Pittsburgh Innovates

The Fred Rogers Company and PBS launch new "Neighborhood" TV series with help from Schell Games

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

A new preschool television series inspired by the beloved PBS classic "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" will debut this fall with a companion website and interactive games created by Pittsburgh-based Schell Games.

"Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" marks the first TV series produced by The Fred Rogers Company and PBS since "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" went off the air in 2001. The series features the adventures of Daniel Tiger, son of the original Daniel Tiger, and his preschool friends. The program will not only embrace the core values for which Fred Rogers was known, it will also raise the bar (once again) on what educational TV can offer young children.

"Since Fred died, the company has been actively looking at projects to get itself back into children's television," says Kevin Morrison, COO of The Fred Rogers Company and co-executive producer of the series. "We've taken the world of Fred Rogers and the character he created--his values and philosophy--and put it into a 21st Century animated series."

The series is targeted for a 3-year-old, preschool audience, youngsters who tend to use technology with the assistance of their parents. Schell Games is developing digital educational applications for the series.

It's an interesting challenge, notes Morrison, since social and emotional games at this level don't yet exist. This isn't a program that teaches letters and numbers; it's about school readiness in the broadest sense, cooperation and showing respect for others in class.

"Jesse Schell is one of the best in the country in terms of taking on the challenge to create an innovative website to accompany the series," says Morrison.

Richly textured 2D flash animation will be accompanied by footage of real children in locations in Pittsburgh--bakeries, libraries and neighborhoods. The series will also use musical strategies, a hallmark of Fred Rogers' curriculum, to give parents and children a concrete way to practice positive social skills together.

"Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" plans a fall launch. Further details on the program will be unveiled at this years SXSW Conference in Austin, Texas, in early March.

In related news, The Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media at Saint Vincent College has launched Out-A-Bout, a new iPhone app, developed by the Entertainment Technology Center, for children between the ages of 3 and 5 to encourage physical activity, outdoor play, early literacy and parent-child interaction.

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: Kevin Morrison, The Fred Rogers Company

Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood

(c) The Fred Rogers Company

The Resumator, moving up, moving in, hiring and assisting President Obama

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Pittsburgh startup The Resumator is moving and expanding into new spaces and places and hiring.

The former Alpha Lab company recently settled into a colorful, 8,000 square-foot office space on Perry Highway (formerly Bill Few) and is hiring and doubling in size from 18 to more than 30 people in the next 18 months, says Don Charlton, founder and CEO.

The Resumator's software tools for hiring and job search have been tapped by many high-profile startups across the country, including Pinterest, Atari and EverNote. Startup America and The Resumator also have announced a partnership to assist entrepreneurs and President Obama's re-election website is using The Resumator to power hiring.

"Wherever you see a Resumator logo, we are powering that service," says Charlton on the company's growing success and online buzz. "Our greatest asset is many of the most well-known startups love using our service. If you’re going after startups, that's the best new customer acquisition tool you can have."

The Resumator recently announced that it will provide an estimated $12 million in web-based applicant tracking software tools to Startup America. Startup companies with the program will be offered the use of The Resumator's software services free for six months, which will assist business owners in attracting top talent while helping to refuel the recovering economy, he says.

Charleton hopes, in turn, many of the companies will choose to become Resumator customers.

"What's really helped our growth over the past year is we've done a really good job of being recruited as the product for high-profile, growing startups," Charlton says. "We provide tools that help these employers to stand out and recruit differently."

The Resumator will be hiring this year to staff it's new office. The space features an open floorplan, a "bonafide living room" with large sectional couch and entertainment center, and bistro, Laresummatè, a two-story café where employees can gather to eat.

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: Don Charleton, The Resumator

PLSG raises $8.1 million for new life sciences fund and other funding news

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

The Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse has announced the region's first targeted life science venture capital fund, the $8.1 million PLSG Accelerator Fund.

The Accelerator Fund supports the capitalization and growth of life-saving and life-sustaining technologies and companies in western Pennsylvania. The fund is being managed by the PLSG and invests in the incubator's portfolio companies, which have been vetted through due diligence and mentoring from the PLSG's Executive Program, says John W. Manzetta, managing director.

In other life science investment news, Pittsburgh-based Cohera Medical has received clearance to begin the FDA clinical trial process for its TissuGlu surgical adhesive in the U.S. Cohera previously received CE Mark approval in the EU to begin selling the product to hospitals and surgeons in Germany. The company has plans to expand commercialization into additional European markets in early 2012.

