Allentown AI: A Conversation with Alexander Labs
Allentown once manufactured the world’s first commercial transistors, powering the beginnings of modern technology long before Silicon Valley had a name. Now, a new wave of innovators is picking up that legacy where it started — right here in the Lehigh Valley.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast episode here:
👉 https://lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com/podcast/alexanderlabs
In this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, Paul Gosselin and Kostas Hatalis of Alexander Labs join us to talk about creating the Lehigh Valley’s first true AI incubator — and why building artificial intelligence tools locally, securely, and ethically could be the region’s next industrial revolution.
Let’s dive into a few major takeaways from our conversation.
The Valley Did It First
Before anyone called it Silicon Valley, Allentown was already building the future. In the 1950s, the Lehigh Valley manufactured the world’s first commercial transistors — the building blocks of today’s computers, phones, and yes, AI.
That legacy wasn’t lost on Paul and Kostas, who saw in Allentown the perfect place to launch a different kind of AI startup: one grounded in transparency, data privacy, and practical tools for real businesses.
What Is Alexander Labs?
It’s not a venture studio. It’s not a consulting firm. It’s a working AI lab, powered by a team of developers, researchers, and founders who believe that AI should be affordable, auditable, and locally controlled.
Instead of massive cloud-based models, they’re building small language models that can run on just one GPU — and helping companies deploy them securely on-prem using a platform called GoPrem.
GoCharlie: AI Built in Allentown
One of the most exciting projects coming out of Alexander Labs is GoCharlie, a content-generating AI assistant that businesses can train on their own data. Kostas, who built the product, describes it as a tool that writes, responds, and learns — but doesn’t send your data to Silicon Valley to do it.
Think of it as ChatGPT with a hometown zip code — smart, safe, and yours.
Why the Lehigh Valley?
Paul and Kostas are betting on the Valley’s unique mix of grit, legacy, and untapped potential. They’re working with Ben Franklin Technology Partners and other local groups to build a tech ecosystem that stays here — not just as an incubator, but as a foundation for new ideas, jobs, and founders.
They want to keep talent in the region, offer AI tools that small companies can actually use, and prove that innovation doesn’t have to come from the coasts.
Looking Ahead
The future of AI isn’t just about writing better text — it’s about building agents that do work across platforms. From WordPress to Slack to Zoom, Alexander Labs is already testing tools that could automate business processes and scale human potential — not replace it.
And they’re doing it all right here in Allentown.
This is a podcast episode about more than just tech. It’s about local ownership, smart engineering, and reclaiming the Lehigh Valley’s legacy as a place that builds the future.
Learn more about Alexander Labs: https://alexanderlabs.ai
🎧 Listen to the podcast:
https://lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com/podcast/alexanderlabs