NuRelm
NuRelm is a Pittsburgh-based software development firm that builds custom mobile apps, web apps, chatbots, and HIPAA-compliant research portals for university researchers and government health agencies, specializing in SBIR/STTR grant-funded projects.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What NuRelm does
NuRelm is a private, Pittsburgh-based software development firm founded in 1999 that builds custom digital products for scientific researchers, academic institutions, and government health agencies. The company specializes in translating grant-funded research (SBIR/STTR programs) into production-grade software, offering mobile apps, web applications, chatbots, research study portals, and HIPAA-compliant cloud infrastructure tailored for protected health information. Its service portfolio spans the full delivery lifecycle — grant proposal brainstorming and budgeting, design workshops, UX/UI design, wireframing, user testing, development, and ongoing support — positioning it as an outsourced product team rather than a vendor of off-the-shelf software.
The business model is professional services-driven: revenue is generated through custom, quote-based project engagements typically structured as multi-year contracts with academic and government clients. NuRelm operates a sales-led go-to-market, acquiring customers via direct website inquiry, network referrals within the research community, and thought-leadership content (The Lab blog, newsletters, webinars). Named engagements span the University of Pittsburgh (Myana postpartum care app), Carnegie Mellon, Arizona State University, Temple University, the State of Pennsylvania (PA-Links), SAMHSA (PATHPDX), and Stream Restoration Incorporated, indicating a vertical mix of academic research, public health, and nonprofit clients across the United States.
NuRelm's strategic positioning combines domain specialization in research software with selective expansion into AI-adjacent work via its Polymath Plus partnership (backed by an $18M AI investment) and into productized offerings such as a Ready-to-Go Wearable Data Collection System. The firm competes less on technology differentiation and more on contextual understanding of grant processes, IRB/HIPAA compliance, and academic procurement — areas where generalist agencies lack comparable depth. Operating geographies are U.S.-only, with headquarters at 100 S Commons #102, Pittsburgh, PA.
NuRelm firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NuRelm
- Legal name
- NuRelm Inc.
- Website
- https://nurelm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- NuRelm is a Pittsburgh-based software development firm that builds custom mobile apps, web apps, chatbots, and HIPAA-compliant research portals for university researchers and government health agencies, specializing in SBIR/STTR grant-funded projects.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NuRelm industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Custom Software Development for Research
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance) (EDAEALAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Mobile App Development Platforms (MADP) (HDAEAKAD)
Keywords
Where NuRelm is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
NuRelm business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Custom Software Development Services: NuRelm generates revenue through custom software development engagements, working with researchers and innovators from project inception through delivery. Services include grant proposal brainstorming, UX design, development, and ongoing support.
- SBIR/STTR Commercialization Partnerships: Revenue generated through SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) and STTR (Small Business Technology Transfer) grant-funded projects, where NuRelm partners with researchers to commercialize innovations through government funding programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Project-Based Pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
NuRelm product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NuRelm is a custom software development firm that builds HIPAA-compliant mobile applications, web applications, chatbots, and research study portals for researchers, scientists, and government innovators. The company supports SBIR/STTR-funded commercialization projects and works with universities and government health agencies to deliver research-grade software solutions.
Product overview
NuRelm offers a comprehensive software development portfolio focused on research and healthcare applications. The core offerings include Scientific Research Mobile Apps, Web Apps, and Chatbots, complemented by HIPAA Compliant Infrastructures for secure healthcare data handling. Additional products include Research Study Portals for study management and a Ready-to-Go Wearable Data Collection System for researchers. The company provides a full-service model that combines consulting services (Grant Proposal Brainstorm & Budgeting, Design Workshops, User Testing, User Experience Design, Wireframing & Prototyping, High-Fidelity User Interface Design) with development capabilities and SBIR/STTR Commercialization Partnerships, allowing researchers and innovators to engage NuRelm from concept through final product deployment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Scientific Research Mobile Apps HIPA-compliant mobile applications built for researchers, scientists, and clinical study coordinators to collect data, manage study participation, and engage research subjects on iOS and Android devices.
