pittsburgh business show

What pittsburgh business show does

Pittsburgh Business Show 2020, LLC operates an annual business-to-business trade show, conference, and networking event held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 2016 with documented annual shows from 2017 through 2019, a COVID-related postponement in 2020, and a current 2025 postponement. The flagship event aggregates 2,000+ registered attendees, 110,000+ square feet of exhibitor space, and speakers/exhibitors from over 20 industries, ranking as the 17th largest show in Pittsburgh. Its product surface includes the Business Choice Awards program (80+ categories, co-developed with DoYouKnowAGood.com), speed networking sessions, a Diversity & Inclusion Certification course, professional workshops, and a year-round calendar of smaller business networking events.

The company monetizes through three primary streams: exhibitor booth rental (over 100,000 square feet sold annually), multi-tier sponsorship packages (presenting, platinum, gold, diamond), and ticket sales to attendees. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; Higher Images has held the presenting sponsor role for at least four consecutive years. Marketing is executed via social media, email newsletters, the company's website, and a regional media partnership portfolio spanning KDKA (radio), The CW (television), WDVE (radio), and City Paper (print), complemented by community partnerships with Junior Achievement, SCORE, Pittsburgh Women's Masterminds, and the Women's Small Business Association. The 2025 show is currently listed as postponed, which represents a material operational signal.

Name

pittsburgh business show

Legal name

Pittsburgh Business Show 2020, LLC

Website

https://pittsburghbusinessshow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Trade Shows and Conferences

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

akta.pro primary industry

Industry Trade Shows & Expos (MPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional & Association Conferences (MPAGAGAB)

Keywords

• B2B trade shows
• Business networking events
• Corporate sponsorship packages
• Professional conference services
• Exhibitor booth sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations

Revenue model

1. Exhibitor Booth Sales: Companies pay to reserve booth space at the show to exhibit their products and services to thousands of business attendees. The exhibitor rates page mentions 110,000 square feet of exhibitor space.
2. Sponsorship Packages: Companies and organizations sponsor various areas of the event including presenting sponsor, platinum sponsor, gold sponsor, and diamond sponsor tiers. Higher Images has been presenting sponsor for multiple years.
3. Ticket Sales: Attendees purchase tickets to access the trade show, networking events, workshops, and sessions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pittsburgh Business Show organizes and operates Pittsburgh's largest annual business-for-business trade show, conference, and networking event held at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. The offering combines an exhibitor hall with over 100,000 square feet of booth space, speed networking sessions, professional workshops, diversity and inclusion certification, and the Business Choice Awards program recognizing local businesses across 80+ categories.

Product overview

The Pittsburgh Business Show is a single unified event product combining multiple components: an annual trade show and conference with over 100,000 square feet of exhibitor space, the Business Choice Awards program with 80+ business categories, Speed Networking Events, Diversity & Inclusion Certification courses, and Professional Workshops featuring speakers from 20+ industries. The event serves as Pittsburgh's largest business-for-business networking platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Business Choice Awards: Annual awards program recognizing businesses in the Pittsburgh region with over 80 categories, created in partnership with DoYouKnowAGood.com.

Products and services

• Pittsburgh Business Show (Annual Trade Show and Conference) Annual flagship B2B trade show, conference, and networking event held at David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Features an exhibitor hall, speed networking, professional workshops, main stage events, and the Business Choice Awards program targeting business owners, entrepreneurs, executives, and professionals from startups to Fortune 500 companies across 20+ industries.
• Business Choice Awards Annual awards program recognizing valuable impact and impressive strides of local Pittsburgh businesses across 80+ categories, featuring nominations, public voting, and winner announcements. Created in partnership with DoYouKnowAGood.com.
• Speed Networking Events Structured networking sessions scheduled at 2:00 PM during the main show that allow attendees to make rapid business connections with other business professionals.
• Diversity and Inclusion Certification Course Certification course and panel session on diversity and inclusion in business and supplier diversity, presented in partnership with the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
• Exhibitor Hall Booth Space Over 100,000 square feet of exhibitor space at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center where companies can purchase booth space to exhibit their products and services to thousands of business attendees.
• Professional Workshops and Speaker Sessions Educational presentations and Q&A sessions with industry-leading speakers covering topics such as entrepreneurial issues, financial concerns, and technology integration, with speakers drawn from over 20 industries.

