9 Pittsburgh Startups That Could Be the Next Instagram

Innovations being fostered at AlphaLab include an online marketplace for unused storage and an app for connecting the LGBT community.

 

How many times a week are you surfing Etsy, Pinterest or Amazon when you’re faced with this conundrum: I love it, but can I afford it?

Pittsburgh-based startup BudgetSimple has developed an online financial advisor to make that daunting question easy as pie. Users can create straightforward budget plans at the beginning of every month and allocate money for everything from car insurance to big-ticket electronics purchases. There’s even a smartphone app in case you’re debating an impulse buy at a brick-and-mortar store.

BudgetSimple is one of nine innovative tech companies selected by South Side startup incubator AlphaLab for its newest cycle of mentoring and development.

During the 20-week program, AlphaLab provides $25,000 in investment capital, office space, strategic support, mentorship and educational sessions to help the companies accelerate the launch and growth of their company. No lawyer fees. No accounting fees. At the end of the program, the startups will present their products to potential investors from around the nation.

Check out the full roster of innovative companies:
 

• AthleteTrax is a Web app that helps college athletic departments improve academic and athletic performance.

• BudgetSimple is an online financial advisor that helps you answer the most important question, “Can I afford this?”

• Collected helps users easily find and access content across the many Web services used to create and edit documents.

• Crowdasaurus hosts brandable crowdfunding communities for businesses and organizations to engage their user bases around funding campaigns.

• DropKicker is a social accountability platform that encourages better health through habits.

• MegaBits is one of the first massively multiplayer mobile games based on real-world physical locations.

• ProfilePasser is a mobile platform that connects high-school athletes with college recruiters and increases interaction at events.

• Spacefinity is an online marketplace to share unused storage space and rent it out to others.

• Wing Ma’am is a mobile app that connects users with other LGBT women and notifies them of related events going on in their city.
   

Want to have a chat with these bright individuals? AlphaLab is hosting a Open Coffee Club July 25 at its East Carson Street office. It’ll be like a live episode of “The Big Bang Theory.” You can even ask the AthleteTrax guys if their app will eventually expand to track arrests.

 

  What’s going on today?

 

• It’s $1 Night at North Versailles Bowling Center! After 7 p.m., bowling games, shoe rentals and food cost $1 each.