Cohera's TissuGlu would be the first approved FDA synthetic adhesive on the market for large flap surgeries, helping to accelerate healing and reduce the pain associated with cosmetic tummy tuck surgeries, one of the common cosmetic surgeries performed in the U.S.

Medrobotics Corp., developer of surgical snake robotic technology that allows surgeons to perform heart surgery through a single port of entry, closed on a $11.7 million Series C round this month. The round was led by current shareholders, angel investors and the PLSG. The company, formerly known as Cardiorobotics, moved its headquarters to Newport, R.I., last year and maintains a research facility in Oakland.

South Side-based ALung Technologies closed on $10 million fundraising round this month with the help of previous investors and Pittsburgh Birchmere Ventures, who led the Series B funding with a $2 million investment. The money will fund operations, support commercialization of its artificial lung, the Hemolung System, and provide for hiring. ALung hopes to begin generating revenue second quarter 2012. ALung is also preparing to begin selling its artificial lung in Germany this year.

Intimate Bridge 2 Conception closed on a $4.3 million round last December with help from the PLSG Accelerator fund, as well as a private investment firm. IB2C's first product in supported conception, the Stork, is an over-the-counter product that helps couples on the path to conceiving in the privacy of their home, a less expensive and less invasive alternative to procedures historically done in a doctor's office. The company hopes to launch the Stork this year.

Writer: Debra Smit

Source: John Manzetti and Lynn Brusco, PLSG

2012 Carnegie Science Awards recognizes outstanding innovators in the region

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

The 2012 Carnegie Science Award winners are an impressive list of educators, innovators, scientists and entrepreneurs whose work is sending ripples far beyond our region.

Lillian Chong received the 2012 Award for Emerging Female Scientist. An assistant professor in University of Pittsburgh's Department of Chemistry and Department of Computational & Systems Biology, Chong is engaged in cutting-edge research using computer simulations to understand and chart how proteins bind their partner proteins, work that will contribute to the treatment of diseases such as AIDS and cancer.

Chong's compares the research to making movies on the computer at a high-frame rate, showing how all the atoms in the proteins move in time while catching motions as rapid as a million billionth of a second. The work is revealing insights that cannot be gained through experimentation, she says, since many of these motions are difficult to capture using laboratory experiments.

"Using a fancy computer algorithm, we have provided the most detailed views of protein binding to date," she says.

Each year the Carnegie Science Center recognizes a wide range of outstanding achievements in science and technology in western Pennsylvania. In its 16th year, the award has honored more than 300 individuals and organizations that are working to improve lives.

Other awards went to researchers, educators and scientists in a range of areas. Dr. Evan "Jake" Waxman at Pitt was recognized for developing the Guerilla Eye Service (GES), a community service and teaching project that provides eye exams to underserved patients.

Illah Nourbakhsh of CMU was noted for community-creating projects such as ChargeCar, a project that involves local citizens and businesses building custom electric cars.

Henry Thorne of Thorne Industries received the Entrepreneur Award for his success in commercializing robotic technology and creating jobs through the company 4Moms. Nick Kuhn of ALung won the Startup Entrepreneur Award for ALung's respiratory assist technology.

Check out the complete list of 2012 Carnegie Science Award winners. The awards program helps fund the Science Center, exhibits and educational programs.

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: Lillian Chong, Pitt; Carnegie Science Awards

You are needed to advance placemaking in Pittsburgh. Sign up now.

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

You’re invited to participate in the Gateways & Corridors Working Group, the next phase of the Social innovation eXchange (SiX) on civic design and placemaking.

Join The Sprout Fund, participants from SiX, and other interested community members to develop the criteria for awarding up to $10,000 to catalyze a grassroots project to enhance regional gateways, further define neighborhood corridors, and contribute to community vitality. (See more on the SiX event here.)

The Working Group will meet this Thursday, February 9, 2012, from 8:30 to 10am on the campus of Point Park University in Room 409 of Lawrence Hall at Wood Street & Boulevard of the Allies in Downtown Pittsburgh. There is no cost to participate. Coffee and light breakfast fare will be provided.

Register online and let us know that you’re planning to attend!

Contact The Sprout Fund with any questions at 412-325-0646.

