Sophie Burkholder is the lead reporter in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for Technical.ly, the technology news network, where she focuses on economic development, equity, and access in the area’s tech and innovation communities. A native of Pittsburgh, Burkholder has covered science, health, business and economics through internships and freelance work at Philadelphia Magazine, the Philadelphia Inquirer, PublicSource and TechCrunch. Her work has explored various topics, including the economic impact of the pandemic on Philadelphia’s small business community, renewed grassroots efforts towards equity in the tech workforce, and the challenges of COVID-19 vaccine access for homebound patients. Burkholder earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania, with an additional concentration in startup operations and entrepreneurship.
Beat: Technology and economic development in Pittsburgh
This reporter in Pittsburgh assesses the work of the entrepreneurs and economic developers in providing opportunity for residents including those who have traditionally been underrepresented in the tech industry as well as how it is changing the local economy. The journalist is Technical.ly's lone full-time presence in this area, so the reporter is a self-starter who works well independently.