The Cupcake. Has there ever, in the history of confection, been a better-defined brand? All that raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens stuff. Tea parties. Sprinkles.

Frankly, it’s about time someone took a swing at those little pink paper cups. And Butch Bakery is the contender.

What group would be complete without a friend who never has cash? They come in two models – the I’ll-just-put-it-on-my-AmEx and the I’ll-hit-you-back-next-time. One saps your dignity while the other seizes your dough. But if you had an account with Venmo, all you’d have to do is text 646.863.9557 with a message saying “Who” and “How Much.”

Having great clothes is a goal that should be easy for everyone to attain. But for people with disabilities, fashion poses special challenges, and finding clothes that fit well and make dressing and undressing easy can be difficult and frustrating. The Fashion Moves Project is staging a design competition that is aimed at providing solutions for the 15% of our population with disabilities.

We all like to feel good in our clothes. Challenger Brand Me to We Style wants us to also feel good about our impact on the world. Described as “custom apparel that fights poverty,” the clothes this company creates are responsive not only to environmental concerns but also to our social consciences.

OK, so Challenger Brands are working to bring their companies to the forefront, pushing aside the big guys and promoting their own brands to steal the market and grow profits. Right? In the case of Tappening, the answer is an unqualified sort of.

Perhaps you know an adventurous kid who once ate pet food on a dare. Most of us would not be tempted to do so, and we probably don’t even want to know what’s in the food we provide for our pets. Blackwing for Pets understands our squeamishness. The company’s motto, “Meaty Treats with a Conscience,” explains its basic premise: challenging the status quo by providing natural treats for pets.

For generations, quilters have stitched together pieces of fabric to create memories and communicate love in the process. Now those looking for a sentimental keepsake can use VoiceQuilt to piece together the voices of loved ones into a uniquely personal gift.

Shoppers strolling down the cereal aisle at the supermarket face a Goldilocks-like challenge – too sugary, too crunchy, not enough fiber. But [me] & goji provides a solution to getting it just right: do it yourself.

Reporters chasing good information and sources who are willing to provide it have met up in interesting ways over the years, from eyewitness accounts on the scene to secret rendezvous at midnight in a parking garage. Now, the process has evolved with Help a Reporter Out (HARO), a new way to find the right source.

In a city that has feathered its nest with a variety of attractions, it’s hard to challenge the major players. However, Pittsburgh can boast one high-flying challenger that’s clearly not just for the birds. Hatching from a local treasure to hit the big time, the National Aviary has worked hard to move up in the pecking order.

A multi-tiered cake with white frosting and a happy couple in wedding attire is a traditional element of the traditional wedding. As weddings increasingly deviate from the traditional, cake adornments are following suit — and Caketoppers has joined the wedding party! This Challenger gives couples a way to add an attention-grabbing element to their event while showcasing their personalities.

GreenGraffiti, a Challenger Brand that is pioneering environmentally-friendly outdoor advertising, is delivering a strong message: clean is green. Using a stencil-like template and a power washer, this company both cleans the sidewalks and delivers advertising messages.