Plextronics scales up for manufacturing of OLED components, major hiring

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Printed solar, lighting and electronics developer Plextronics is growing and hiring as it prepares to scale up its manufacturing and engineering operations for OLED components.

The company recently announced two major hires. Former BayerMaterial Science CAO Robert Kumpf joined the Plextronics team this week as COO. Dr. Kumpf's 24-year career in the Polymer, Polyerethane and Plastics Divisions of BMS will be instrumental to the company going forward, says Andy Hannah, President and CEO.

William Snyder joined Plextronics as CFO and Vice President of Corporate Services in the fall of 2011. Snyder was formerly the director of sales for MEDRAD’s radiology business in the U.S.

"Plextronics has a very bright future," says Dr. Kumpf. "This signals an absolute commitment and investment to innovation (and Pittsburgh). Material science is very important to this region, there can't be a better place to have a material science company.

"My personal believe is we are going to be seeing a renaissance in manufacturing in the U.S. We need manufacturing and Plextronics is part of that broader story," Kumpf adds.

Plextronics celebrates 10 years since its founding in 2002 as an R&D spinoff of Carnegie Mellon. In anticipation of the coming year, the company will rebrand itself with the launch of a new website and logo to attract attention to the product and the marketplace, says Shellyn Shoenthal, spokesperson.

In addition, Plextronics is hiring for seven positions in a mix of areas: lab technicians, applications engineers and an administrative assistant .

The company has been focusing the last few years on its demonstration of the application of light emitting diodes (OLED) and organic solar technology. The next step will be the manufacturing of OLED components for consumer electronics, one of the hottest technologies emerging on the market.

Several significant partnerships will be announced in the next year. "You're going to be hearing a lot more news," says Kumpf. "Stay tuned."

Writer: Debra Smit

Source: Bob Kumpf and Shellyn Shoenthal, Plextronics

You Like? Tell 'em how much with a pelvic thrust. Deeplocal HIRING

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Deeplocal is taking the pelvic thrust to the next level with the LikeBelt.

What is a LikeBelt? Simply, it's a geeky-looking utility belt (sorry Batman) that joins you at the hip with Facebook, registering your Likes online as you make--or hump--your way through the day, explains its creator Patrick Miller, senior creative engineer for Deeplocal.

The wireless connection is made through an NFC antenna attached to the belt buckle that allows it to interact with RFID tags that are strategically placed in locations. For example, if you're in your favorite bakery and there's a Like tag at the counter, a pelvic thrust could save you a few calories.

"It's a proximity system," Miller says. "Sort of like slapping high-five or humping."

(And we all know that humping is way more satisfying than clicking.)

Aside from the purely entertaining aspect, the LikeBelt is a way to experiment with new technology and combine it with the tongue-in-cheek notion of bringing "liking" back into the physical world, says Heather Estes, director of business development. Estes considers it a physical reaction to social media, the virtual world reaching out and touching the physical world.

"We spend a lot of time experimenting with technologies, repurposing things to create new experiences," explains Estes. "It's phenomenal marketing for us. A little bit of branding, a little bit of researching and educating ourselves."

And a little bit of helping to attract new talent. If you're a highly creative engineer and reading this, Deeplocal is hiring for 3 different positions, a paid summer engineering intern and two full-time engineers, one creative and the other mechanical.

We're looking for a technology agnostic, someone who is hard-working, has technical skills and passion for doing the types of things we do, says Estes.

Prospective candidates are invited to a Meet and Greet in the office on Feb. 21st. Applications may be submitted through The Resumator.

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: Patrick Miller and Heather Estes, Deeplocal

Why Pittsburgh needs a patent and trademark office here to accelerate startup growth

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has announced plans to open several satellite offices in the U.S. this year. Detroit has gotten the nod. Will Pittsburgh be next?

Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) joined local leaders this month, lobbying the U.S. Dept. of Commerce to select Pittsburgh. Groundbreaking discoveries at research institutions and partnerships between academia and industry have made the region "a hotbed for high-tech start-ups," Casey wrote in a letter to the Commerce Dept.

Locating the office here would bring 100 jobs and accelerate the growth of the innovation sector, especially in the areas of health care, robotics, regenerative medicine, defense, computer sciences and life sciences, Casey noted.

The effort to bring a satellite office to the region began last fall. The City of Pittsburgh submitted an application for the office through PowerUp Pittsburgh, a taskforce convened by Mayor Ravenshahl to find ways to attract innovation and tech-driven growth to the city. The taskforce includes business, education and non-profit leaders.

