Innovation Works

Innovation Works is a venture capital firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 1999. With over 20 years of experience, it has become a key player in Southwestern Pennsylvania's technology economy, focusing on investing in high-potential companies that can significantly impact the regional economy. As the largest investor in seed-stage companies in the region, Innovation Works supports a diverse range of sectors, including robotics, artificial intelligence, medical devices, retail technologies, and enterprise software. In addition to financial investment, the firm offers business expertise and resources to help manufacturers adopt new technologies, further fostering innovation and growth within the local economy.

Sophie Burkholder

Investment Associate

Kevin Dowling

Managing Director of Robotics Factory and Hardware

Peter Erin

Senior Investment Associate

Rich Luak

CEO

Jeffrey McDaniel

Investor

Megan Kahn Shaw

Managing Director, Life Sciences

Past deals in Autonomous Vehicles

Safe Space Technologies

Seed Round in 2022
Developer of smart disinfectant robots designed to provide a better alternative to traditional disinfection services. The company's robots use ultraviolet-C (UV-C) light disinfection technology to deactivate harmful pathogens and provide safer environments in workplaces, enabling users to disinfect their spaces more thoroughly.

ESTAT Actuation

Seed Round in 2021
ESTAT Actuation make robots more dynamic using breakthrough actuator technology.

Gridwise

Seed Round in 2021
Gridwise, Inc. develops and operates a peer-to-peer driver intelligence mobile application for rideshare drivers. The company's software solution enables drivers to receive events and end time updates, real-time alerts, airport demand data, and maintain driver taskbar. Its application also enables to get alerts about traffic, weather, events letting out, and other nearby opportunities; calculate tax deductions and prepare detailed tax reports; automatically track mileage; and get real-time passenger data. Gridwise, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Gridwise

Seed Round in 2021
Gridwise, Inc. develops and operates a peer-to-peer driver intelligence mobile application for rideshare drivers. The company's software solution enables drivers to receive events and end time updates, real-time alerts, airport demand data, and maintain driver taskbar. Its application also enables to get alerts about traffic, weather, events letting out, and other nearby opportunities; calculate tax deductions and prepare detailed tax reports; automatically track mileage; and get real-time passenger data. Gridwise, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Make It Home Safe

Seed Round in 2021
Make it Home Safe is a mobile application that enhances safety and security during traffic stops for both police officers and motorists. Founded in 2017 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the app aims to reduce tensions that can arise during these encounters by facilitating real-time identity verification for users. This service is designed to foster a safer interaction between law enforcement and the public, ultimately promoting trust and understanding in potentially stressful situations on the road.

ESTAT Actuation

Seed Round in 2021
ESTAT Actuation make robots more dynamic using breakthrough actuator technology.

Identified Technologies

Seed Round in 2020
Identified Technologies Corporation specializes in developing self-piloting aerial mapping and land survey drones, providing comprehensive data scanning, capture, and analytics solutions. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company offers a range of services that enhance project visibility and productivity for industries such as energy, mining, manufacturing, and construction. Its platform enables users to conduct 3D volumetric analysis, create 2D measurements, and generate detailed maps, while also ensuring FAA compliance and streamlined flight planning. The technology facilitates continuous job site monitoring, allowing clients to perform as-built versus planned comparisons and track project progress, ultimately improving profitability and operational efficiency.

Rapid Flow Technologies

Seed Round in 2020
Rapid Flow Technologies spun out of Carnegie Mellon University with the goal of introducing new Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies into the marketplace. Rapid Flow was created to commercialize the Surtrac adaptive traffic signal control technology developed in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon as part of the Traffic21 research initiative. The company’s founders include the original inventors of Surtrac, who have successfully expanded the initial pilot deployment of Surtrac in Pittsburgh to a network of 50 intersections over the past three years. Rapid Flow holds an exclusive license to the patented Surtrac technology from Carnegie Mellon University, and the University has a stake in the company. In addition to Surtrac, Rapid Flow is also engaged in the development of ubiquitous Bluetooth AVI sensor network technology for ITS performance modeling and other applications through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

EKTO VR

Seed Round in 2020
EKTO VR, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company founded in 2018 that specializes in developing innovative mobility solutions for virtual reality (VR) environments. The company's flagship product, Traverse, is a motorized wearable device designed to enhance locomotion in VR by simulating the sensation of walking. It features wearable robotic boots equipped with rotating plates that adjust to the user's walking direction and wheels that assist in leg movement. This technology allows users to remain stationary while engaging in immersive VR experiences, thereby reducing the risk of motion sickness commonly associated with VR gaming. EKTO VR aims to create a more engaging and comfortable experience for users in virtual environments.