- Research Web Applications Custom web applications developed for research institutions and government agencies to support scientific workflows, data management, and study coordination.
- Research Chatbots Conversational chatbot interfaces built for research studies, enabling automated participant interaction, data collection, and study engagement for academic and government research programs.
- Research Study Portals HIPAA-compliant research study portals that enable researchers and government health agencies to manage study enrollment, collect data, and coordinate participants securely.
- HIPAA-Compliant Software Infrastructure Secure, compliant software infrastructure designed to meet HIPAA requirements for health-related research applications delivered to universities and government health agencies.
- Ready-to-Go Wearable Data Collection System
Quantifiable outcome
- Delivered mobile app for ASU professor with focus on user-engagement data collection
Companies that use NuRelm
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
NuRelm technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
NuRelm partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Polymath PluscoreNuRelm is involved in the Polymath Plus initiative, which is backed by an $18M AI investment. Their role in this partnership appears to be focused on software development and commercialization support for AI-driven innovations emerging from this project.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
NuRelm competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Forum One: Digital agency that builds custom web platforms, research portals, and digital health solutions for mission-driven, research, and government clients — directly comparable in customer base and product offering to NuRelm.
- Westat: Research-focused professional services firm supporting federal agencies, universities, and health organizations with data collection, survey research, and custom research technology — comparable in research-IT services positioning.
- Velir: Digital agency specializing in custom web and data applications for associations, nonprofits, and research-driven organizations — closely aligned in delivery model and client verticals.
- Substance: Design and technology agency focused on digital health, research, and human-centered products — comparable in HIPAA-aware custom development and research-oriented client work.
Broad incumbents
- Booz Allen Hamilton: Large federal consulting firm with deep digital health, federal health, and research IT modernization practices — overlaps with NuRelm's government digital health work but at vastly greater scale.
- ICF International: Public-sector consulting and digital services provider serving health, environmental, and federal research clients — competes for similar modernization and research-data engagements.
- Deloitte Digital: Global consulting and digital transformation practice with established federal health and research IT offerings — competes for larger-scale versions of NuRelm's work.
- Accenture Federal Services: Federal arm of Accenture delivering large-scale digital health, HHS, and research modernization programs — the type of incumbent NuRelm competes against or partners with on government bids.
- Mathematica: Research and data analytics firm supporting federal and state health and human services agencies — adjacent in the research-to-policy technology value chain that NuRelm also serves.
Emerging players
- Civilla: Small, mission-driven design and technology studio focused on civic and public-interest software — operates in a similar boutique, research-and-government niche with comparable service offerings.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
NuRelm social profiles
Digital presenceNuRelm compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
NuRelm financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NuRelm leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
NuRelm funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NuRelm M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NuRelm
What does NuRelm do?
NuRelm is a custom software development firm that builds HIPAA-compliant mobile applications, web applications, chatbots, and research study portals for researchers, scientists, and government innovators. The company supports SBIR/STTR-funded commercialization projects and works with universities and government health agencies to deliver research-grade software solutions.
Is NuRelm a public or private company?
NuRelm is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was NuRelm founded?
NuRelm was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is NuRelm based?
NuRelm is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does NuRelm make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Custom Software Development Services are the primary driver. The others are SBIR/STTR Commercialization Partnerships.
Who are NuRelm's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Forum One, Westat, Velir and Substance. Broad incumbents are Booz Allen Hamilton, ICF International, Deloitte Digital, Accenture Federal Services and Mathematica. Civilla is listed as an emerging player.
Does NuRelm have an API?
No public API is recorded for NuRelm.
What industry is NuRelm in?
NuRelm's product category is Custom Software Development for Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEALAO, Research Administration & Grants Management Support (Pre/Post-Award, Compliance), with a secondary code of HDAEAKAD, Mobile App Development Platforms (MADP). Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7371.