In a letter to the Commerce Dept. this month, CMU President Dr. Jared Cohon noted that establishing a satellite office makes perfect sense based on the number of world class universities, startups, incubators and clusters in the region. Between 2006-2010, the region received more than $1 billion in federal research funding and generated over 2,900 patents.

It would be a "big boon" to the city and mutually beneficial in moving the region ahead, says Lenore Blum, of CMU's Project Olympus, an incubator for entrepreneurs. "Pittsburgh is a model for other regions across the country that are reinventing themselves," she says.

A satellite office would help to facilitate and accelerate patent applications, an often complicated and lengthy process for new companies. While the CMU Tech Transfer office offers support, a satellite office would expedite applications, Blum says.

Or would it add another level of bureaucracy? asked Ann Dugan, director of Pitt's Institute of Entrepreneurial Excellence, Katz School of Business. An office here would be a positive if it assisted inventors and entrepreneurs in navigating the process.

During last spring's Startup America roundtable at Chatham, local leaders expressed concerns about delays in applying to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Teresa Rae responded that the office is committed to hiring 1500 examiners in 2012 to facilitate the process.

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: Sen. Bob Casey, Lenore Blum, CMU; Ann Dugan, Pitt

East End product designer Daedalus growing, hiring

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Innovator Daedalus has tackled and designed an impressive range of projects.

Consider Bilichek, a handheld medical device developed for Philips Healthcare. The device and incorporated graphical interface is used by hospitals to accurately screen and analyze newborns for jaundice without the need for an invasive blood test.

There's a sustainable water bottle machine, advanced by local startup Evive, which washes standard stainless steel water bottles and fills them with clean water, eliminating the need to purchase pre-packaged bottled-water. Daedalus was behind the research, design and engineering and is now building pilot prototypes; the machines will be placed on college campuses.

Daedalus has worked with local startups and global Fortune 50 companies. An Alcoa aluminium car jack. The Cleanwater Infant Tub by 4Moms, which monitors the temperature of the clean water streaming into the tub on an LED screen. Medical injectors for Medrad that are state-of-the-art,easy-to-use and improve the state of healthcare.

The work is a process that incorporates engineering and science, art, and careful observation, explains Matt Beale, president. The firm's work tends to focus on safety products, industrial tools, scientific instrumentation, home health care and medical devices, improving the function and appeal of products that make everyday life safer and more efficient.

Daedalus was founded in 1979 by Tim Cunningham and has grown steadily to 21 people today. The firm merged with Excel Technologies (a spinoff of Thermo Fisher Scientific) in 2000, jump starting the growth of the engineering side of the business. Beale joined Daedalus in 1988 and runs the firm with two partners: Drew Degentesh and former Excel president Rob Parks.

The company is currently experiencing significant growth and hiring, looking for industrial designers, interface designers, mechanical engineers, software engineers, electrical engineers.

"Local and national clients like to know that we can take care of a project from start to finish, or just help out if they are short-handed," says Beale. "The economy in Pittsburgh has also been better than the economy in much of the country. We never saw the down-side of the recession; so it's been a good place for us to do business."

A winner of numerous awards for innovative designs, Daedalus most recently won a 2012 Carnegie Science Award for Corporate Innovation this week.

Debra Smit

Source: Matt Beale, Daedalus

Sprout announces a call to action for our SiX events and winning project(s)

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

Hundreds of ideas sprang forth at the kick-off social innovation eXchange (SiX) on civic design and placemaking held yesterday at Point Park University.

That was just the beginning. The Sprout Fund, a partner in the event, stands ready to turn some of these ideas into innovative community solutions and invites the community to get involved. To see the first SiX idea that will move forward, go here and learn how you can join other thought leaders in producing good civic design solutions for our region. All the final ideas and concept posters from yesterday can be seen on this site.

Stay tuned to Pop City for more information on the event, including a video on the ideation session hosted by the LUMA Institute. And look for three more SiX events rolling out this year and how you can get involved.

SiX is brought to you by the Pittsburgh Foundation and the Sprout Fund in concert with Pop City and with support from the Buhl Foundation.

Photo of SiX event by Tracy Certo

Google Pittsburgh expanding and hiring. Best place to work in U.S., says Fortune.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Google Pittsburgh's Bakery Square office was recognized as one of the coolest offices in the country last year, but wait and see the new floor, modeled after the Kennywood amusement park, says Jordan Newman, Google spokesperson.