Hebi Robotics

Seed Round in 2020
Hebi Robotics specializes in creating intelligent, modular building blocks for robotic solutions, enabling faster, more efficient, and cost-effective development. Their products feature well-defined interfaces and internet-enabled connectivity, allowing users to concentrate on high-level tasks instead of intricate implementation details. This approach not only accelerates the development process but also enhances the customization of robots to meet specific needs, leading to improved performance. By focusing on flexibility and reconfigurability, Hebi Robotics aims to simplify the creation of robots, making them more useful and safe for various applications. Overall, their innovative tools help reduce development time and costs by ensuring that only essential components are utilized in each project.

CapSen Robotics

Seed Round in 2020
CapSen Robotics, Inc. provides a 3D computer vision system that enables computers to understand the physical world in all of its cluttered glory; and a CapSen Detection Cloud Service. It offers cluttered object detection, scanning (large objects), scanning (small objects), and cluttered object tracking solutions; and serves factory automation, vehicle scanning and measuring, and retail inventory applications. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

PathVu

Seed Round in 2020
PathVu specializes in enhancing walkability along sidewalks, focusing on creating accessible pedestrian pathways for individuals of all abilities. The company develops tools that assist in measuring pathways and include mobile applications designed to gather high-quality data efficiently. These tools enable users to document sidewalk defects through their smartphones, capturing locations and images to identify accessible routes. By promoting improved walkability, PathVu aims to contribute to healthier communities by reducing pollution and increasing property values, ultimately fostering safer and more independent travel for all.

Gridwise

Seed Round in 2020
Gridwise, Inc. develops and operates a peer-to-peer driver intelligence mobile application for rideshare drivers. The company's software solution enables drivers to receive events and end time updates, real-time alerts, airport demand data, and maintain driver taskbar. Its application also enables to get alerts about traffic, weather, events letting out, and other nearby opportunities; calculate tax deductions and prepare detailed tax reports; automatically track mileage; and get real-time passenger data. Gridwise, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Idelic

Series A in 2019
Idelic is a software solutions provider based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in the transportation industry, particularly for commercial trucking fleets. Founded in 2016, the company offers a driver management and analytics platform designed to enhance driver safety. By integrating data from various technology sources into a unified system, Idelic enables its clients to gain predictive insights and effectively manage their safety operations. This approach helps transportation fleets identify at-risk drivers and take proactive measures to prevent accidents before they occur.

RoadBotics, Inc.

Non Equity Assistance in 2019
RoadBotics empowers governments and communities to make objective, data-driven decisions about their public infrastructure assets. We automate image mapping and road assessments, generating interactive maps, unbiased ratings, and practical tools to save time and taxpayer dollars for hundreds of communities across the country and around the world.

ESTAT Actuation

Seed Round in 2019
ESTAT Actuation make robots more dynamic using breakthrough actuator technology.

EKTO VR

Pre Seed Round in 2019
EKTO VR, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company founded in 2018 that specializes in developing innovative mobility solutions for virtual reality (VR) environments. The company's flagship product, Traverse, is a motorized wearable device designed to enhance locomotion in VR by simulating the sensation of walking. It features wearable robotic boots equipped with rotating plates that adjust to the user's walking direction and wheels that assist in leg movement. This technology allows users to remain stationary while engaging in immersive VR experiences, thereby reducing the risk of motion sickness commonly associated with VR gaming. EKTO VR aims to create a more engaging and comfortable experience for users in virtual environments.

Gridwise

Seed Round in 2019
Gridwise, Inc. develops and operates a peer-to-peer driver intelligence mobile application for rideshare drivers. The company's software solution enables drivers to receive events and end time updates, real-time alerts, airport demand data, and maintain driver taskbar. Its application also enables to get alerts about traffic, weather, events letting out, and other nearby opportunities; calculate tax deductions and prepare detailed tax reports; automatically track mileage; and get real-time passenger data. Gridwise, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

CleanRobotics

Seed Round in 2019
CleanRobotics, Inc., based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, manufactures TrashBot, an autonomous system designed to streamline the recycling process. This innovative device utilizes robotics, computer vision, and artificial intelligence to effectively distinguish between landfill waste and recyclables. By automating waste sorting, TrashBot makes recycling more affordable for businesses and enhances profitability for recycling facilities. The system is equipped with cloud-connected technology that employs cameras and sensors to analyze discarded items, providing valuable data to recyclers. This approach not only reduces waste hauling costs for businesses but also offers sustainable solutions to pressing environmental challenges.