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% of attendees surveyed said they will return next year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• DoYouKnowAGood.comcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Creator of the Business Choice Awards program, a 16-year-old Pittsburgh-based company whose mission is to give businesses a platform where they can establish and promote their reputation. The program recognizes valuable impact and impressive strides that local businesses have made in the past year in the Pittsburgh region.
• Higher ImagescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Sponsor of the Pittsburgh Business Show for multiple years (including 4th year as of 2019). Higher Images is a web design company that also designed the Pittsburgh Business Show website.
• Ford Business MachinesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerWestern Pennsylvania's largest independent full-line authorized dealer of Canon, Konica Minolta and Lanier (Ricoh) products. Platinum Sponsor providing copiers, printers, and multi-function product technology.
• Junior AchievementmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit partner organization that supports youth entrepreneurship and business education. Participated as partner and developed relationships through the show.
• SCOREminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SCORE, a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground through mentorship and education.
• KDKAmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor media partner providing radio broadcast coverage and promotion of the Pittsburgh Business Show.
• The CWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner providing television broadcast coverage and promotion.
• WDVEminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal radio station partner providing media coverage and promotion.
• City PaperminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal newspaper partner providing media coverage and promotion of the show.
• Pittsburgh Women's MastermindsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's business networking and mastermind group partnership for event promotion and attendee engagement.
• Women's Small Business AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting women in business, partnered for event promotion and networking opportunities.
• The Alternative BoardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational peer advisory board organization for business owners, partnered for event promotion.
• Green Apple Barter ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond Sponsor of the Pittsburgh Business Show, providing barter services.
• Just Pay Half – PittsburghminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond Sponsor of the Pittsburgh Business Show.
• Marley Financial GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDiamond Sponsor and PEO (Professional Employer Organization) providing financial services to businesses.
• DARIETHminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold Sponsor of the Pittsburgh Business Show.
• Dress for Success PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Sponsor and charitable partner providing professional clothing and career development services to women. Part of the show's charitable giving initiative.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RX Global: RX Global operates large business-to-business exhibitions and conferences, monetizing attendee access, exhibitor space, sponsorships, and lead generation. Its exhibition-led model is directly comparable to Pittsburgh Business Show's annual B2B show, although RX serves a much broader international market.
• Clarion Events: Clarion Events organizes trade shows, conferences, and exhibitions across multiple industries, serving exhibitors, sponsors, and professional attendees. Its recurring event portfolio and sponsor/exhibitor model closely match Pittsburgh Business Show's core offering.
• Emerald Expositions: Emerald Expositions operates B2B trade shows, conferences, and events where businesses pay for exhibitor access and audience engagement. It is a relevant direct peer because its event-led monetization and target customer base closely resemble Pittsburgh Business Show's exhibitor, sponsor, and attendee model.
• Messe Frankfurt: Messe Frankfurt organizes international trade fairs, congresses, and exhibitions and provides related event and venue services. Its business model of bringing exhibitors and professional audiences together is directly comparable to Pittsburgh Business Show's trade show and conference platform.
• Koelnmesse: Koelnmesse operates international trade fairs, congresses, and exhibitions, with exhibitor participation and professional visitor engagement as core activities. It is comparable to Pittsburgh Business Show because both monetize access to concentrated B2B audiences through physical events.
• Messe München: Messe München organizes trade fairs, exhibitions, and conferences for business audiences, including exhibitor and sponsorship programs. Its event portfolio and audience-development model are relevant comparators for Pittsburgh Business Show's recurring B2B event.
• NürnbergMesse: NürnbergMesse operates trade fairs, congresses, and events that connect exhibitors with industry visitors. Although it operates at a larger international scale, its event organization, exhibitor monetization, and professional networking function are materially comparable.

Broad incumbents

• Informa Markets: Informa Markets operates a global portfolio of B2B exhibitions, trade shows, and conferences. It overlaps with Pittsburgh Business Show through exhibitor recruitment, sponsorship, attendee monetization, and industry networking, but at substantially greater scale and geographic breadth.

Others

• Freeman: Freeman provides event production, exhibition services, and attendee and exhibitor experience management. It is an ecosystem participant rather than a direct event organizer, but it is comparable in the event-delivery infrastructure that supports trade shows and conferences.
• Cvent: Cvent provides event registration, attendee engagement, and event management software for conferences and exhibitions. It does not compete directly with Pittsburgh Business Show, but its technology supports the same event operations, sponsor visibility, and audience-management workflows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pghb4bshow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC3xu6HgIhP0nAcRz2qg4z9Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/PittsburghBusinessShow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pittsburgh-business-show

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about pittsburgh business show