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ABOUT
THE PVCA

MISSION STATEMENT

The Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association was founded in 1982 to catalyze venture investment and entrepreneurialism in Western Pennsylvania. Since then it has become the leading voice of private equity investors in the region.

Through a wide range of programs, the PVCA facilitates quality deal flow, encourages investor collaboration, and fosters important relationships with key service providers. Every major regional venture capital firm is represented in our membership, as well as numerous first-tier service providers.

Regional promotional activities include the 3 Rivers Venture Fair, regular networking events, a membership directory, and award ceremonies for successful regional entrepreneurs. All these activities aim to create a positive climate for venture capital in Western Pennsylvania.

THE PVCA AT A GLANCE

Who: The Pittsburgh Venture Capital Association (PVCA) is the leading voice of private equity investors in Western Pennsylvania and among the most prominent in the Mid-Atlantic region.

What: The PVCA works as an advocate for the venture capital industry and facilitates the flow of capital into promising ventures through networking luncheons, receptions, prominent events like the 3 Rivers Venture Fair and other activities that encourage discussions on topics pertaining to investment trends, financing, tax issues, IPOs and public policy issues.

Where our focus is Western Pennsylvania but our influence has expanded nationally through the high-profile 3 Rivers Venture Fair, which attracts more than 700 attendees, including some of the nation's most prominent investors and firms.

Age: Founded in 1982

Membership: 200, including every major venture capital firm in the region, as well as private investors, top-tier service providers and leaders in economic development.

PVCA HONOREES

For over two decades the PVCA has been celebrating individuals who have had a major impact on the venture community here in Western Pennsylvania. Our "Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year" award celebrates those who have built successful ventures in our region. Our "Lifetime Achievement", "Impact" & "Emerging Leadership" awards all celebrate individuals who have helped to foster & grow the venture community in our area. Past award winners are listed below.

2024
Lifetime Achievement John Bares
Carnegie Robotics
Impact Jeremy Garvey
Cozen O'Connor
Outstanding Entrepreneur Luke Skurman
Niche
2023
Lifetime Achievement Rich Lunak
Innovation Works
Impact Dave Mawhinney
CMU Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship
Outstanding Entrepreneur Jorgen Pedersen
Sarcos Technology & Robotics Corp.
2022
Lifetime Achievement Yvonne Campos
Next Act Fund
Impact Babs Carryer
Entrepreneur, coach, mentor, teacher, and author
Outstanding Entrepreneur Susan Catalano
Cognition Therapeutics
2019
Impact Ilana Diamond
AlphaLab Gear
Outstanding Entrepreneur John Marous
Tandem Life (Formerly Cardiac Assist, Inc.)
Lifetime Achievement Jack Roseman
Roseman Institute
2018
Lifetime Achievement Ron Bianchini
Avere Systems, Spinnaker Networks, Scalable Networks & FORE Systems
Outstanding Entrepreneurs Joe Ferrara & Norman Sadeh
Wombat Security Technologies
Impact Marc Malandro
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative & Formerly of the University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute
2017
Impact Catherine Mott
BlueTree Ventures
Lifetime Achievement Ashok Trivedi & Sunil Wadhwani
iGate
Outstanding Entrepreneur Jason Wolfe
Giftcards.com
2016
Impact Rich Lunak
Innovation Works/Riverfront Ventures
Outstanding Entrepreneur Craig Markovitz
Blue Belt Technologies
Lifetime Achievement Gerald McGinnis
Respironics, Inc.
2015
Lifetime Achievement Joel Adams
Adams Capital Management
Outstanding Entrepreneurs Rob Daley & Henry Thorne
4moms
2014
Outstanding Entrepreneurs Christine Robins, John Stivoric & Astro Teller
Body Media, Inc.
Emerging Leadership Joe Slezak
KFMR
Lifetime Achievement Dennis Yablonsky
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
2013
Lifetime Achievement Bill Newlin
Newlin Investment Company
Outstanding Entrepreneur Raul Valdes-Perez
Vivisimo, Inc.
2012
Outstanding Entrepreneur Dennis Ciccone
Carnegie Learning
Lifetime Achievement Don Jones
Draper Triangle Ventures
2011
Outstanding Entrepreneurs Michael Bozik, M.D., Gregory Hebrank, M.D., M.B.A. & Thomas Petzinger, Jr.
Knopp Biosciences
Lifetime Achievement Frank Demmler
Innovation Works
2010 Lifetime Achievement
James Colker - CEO Venture Fund
2009 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Gerald McGinnis - Respironics, Inc.
2008 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Pete DeComo - Renal Solutions Inc.
2007 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Stanley Blaylock - Medmark, a Walgreen Specialty Pharmacy
2006 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Roger Byford - Vocollect, Inc.
2005 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Lawrence Rhoades - Ex One Corporation - Extrude Hone Corp.
2004 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Ron Bianchini - Spinnaker Networks
2003 Outstanding Entrepreneurs
Francois Bitz, Eric Cooper, Thomas Gill & Michael Green - FORE Systems, Inc.
2002 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Chris Allison - Tollgrade Communications, Inc.
2001 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Steve Heilman - Lifecor, Inc. & Vascor, Inc.
2000 Outstanding Entrepreneurs
Sam Kinney & Glen Meakem - FreeMarkets
1999 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Sean McDonald - McKesson Automated Healthcare
1998 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Jarod Cohon - Carnegie Mellon University
1997 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Steve Heilman - Medrad
1996 Outstanding Entrepreneur
Don Jones - International Cybernetics
1995 Outstanding Entrepreneurs
Ashok Trivedi & Sunil Wadhwani - Mastech
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