Maven Machines

Seed Round in 2019
Maven Machines, Inc. specializes in developing advanced Bluetooth headsets designed specifically for truck drivers. These headsets are equipped with sensors that monitor the driver's condition, environment, and location, detecting signs of fatigue or distraction to enhance safety and prevent accidents. In addition to headset technology, Maven Machines offers a comprehensive mobile cloud solution for the trucking, transportation, and logistics sectors, integrating IoT sensors, artificial intelligence, and software to create a modern fleet management platform. This platform facilitates real-time telematics, driver safety monitoring, and automated compliance, catering to the needs of both drivers and fleet managers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company also maintains offices in California and Texas.

RoadBotics, Inc.

Seed Round in 2018
RoadBotics empowers governments and communities to make objective, data-driven decisions about their public infrastructure assets. We automate image mapping and road assessments, generating interactive maps, unbiased ratings, and practical tools to save time and taxpayer dollars for hundreds of communities across the country and around the world.

Idelic

Seed Round in 2018
Idelic is a software solutions provider based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in the transportation industry, particularly for commercial trucking fleets. Founded in 2016, the company offers a driver management and analytics platform designed to enhance driver safety. By integrating data from various technology sources into a unified system, Idelic enables its clients to gain predictive insights and effectively manage their safety operations. This approach helps transportation fleets identify at-risk drivers and take proactive measures to prevent accidents before they occur.

Idelic

Seed Round in 2018
Idelic is a software solutions provider based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in the transportation industry, particularly for commercial trucking fleets. Founded in 2016, the company offers a driver management and analytics platform designed to enhance driver safety. By integrating data from various technology sources into a unified system, Idelic enables its clients to gain predictive insights and effectively manage their safety operations. This approach helps transportation fleets identify at-risk drivers and take proactive measures to prevent accidents before they occur.

Identified Technologies

Seed Round in 2018
Identified Technologies Corporation specializes in developing self-piloting aerial mapping and land survey drones, providing comprehensive data scanning, capture, and analytics solutions. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company offers a range of services that enhance project visibility and productivity for industries such as energy, mining, manufacturing, and construction. Its platform enables users to conduct 3D volumetric analysis, create 2D measurements, and generate detailed maps, while also ensuring FAA compliance and streamlined flight planning. The technology facilitates continuous job site monitoring, allowing clients to perform as-built versus planned comparisons and track project progress, ultimately improving profitability and operational efficiency.

Gridwise

Seed Round in 2018
Gridwise, Inc. develops and operates a peer-to-peer driver intelligence mobile application for rideshare drivers. The company's software solution enables drivers to receive events and end time updates, real-time alerts, airport demand data, and maintain driver taskbar. Its application also enables to get alerts about traffic, weather, events letting out, and other nearby opportunities; calculate tax deductions and prepare detailed tax reports; automatically track mileage; and get real-time passenger data. Gridwise, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

CapSen Robotics

Seed Round in 2018
CapSen Robotics, Inc. provides a 3D computer vision system that enables computers to understand the physical world in all of its cluttered glory; and a CapSen Detection Cloud Service. It offers cluttered object detection, scanning (large objects), scanning (small objects), and cluttered object tracking solutions; and serves factory automation, vehicle scanning and measuring, and retail inventory applications. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

RoadBotics, Inc.

Seed Round in 2018
RoadBotics empowers governments and communities to make objective, data-driven decisions about their public infrastructure assets. We automate image mapping and road assessments, generating interactive maps, unbiased ratings, and practical tools to save time and taxpayer dollars for hundreds of communities across the country and around the world.

Velocity Robotics

Seed Round in 2018
Velocity Robotics, Inc. is a construction technology company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that develops and manufactures advanced workflow tools and automated positioning systems utilizing robotics and Internet of Things technology. Founded in 2015, the company focuses on enhancing precision and efficiency in various construction operations, including metal stud framing, soffit fabrication, decorative panel installation, finish carpentry, and aluminum window frame installation. Their innovative tools, such as a Bluetooth-enabled tape measure and smart miter saw fence, help eliminate human error in measurement, improve productivity, and reduce waste. By providing valuable data for project managers, Velocity Robotics aims to streamline workflows across the construction sector, bridging practical fabrication needs with high-tech solutions.

