FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Kathryn Connor
412-268-4884 (Phone)
412-555-0101 (Fax)

Pittsburgh Innovates: A Call for Entries
Technologists engage the Pittsburgh community through web-based competition

PITTTSBURGH – Aug. 26, 2008 –This fall, the Greater Keystone Innovation Zone (GO KIZ) is sponsoring Pittsburgh Innovates at pittsburghinnovates.com, a contest designed to leverage web-based media to increase awareness of innovation, technology and its connections to the region. 

The contest is open to individuals and teams wishing to submit a technological innovation or a presentation of their innovation with a direct connection to the Pittsburgh region. Entries may be in a wide range of electronic formats including videos, PDF documents, photos, social networking applications, widgets, etc. The only limitation is GO KIZ must be able to display a screenshot of the submission on the contest’s Web site. GO KIZ will begin accepting entries at www.pittsburghinnovates.com on Aug. 26, 2008.  Submissions and ranking by the public will occur simultaneously until Oct. 26, 2008.

A panel of local and national technology professionals, gaming experts and venture capitalists will select the winner of a $20,000 Judges’ Award.  Concurrently, the public will rank entries to choose the most popular entry that will win $10,000. Both awards will be announced in November 2008. In addition to the cash awards, entries and winners will be showcased at a variety of community events throughout the fall.

“Pittsburgh has become a technology hub with hundreds of startups, innovative university programs and major healthcare research,” said Jay Katarincic, Managing Director of Draper Triangle. While most programs have been growing quietly, the Pittsburgh Innovates contest aims to give technologists a space to show off their ideas and give members of the public a chance to weigh in on their favorite homegrown innovations.

Judging panel members include: Joe Warren, Disney Imagineering; Catherine Mott, Blue Tree Allied Angels; Jack Lew and Kyle Gray, Electronic Arts; Mark Re, Seagate Technology; Mick McManus, Maya Design; Charlie Humphrey, Pittsburgh Filmmakers and Pittsburgh Center for the Arts; Don Marinelli, Carnegie Mellon’s Entertainment Technology Center; Jesse Schell, Schell Games; Todd Eckert, Eutechnyx; and Ashley DiParlo, WTAE Channel 4 Action News.

GO KIZ is a partnership among the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Allegheny Conference on Community Development and Affiliates, Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, Idea Foundry, Innovation Works, Mellon Pitt Carnegie Corp., Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, Pittsburgh Technology Council, The Technology Collaborative, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh.  The partnership works to increase entrepreneurship, encourage university spinoffs, provide grants, and market technology in the region.  More information about GO KIZ is available at www.gokiz.org.

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