,” said Georgia Petropoulos, Executive Director at OBID.
The future of Pittsburgh tech companies is in Oakland. Learn more about how to be a part of the movement at http://startupoakland.biz.
About Startup Oakland:
Startup Oakland is a unique partnership project that captures the benefits of locating startup technology businesses in the Oakland innovation economy. Formed by a strategic alliance between OBID, Revv Oakland and Oakland Real Estate, Startup Oakland is funded by the Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development.
Mary Davidson Williams, The Oakland Business Improvement District, http://onlyinoakland.org, +1 412-683-6243, [email protected]
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