Abridge hires first chief financial officer following last year's groundbreaking $250M raise
Power Moves is a recurring series where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us at pittsburgh@technical.ly.
Forging partnerships and pivoting through change can help companies drive growth, even amid market challenges.
Sometimes, though, a flashy new hire will do, too.
In this month's Power Moves, startups like Aurora put those strategies into action by finding ways to overcome government hurdles, while others, like Coeptis, are trying out new niches hoping for innovative results.
Meanwhile, healthtech Abridge has taken a straightforward approach to building out its c-suite, most recently with the new hiring of a top financial leader.
Read on below the chart for more on these developments, and other power moves.
Abridge hires experienced tech executive Sagar Sanghvi as CFO
Downtown-based health tech startup Abridge announced last week it had appointed Sagar Sanghvi as its first chief financial officer. Sanghvi brings nearly 15 years of experience as an operator and investor to the role, including six years at the grocery delivery company Instacart where he eventually rose to CFO and is credited with scaling the team from 300 to 1,500 employees, raising over $2 billion in financing.
The hire comes just a few months after Abridge, which offers an AI-powered platform for clinical conversations, raised $250 million in later-stage VC funding, making it the largest deal in the Pittsburgh region during the final quarter of 2024. The deal raised the company's valuation from $2.2 to $2.5 billion.
'Abridge needs agility and creativity to continue serving the needs of clinicians and patients across a diverse array of care settings, specialties, and languages,' Shiv Rao, CEO and founder of Abridge, said in a recent news release. 'Sagar is a rare variant of a strategic CFO who has extensive experience working in highly dynamic markets like healthcare AI.'
Aurora partners to help it stay on track for driverless truck launch
Autonomous vehicle company Aurora, headquartered in the Strip District, announced a partnership with chip manufacturer Nvidia and multinational automotive parts manufacturing company Continental to build self-driving trucks at scale.
Continental will be responsible for making the hardware for Aurora's self-driving trucks, powered by Nvidia's Blackwell chip.
The strategic alliance was announced amidst a series of regulatory challenges for Aurora. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) denied the company's request for an industry-wide hazards exemption on Dec. 31. Since autonomous vehicles cannot deploy flares or safety cones when pulled over, DOT ruled Aurora's proposal of alternative warning beacons mounted to the vehicle did not meet the equivalent level of safety required for an exemption.
In response, Aurora filed a petition on Jan. 10 against DOT, claiming the federal government lacks data to support its preference for human-placed warning devices over Aurora's proposed system.
In a blog post, Aurora President Ossa Fisher said the DOT ruling would not prevent the company from complying with the existing regulations when it plans to launch its fully driverless trucks in April 2025. Fisher did not explain how Aurora plans to comply with the regulations.
Coeptis rebrands, recovers stock and expands into data security
Wexford-based biopharmaceutical company Coeptis, formally known as Coeptis Therapeutics Holdings Inc., has undergone a dramatic rebrand since late last year.
In early December, the company announced the launch of a new division called Coeptis Technologies, though it wasn't immediately clear who would lead the branch. As part of the initiative, Ceoptis signed a binding letter of intent to acquire an unnamed risk mitigation software company with 10,000 customers in over 100 countries. The company also acquired the NexGenAI Affiliates Network platform, an AI-powered marketing software, shortly after.
By early January, Coeptis announced the acquisition of NexGenAI had secured the company five new clients with a total contract value of $1.7 million. Since then, the company's stock has more than doubled after a compliance rift with Nasdaq.
The company's primary focus is pioneering cell therapy platforms for cancer, autoimmune and infectious diseases, but the move indicated the company's intent to enter the burgeoning data security market.
Gather AI announces sales, finance hires and a tech partnership
Autonomous inventory startup Gather AI announced two key hires and a strategic partnership on Jan. 15.
Chris Visnic joined Gather AI as head of sales, bringing experience in industrial automation, engineering software and scaling early-stage tech companies. Li Wu was appointed head of finance, with expertise in scaling high-growth technology businesses, particularly in AI and SaaS markets.