Maven Machines

Seed Round in 2018
Maven Machines, Inc. specializes in developing advanced Bluetooth headsets designed specifically for truck drivers. These headsets are equipped with sensors that monitor the driver's condition, environment, and location, detecting signs of fatigue or distraction to enhance safety and prevent accidents. In addition to headset technology, Maven Machines offers a comprehensive mobile cloud solution for the trucking, transportation, and logistics sectors, integrating IoT sensors, artificial intelligence, and software to create a modern fleet management platform. This platform facilitates real-time telematics, driver safety monitoring, and automated compliance, catering to the needs of both drivers and fleet managers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company also maintains offices in California and Texas.

Onward Robotics

Venture Round in 2017
IAM Robotics, LLC is a robotics company founded in 2012 and based in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, specializing in mobile picking robots designed for autonomous order fulfillment and material handling. The company's flagship product, Swift, autonomously navigates warehouse aisles to pick products and retrieve bins, enhancing efficiency in logistics operations. In addition to Swift, IAM Robotics offers Swiftlink, a software interface that facilitates robot operation, and Flash, a product dimensioner and photo booth for accurate inventory management. The company serves various industries, including pharmaceuticals, health and beauty products, e-commerce, and grocery, aiming to optimize warehouse processes through innovative robotic solutions.

Gridwise

Pre Seed Round in 2017
Gridwise, Inc. develops and operates a peer-to-peer driver intelligence mobile application for rideshare drivers. The company's software solution enables drivers to receive events and end time updates, real-time alerts, airport demand data, and maintain driver taskbar. Its application also enables to get alerts about traffic, weather, events letting out, and other nearby opportunities; calculate tax deductions and prepare detailed tax reports; automatically track mileage; and get real-time passenger data. Gridwise, Inc. was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Rapid Flow Technologies

Convertible Note in 2017
Rapid Flow Technologies spun out of Carnegie Mellon University with the goal of introducing new Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) technologies into the marketplace. Rapid Flow was created to commercialize the Surtrac adaptive traffic signal control technology developed in the Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon as part of the Traffic21 research initiative. The company’s founders include the original inventors of Surtrac, who have successfully expanded the initial pilot deployment of Surtrac in Pittsburgh to a network of 50 intersections over the past three years. Rapid Flow holds an exclusive license to the patented Surtrac technology from Carnegie Mellon University, and the University has a stake in the company. In addition to Surtrac, Rapid Flow is also engaged in the development of ubiquitous Bluetooth AVI sensor network technology for ITS performance modeling and other applications through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Identified Technologies

Venture Round in 2017
Identified Technologies Corporation specializes in developing self-piloting aerial mapping and land survey drones, providing comprehensive data scanning, capture, and analytics solutions. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company offers a range of services that enhance project visibility and productivity for industries such as energy, mining, manufacturing, and construction. Its platform enables users to conduct 3D volumetric analysis, create 2D measurements, and generate detailed maps, while also ensuring FAA compliance and streamlined flight planning. The technology facilitates continuous job site monitoring, allowing clients to perform as-built versus planned comparisons and track project progress, ultimately improving profitability and operational efficiency.

CapSen Robotics

Angel Round in 2016
CapSen Robotics, Inc. provides a 3D computer vision system that enables computers to understand the physical world in all of its cluttered glory; and a CapSen Detection Cloud Service. It offers cluttered object detection, scanning (large objects), scanning (small objects), and cluttered object tracking solutions; and serves factory automation, vehicle scanning and measuring, and retail inventory applications. The company was founded in 2016 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Maven Machines

Seed Round in 2015
Maven Machines, Inc. specializes in developing advanced Bluetooth headsets designed specifically for truck drivers. These headsets are equipped with sensors that monitor the driver's condition, environment, and location, detecting signs of fatigue or distraction to enhance safety and prevent accidents. In addition to headset technology, Maven Machines offers a comprehensive mobile cloud solution for the trucking, transportation, and logistics sectors, integrating IoT sensors, artificial intelligence, and software to create a modern fleet management platform. This platform facilitates real-time telematics, driver safety monitoring, and automated compliance, catering to the needs of both drivers and fleet managers. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company also maintains offices in California and Texas.

Hebi Robotics

Seed Round in 2015
Hebi Robotics specializes in creating intelligent, modular building blocks for robotic solutions, enabling faster, more efficient, and cost-effective development. Their products feature well-defined interfaces and internet-enabled connectivity, allowing users to concentrate on high-level tasks instead of intricate implementation details. This approach not only accelerates the development process but also enhances the customization of robots to meet specific needs, leading to improved performance. By focusing on flexibility and reconfigurability, Hebi Robotics aims to simplify the creation of robots, making them more useful and safe for various applications. Overall, their innovative tools help reduce development time and costs by ensuring that only essential components are utilized in each project.

