. >> one of those startups was launched by native ian rosenberger who started his company thread in 2010. they take recycled plastics from haiti and honduras and turn them into sustainable fab ridge of the company has raised $2.8 million and has a deal with timberland. >> we could have started a business anywhere in the world, and we chose pittsburgh, and we care about who we are as a city. we care about like our uncles and dads and grandfathers lost their jobs in the mills in '70s and '80s but in the ashes of that you see this incredible ecosystem of businesses that are starting. that means something. >> reporter: while silicon valley may grab headlines for its billion dollar startup scene in southern california san diego has she merged as a powerful alternative for technology ven sewers. tease what made jeff winkler want to cultivate and keep local talent in the area. winkler launched his business kodak did i in september 2015 after realizing there was only one other coding school in the area. he wants his students to get jobs, so he goes out and talks to the big employers like microso

. >> one of those startups was launch bid native ian rosenberger who started thread in 2010. they take recycled plastics from haiti and done honduras and turn them into tuesday stainable fabric. they have a deal with timberland. >> we could have started a business anywhere in the world and we chose pittsburgh. we care about our city and uncles and dads and grand fathers lost their jobs in the mills in the '70s and '80s. but in the ashes of that, you see this incredible ecosystem of businesses starting that mean something. >> the commitment that startups have to stay in pittsburgh and not flee to silicon valley when they could is what amazed me. >> what is interesting to me is the type of startups that are being created and the amount of attention that the education community is paying to that with carnegie melon university and the university of pittsburgh as well. what are the industries that are really most compelling in the city? >> i think what i found to be most compelling is just the spirit of innovation that you see throughout all of the startups that we profiled. one m

. >> one of the start-ups was launched by native ian rosenberger who started his company thread in 2010. they take recycled plastics from haiti and hondureas and turn them into sustainable fabric. the company raised $2.8 million and has a deal with timberland. >> we could have started a business anywhere in the world and we chose pittsburgh. and we care about who we are as a city. we care about our uncles and our dads and grandfathers lost their jobs in the mills in the 70s and 0i 80s, but in the ashes of that you see the eco-system of buildings starting something that mean something. >> they have to stay in pittsburgh and not move to silicon valley is what amazed me. >> what is interesting is the type of start-ups being created and the amount of attention that the education community is paying to that with carnegie mellon university and the university of pittsburgh involved in some of the start-ups what are some of the industrials that are most compelling in the city. >> so, i thinkha wt -- i found to be most compelling is the spirit of innovation that you see throughout the start-ups.