The partnership with New Jersey-based Made4net, a supply chain tech company, will integrate Gather AI's deep learning and autonomous drones that scan and track inventory with Made4net's cloud-based warehouse and supply chain management software. The companies already share multiple clients, helping them each expand their products to a wider customer base.
More power moves:
TeleTracking Technologies in downtown Pittsburgh has partnered with UK-based AI company Faculty for a five-year collaboration to integrate AI-powered automation into TeleTracking's Operations IQ platform. TeleTracking currently collaborates with over 200 healthcare systems and more than 900 hospitals around the world.
Canonsburg-based simulation company Ansys Inc. has partnered with Sony Semiconductor Solutions, a Sony corporate group specializing in imaging and sensing, to enhance camera simulation technology for autonomous vehicles.
In response to hybrid work and a focus on office space efficiency, Google confirmed it will not renew the lease for two floors at its Bakery Square office in East Liberty but will reopen another floor previously closed for renovation.
Wexford-based insurance broker FifthWall Solutions appointed Matthew Hightower as chief marketing officer, a newly created executive position to promote the firm's cyber offerings.
Logistics and global supply chain firm Armada Sunset Holdings appointed Chris O'Brien to the newly created role of president as part of the company's growth strategy.
In Canonsburg, cybersecurity provider Magna5 promoted Matt Kimpel from vice president of information security to chief information security officer to lead the company's cybersecurity initiatives and facilitate regulatory compliance for clients across industries.
Information technology company Mastech Digital named Nirav Patel as its next president, CEO and member of its board of directors. Patel aims to transform the company, which is headquartered in Moon Township, into a 'full-scale, data and AI-led technology services leader.'
East Liberty-based consumer analytics company CivicScience named Gary Warech as its new chief commercial officer. Warech will focus on growing the company's market presence by using its consumer data to improve large-language models.
Logix Guru has promoted Ravi Ajmani to president after over a decade with the company, where he expanded operations internationally and drove 110% revenue growth while doubling the team size. He aims to double the Murrysville-based company's size again within the next three years.
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Virginia Tech hones in on advanced computing with new institute
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Dubbed the Institute for Advanced Computing, the center will cater to graduate students working in artificial intelligence, machine learning and quantum computing. Computer science professor Kirk Cameron has been named the institute's interim director. 'As Virginia's land-grant research university, we are connecting the world's best talent and partners to the commonwealth and bridging the gaps between academia, industry, and government in the greater DC area,' Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said in a press release. Virginia Tech opened this new location in Alexandria this February. The university houses its colleges of business and engineering at the new campus while its main one remains in Blacksburg. Tyto Athene lands another acquisition After the Reston government contractor acquired three companies in 2024, Tyto Athene purchased yet another tech firm to boost its capabilities and expand its customer base. Tyto Athene acquired stackArmor, a Tysons-based cloud and cyber compliance company providing services to federal agencies. 'By combining the capabilities of Tyto and stackArmor, we're able to deliver secure and cost-efficient digital infrastructure that accelerates the mission of our government and defense customers through automation,' said Gaurav Pal, principal of stackArmor. StackArmor is also a part of the US AI Safety Institute Consortium out of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which is still in operation even though President Donald Trump rescinded former President Joe Biden's AI executive order. Startup founder to serve on Maryland police committee Colin Fraser, founder of the cannabis delivery app Upling and a DC Startup and Tech Week organizer, will serve on the Maryland Police Training and Standards Committee after being appointed by Gov. Wes Moore. A returning citizen, Fraser will focus on training for police that reduces harm, he wrote on LinkedIn. 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NobleReach, an organization aiming to bridge the public and private sectors to boost technological prowess in the US, appointed two members to its board: Ralph Semmel, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory's director; and Jill Tiefenthaler, CEO at the National Geographic Society. Falls Church government contractor GDIT launched an AI tool that detects fraudulent payments, including healthcare claims and benefits. Blink Charging in Bowie is laying off 20% of its workforce as its revenue continues to drop, as additionally reported by the Washington Business Journal. The electric vehicle charging manufacturer relocated from Miami in 2024. IT services company Navteca in Chevy Chase hired Hector Collazo as its new president. ShorePoint, a cybersecurity company based in Herndon, appointed Kevin Cox as its new executive director of cyber operations modernization. Cvent, a hospitality and event technology platform, acquired the spatial event design technology Prismm. 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21-05-2025