Onward Robotics

Seed Round in 2015
IAM Robotics, LLC is a robotics company founded in 2012 and based in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, specializing in mobile picking robots designed for autonomous order fulfillment and material handling. The company's flagship product, Swift, autonomously navigates warehouse aisles to pick products and retrieve bins, enhancing efficiency in logistics operations. In addition to Swift, IAM Robotics offers Swiftlink, a software interface that facilitates robot operation, and Flash, a product dimensioner and photo booth for accurate inventory management. The company serves various industries, including pharmaceuticals, health and beauty products, e-commerce, and grocery, aiming to optimize warehouse processes through innovative robotic solutions.

Identified Technologies

Seed Round in 2015
Identified Technologies Corporation specializes in developing self-piloting aerial mapping and land survey drones, providing comprehensive data scanning, capture, and analytics solutions. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company offers a range of services that enhance project visibility and productivity for industries such as energy, mining, manufacturing, and construction. Its platform enables users to conduct 3D volumetric analysis, create 2D measurements, and generate detailed maps, while also ensuring FAA compliance and streamlined flight planning. The technology facilitates continuous job site monitoring, allowing clients to perform as-built versus planned comparisons and track project progress, ultimately improving profitability and operational efficiency.

Identified Technologies

Seed Round in 2014
Identified Technologies Corporation specializes in developing self-piloting aerial mapping and land survey drones, providing comprehensive data scanning, capture, and analytics solutions. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company offers a range of services that enhance project visibility and productivity for industries such as energy, mining, manufacturing, and construction. Its platform enables users to conduct 3D volumetric analysis, create 2D measurements, and generate detailed maps, while also ensuring FAA compliance and streamlined flight planning. The technology facilitates continuous job site monitoring, allowing clients to perform as-built versus planned comparisons and track project progress, ultimately improving profitability and operational efficiency.

Propel

Series A in 2014
Propel IT, Inc. is a software company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in the commercial transportation sector. Founded in 2003, the company provides operational performance optimization services aimed at enhancing the efficiency and safety of commercial fleets. Propel has developed RouteRisk, a mobile software platform designed to track, score, and predict the risks associated with commercial vehicle operations. This platform addresses the increasing need to manage rising accident rates, insurance claims, and premiums by significantly reducing accident occurrences by over 50%. RouteRisk offers features such as turn-by-turn routing and in-cab safety alerts, utilizing a comprehensive database that includes FMCSA and DOT inspection records, alongside vehicle history data. This innovative technology enables Propel to effectively assess and mitigate the risks faced by commercial fleets across the United States.

RE2, Inc.

Pre Seed Round in 2014
RE2 Robotics, located in Pittsburgh, PA, is a Carnegie Mellon spin-off. We were founded in 2001 by Jorgen Pedersen on the principles of developing innovative robotic technologies that save lives and improve quality of life. Our team designs mobile manipulation technologies that enable robot users to remotely interact with the world -- whether on the ground, in the air, or underwater. Our intuitive systems are easy to operate and enable users to remotely perform dangerous tasks. Our main customer is the Military and over 400 of our robotic arms have been deployed overseas for EOD missions.

AutoRef

Seed Round in 2013
AutoRef’s mission is to bridge the gap between car dealerships and customers. We believe the entire process of shopping for a car should be easy, fast and enjoyable. We built this service because we think there is a better way. AutoRef allows consumers to negotiate online for new and used vehicles. The service is completely free, and we work with over 5,000 dealerships nationwide.

Propel

Seed Round in 2013
Propel IT, Inc. is a software company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in the commercial transportation sector. Founded in 2003, the company provides operational performance optimization services aimed at enhancing the efficiency and safety of commercial fleets. Propel has developed RouteRisk, a mobile software platform designed to track, score, and predict the risks associated with commercial vehicle operations. This platform addresses the increasing need to manage rising accident rates, insurance claims, and premiums by significantly reducing accident occurrences by over 50%. RouteRisk offers features such as turn-by-turn routing and in-cab safety alerts, utilizing a comprehensive database that includes FMCSA and DOT inspection records, alongside vehicle history data. This innovative technology enables Propel to effectively assess and mitigate the risks faced by commercial fleets across the United States.
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