"The space is going to WOW anyone who walks in," Newman promises.

Google is expanding its Pittsburgh office, the former Nabisco factory, adding 30,000 square-feet on a third floor, bringing the total size of Google's occupied presence at Bakery Square to 80,000 square-feet. While the company declines to project hiring figures, Google obviously will need people to fill the space, Newman says.

The company hired 50 engineers in 2011 and currently employs 200 people in Pittsburgh. The expansion will be completed in February.

To add to the good news, Google was also named the best company to work for in the U.S. by Fortune magazine this month. This is especially noteworthy because the ranking was determined through fairly rigorous employee surveys, notes Newman. (Insider Business named the Google Pittsburgh office as one of the top 15 coolest spaces in the country.)

"The reason we're growing in Pittsburgh is there's a great pipeline of talent coming from CMU and other schools in the region," says Newsman. "There are so many great engineers coming out of the city. We're confident we'll be able to continue to find the talent here."

The boomerang effect has also brought many back to the region, he adds; residents who left Pittsburgh and chose to come back to work at Google. The region's strong economy has contributed as well.

Google, based in Mountain View, Ca., has been growing aggressively and currently employs 7000 people globally.

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: Jordan Newman, Google

Image of Google Pittsburgh copyright Brian Cohen

Careerimp takes helm of Coro's Regional Internship Center

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Pittsburgh startup Careerimp, creators of Resunate and online career services tools, has taken ownership of the Regional Internship Center (RIC) of Southwestern, Pa., a move that will give the site an undecided edge as RIC continues to facilitate the demand for career development and internship opportunities in the region.

Founded and operated by the Coro Center for Civic Leadership (Coro), RIC is an online clearinghouse for hundreds of internships in the region. The decision will mutually benefit both the non-profit and CareerImp, says Mona Abdel-Halim, director of sales and marketing for Careerimp.

While Coro did an excellent job, our company is in a better position to drive RIC forward technologically, she says. Careerimp plans to expand the service beyond students to include job seekers in an effort to create one of the largest interactive online internship boards in the industry.

"We saw this as an opportunity to start small with something that has been successful for the last eight years and test our tools for job boards," she says. "More and more, internships are a gateway to employment. Many companies are using it to try out critical hires."

The RIC currently serves employers in a 13-county area including Allegheny and Westmoreland, reaching all the way to Penn State and the Panhandle of West Virginia. More than 300 companies post on the site, which includes summer internship programs.

Careerimp will beef up the website by reaching out to more employers in the region. The startup is also looking to engage partners and offer a more diverse selection of internships, opportunities that are available to both students and job seekers who want to get their foot in the door.

Careerimp's job application tool, Resunate, will be integrated into the site, allowing individuals to see how they might "fit" individual jobs. Anyone with a profile on the RIC can use their profile to apply to all the jobs offered, says Abdel-Halim.

In addition, a new website from Careerimp, MyCrappyResume.com, offers an entertaining perspective on the job search to employers and job seekers. The site invites anyone with an HR misadventure horror story to post; readers may vote for their favorite story.

Careerimp, located Uptown in StartupTown, doubled in size last year from four to eight employees. Universities and companies across the country are using Resunate to assist with job searches.

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: Mona Abdel-Halim, Careerimp

U-Brew comes to Greenfield with Copper Kettle Brewing Co.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Copper Kettle Brewing Company has opened the region's first brew-on-the-premises brewery in an old Greenfield hardware store. Let the hand-crafted, single-batch beer brewing begin.

Duquesne University grad Greg Hough and his cousin Jeff Medjimorec, beer lovers both, hit on the idea when they were brainstorming the brew pub business. They heard about U-Brew, a trend that originated in Canada as a way to circumvent the high taxes on alcohol.

"It's kind of like Build-A-Bear or Color Me Mine, but beer," says Hough, 26, who graduated with a degree in marketing and entrepreneurship.

Copper Kettle is conveniently located next door to Hough's family's craft beer bar and restaurant, a brew pub (not surprisingly) called Hough's. Patrons can schedule a brewing session and grab a beer and a meal while they're in the neighborhood, he adds.