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Philly's new interim commerce director brings nearly two decades of city experience to the role
Power Moves is a recurring series where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us at philly@ A management shakeup is taking place at a key Philadelphia government agency. The Commerce Department underwent a change in leadership, with former Commerce Director Alba Martinez stepping down and longtime city gov employee Karen Fegely taking her place. Plus, local startups are getting the chance to show themselves off through accelerators and pitch competitions this spring. Software company Ideate won the Demo Pit competition at the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies' Phorum conference last month. The HiveBio Accelerator, which is focused on support for underrepresented life sciences founders, selected its first cohort. Check out all the details and more power moves below the chart, where we look at the top 10 desirable skills for jobs right now and how many job postings request each skill. Longtime city gov employee appointed acting commerce director Mayor Cherelle Parker appointed Karen Fegely as acting commerce director earlier this month. Fegely is taking over the position from Alba Martinez, who announced her departure from the Commerce Department in March to produce an original musical. The Commerce Department's role is to help economic development happen by creating initiatives to increase accessibility and equity, Fegely told This includes creating opportunities for Philadelphians to build wealth through a sustainable career, owning a business, owning property and more. 'Philadelphia is really well-positioned to do that,' Fegely said, 'to be in a place where we grow together.' Fegely has almost 18 years of experience working in the city's Department of Commerce, most recently as deputy commerce director of policy and strategic initiatives. She was also previously the deputy commerce director of neighborhood business services. Fegely now oversees initiatives that the Commerce Department already has in place, such as the Small Business Catalyst Fund and the PHL Open for Business initiative, which aims to streamline access to business resources. The goal is to provide one-on-one assistance to businesses, but also partner with orgs across the city that can support the business community in Philly, she told 'We have all the right ingredients,' Fegely said. 'It's just doing more and bigger, and making sure we're connecting to people, that people know to come to us for help.' Ideate wins PACT Demo Pit, will pitch at mid-Atlantic conference this fall Rahmi Halaby, founder of early-stage startup Ideate, won Best in Show at Phorum 2025, securing a spot to pitch at the Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies' (PACT) Mid-Atlantic Capital Conference in the fall. 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'I'm really excited to, in the coming months, basically have a product that people can fully sign up for and use and save time within their day to focus on the creative work,' Halaby said. HiveBio Accelerator selects its first cohort Ten Philly-area startups were selected for the first cohort of the HiveBio Accelerator, which aims to support underrepresented life sciences founders. The chosen startups include five therapeutics companies, three medical device companies, one digital health company and one biotech supply chain company. 'I'm most proud of the diversity within our underrepresented founder cohort,' said Tia Lyles-Williams, founder and chief innovation officer of HiveBio. 'Of this cohort, eight are BIPOC-led, eight are first-generation-led, seven are woman-led, and seven are immigrant-led. I'm looking forward to working with this impressive cohort and supporting their unapologetic success.' 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Technical.ly
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Tenable, the Maryland cybersecurity juggernaut, is opening an office in Israel
Power Moves is a recurring series where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us at baltimore@ The Baltimore region's private sector and public agencies keep on bustling despite the now-paused trade war between the US and China, plus tariffs bringing uncertainty to global economy-dependent entities like the port. In true Maryland fashion, there've been a lot of leadership moves in cybersecurity. For example, a local company opened a new operations center in Tel Aviv. Maryland also appointed a new chief cybersecurity officer. Cyber isn't the only sector of note: A local accelerator brought its programming to New Jersey, too. Keep scrolling to get the details on those and more regional power moves. First, check out the chart below for a snapshot of what kind of jobs are in demand right now in the Baltimore region, and how much those employees make. Tenable opens new office in Israel, taps chief product officer Columbia-headquartered Tenable's employees in the Tel Aviv region will now work out of the Landmark TLV Building in Israel. The company's 250 workers in that region, a major economic and tech industry hub, will occupy multiple floors, per a press release. That number includes people focused on research and development, as well as several of Tebable's existing products. 'Israel is a global leader in cybersecurity, and we're proud to be part of such an active and innovative community,' said Steve Vintz, Co-CEO and CFO of Tenable. 'Bringing our teams together under one roof not only strengthens collaboration but also reinforces our dedication to growing with – and investing in – the companies and future technology leaders who make this region so exceptional.' This news follows Tenable's acquisition of the Israeli firm Vulcan Cyber for $147 million in cash, plus $3 million in restricted stock units. The Maryland firm also appointed a new chief product officer. Eric Doerr joins the C-suite as Tenable plans to expand its exposure management platform. He's worked in scaling cybersecurity products for nearly three decades, most recently as vice president of security products at Google Cloud. 'Tenable is transforming how organizations think about and reduce cyber risk,' Doerr said in an announcement. 'Its forward-thinking approach to exposure management and its rapid innovation in cloud security make this an incredibly exciting time to join.' Maryland hires chief cybersecurity officer James Saunders will lead the Office of Security Management under the state's information technology department. Before this role, Saunders served as the chief information security officer (CISO) and deputy chief information officer at the US Office of Personnel Management. He also worked as the CISO for the federal Small Business Administration. 'I am a big advocate for embracing emerging technologies to help transform and secure organizations,' said Saunders in a press release. 'And I'm a big believer in partnership. Whether they are part of my security team or not, I will work hand in hand with those across the State of Maryland to ensure we keep our people and our assets safe, together.' Conscious Venture Lab expands to New Jersey The Baltimore-based accelerator will now host programming for entrepreneurs in Trenton. Conscious Venture Lab is a project of the Novella Center for Entrepreneurship, which organizes training for founders and CEOs. It's focused on providing mentorship and resources to diverse entrepreneurs. The expansion of its program to New Jersey's capital city has already received a cosign from its top politician. 'This venture will bring tremendous opportunity to Trenton's entrepreneurial ecosystem — our local entrepreneurs will have the chance to connect with networks and gain access to world-class mentorship,' said Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora. 'It's a strong vote of confidence in the talent and potential we have in Trenton.' Founders from across New Jersey will be eligible for the program, which offers 14 -weeks of training and mentorship. Applications close on July 25, and the accelerator will start in October. More leadership moves: Castle Biosciences, a publicly traded Texas company specializing in diagnostics, acquired the Baltimore cancer detection company Previse. Tammi Thomas, chief development and marketing officer at TEDCO, was tapped to lead the Maryland Economic Development Association's board of directors. Kate Dwyer officially joined Storytime AI as its chief marketing officer and marketing cofounder. She previously worked at Amazon Web Services as a senior marketing manager. Baltimore firm PEI Staffing's CEO David Epstein was sentenced to over a year in prison for PPP loan fraud, the Baltimore Business Journal reported. Investment and advisory firm Brown Advisory opened an office in Abu Dhabi due to increased demand from global clients. Rite Aid is closing its Harford County distribution center in June and plans to lay off 363 employees, as reported by the Baltimore Business Journal. Warehouse workers at the Gleb Burnie Toyota distribution center voted to ratify a three-year collective bargaining agreement with representation from the Teamsters labor union. Techstars hired Ashley Kovacs as program manager for the global investment and accelerator company's AI-focused accelerator in Baltimore. She previously worked at the Baltimore healthtech company Protenus, whose CEO (and 2025 RealLIST Connector) Nick Culbertson now leads the Techstars accelerator, in hiring and recruitment. Healthtech company Connected Health won the 'Best Healthcare Big Data Solution' award at the 9th annual MedTech Breakthrough Awards program for its platform. Mark Anthony Thomas, president and CEO of the Greater Baltimore Committee, joined the board of the International Economic Development Council. Ling Ling Sun joined Maryland Public Television in Owings Mills as vice president of its technology division. She recently served as CTO at Nebraska Public Media. Baltimore-headquartered athleticwear giant Under Armour appointed the CEO and chef investment officer at Soros Fund Management to its board of directors. Dawn N. Fitzpatrick will join the board along with Eugene D. Smith, former senior vice president and athletic director at Ohio State University; and Robert J. Sweeney, the president of the private equity firm Sycamore Partners.