It takes two appointments and one to five people to brew around a copper kettle. During the first session, patrons select a recipe, pick ingredients and commence brewing, a process that takes about two hours. A second appointment is made 14 days later, after the beer has had a chance to ferment, and involves packaging, capping and (make-you-own) labeling. The beer (five finished cases) is cold and ready to drink.

"You brew the beer, we have the fermenting room downstairs and do all the cleaning and sanitizing of the equipment," says Hough. "You get to do the fun stuff, we do the dirty work."

Patrons can bring beers over from the bar; the brewing atmosphere is festive. The price ranges from $125 to $145 depending on the recipe and alcohol content. Twenty-two ounce Bottles are $10 a case, or you can bring your own.

Copper Kettle is already beginning to generate interest on Facebook and Twitter. "It makes me very HOPPY," posted Alice Cottone.

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: Greg Hough, Copper Kettle Brewing

Urban Innovation21, sharing the wealth with underserved communities and HIRING

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

What if the innovative spirit that helped transform our economy was spread around and shared with some of the region's most underserved communities?

The Pittsburgh Central Keystone Innovation Zone (PCKIZ) is doing just that. With the help of a name change, PCKIZ has transformed itself into Urban Innovation21 with the goal of expanding its boundaries and assisting the underserved communities of Homewood, East Liberty, Homestead and Hazelwood.

Since 2007, PCKIZ has successfully attracted technology startups within the geographic boundaries of the Hill District, Uptown, and parts of the North Side and South Side.

The new name and expanded geographic scope will help the organization to increase its impact in Southwestern Pa and support local and regional initiatives that are outside the defined geographic boundary of the PCKIZ, says William Generett, president and CEO of Urban Innovation21.

"We believe that an inclusive innovation economy is key in increasing regional competitiveness and sustainability," says Generett. "We are working toward an economy in which all communities are connected to wealth generators."

The Jobs and Innovation Accelerator grant, a $1.95M federal investment, awarded last year has assisted in the expansion of the program. As a result, Urban Innovation21 will add six to seven people to its current staff of 2.5. The organization is looking for an administrative assistant, budget officer, program managers and related jobs.

The additional staff also might require a move into a new office the near future, he adds.

"We support entrepreneurship and innovation and work to ensure that our region's talented minds have the tools and the environment to succeed here," Generett said. "Then we work to ensure that the benefits of this new economy reach people and communities who are disenfranchised from this success."

In addition to the federal grant, Urban Innovation21 was made possible through the support of a public-private partnership that includes large and small organizations including The Heinz Endowments, Alcoa Foundation, several universities, Innovation Works and Idea Foundry. (See the complete list of partners.),

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: William Generett, Urban Innovation21

DigiExpress--finally, a reasonably priced repair service for Apple products in Pittsburgh

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

What do you do when your Apple device--iPod, iPad, iPhone--breaks and Apple can't or won't repair it for less than the original price of the product?

DigiExpress in New Kensington is building a thriving business as a cost-effective repair solution for customers. Their high-ranking placement in computer searches is helping to attract a national clientele and B2B customers as well.

"We focus on physical damage not covered by Apple under their warranties," explains Dan Long, senior account manager for DigiExpress. "Apple is our sweet spot. They generally don't want to be involved in the repair of these issues."

DigiExpress was founded by Michael Polimadei in New Kensington in 2007 and has serviced nearly 100,000 customers to date. In addition to consumer repair, the company is picking up business from other businesses, school districts and national universities.

The company, which doubled in size in the last year from 12 to 30 people, is always looking for qualified electronic repair technicians, says Long.

With the growth in popularity of Apple products, DigiExpress launched a second service website this year, Superior Repair Solutions, providing business customers with reliable repair service and a fast turnaround.

What sets DigiExpress apart from other third-party repair services is the parts are OEM quality, explains Long. The company charges a non-refundable $25 for diagnosis of a product.

If a product can be repaired for less than half of its original purchase price, it's generally worth repairing, Long says. An average iPod repair is $64, including shipping, which is better than buying a new one which starts with the Nano at $149.

DigiExpress is open 7 days a week. Products may be mailed in or brought into the 2-floor location. Once a diagnosis is made, a customer can decide whether to proceed with the fix. All repairs are guaranteed for 30 days.

DigiExpress does not work on Mac laptops.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg," says Long. "I really see this as the beginning of our growth."

Writer: Deb Smit

Source: Dan Long, DigiExpress

Image courtesy of DigiExpress