Innovation Works

Established in 1999, Innovation Works is a prominent investor in Southwestern Pennsylvania's technology sector. It provides capital and resources to early-stage companies with high growth potential and significant regional impact, particularly focusing on robotics, AI, medical devices, retail technologies, and enterprise software.

Sophie Burkholder

Investment Associate

Kevin Dowling Ph.D

Managing Director of Robotics Factory and Hardware

Peter Erin

Senior Associate

Afshan Khan

Investor

Jeffrey McDaniel

Investor

Ven Raju

Investor

Aaron Tainter

Investor

Steven Welles

Managing Director of Software

Jim Wrubel

Investor

Past deals in Hardware

Advanced Optronics

Seed Round in 2024
Advanced Optronics designs and manufactures implantable sensors for intraoperative monitoring. These sensors provide real-time feedback during surgeries, helping reduce trauma and preserve residual hearing, particularly in cochlear implant procedures.

HeadStrait Labs

Pre Seed Round in 2024
HeadStrait Labs is a medical equipment manufacturing company focused on developing innovative devices for head and neck immobilization in pre-hospital care. The firm aims to enhance patient outcomes during ambulance transportation by providing healthcare professionals with effective solutions to stabilize patients’ head and neck during critical situations. Through its specialized products, HeadStrait Labs addresses the urgent need for reliable immobilization techniques, thereby contributing to improved safety and care in emergency medical settings.

Humotech

Pre Seed Round in 2024
Humotech develops the Caplex system, a modular platform that enables real-time emulation and data capture for prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeletons. This reduces development cycles and enhances clinical decision-making, allowing researchers and clinicians to optimize assistive device performance with evidence-based insights.

EKTO VR

Convertible Note in 2023
EKTO VR is a Pittsburgh-based developer of wearable locomotion technology for virtual reality, including a motorized device called Traverse and wearable robotic boots. The devices use rotating plates and wheels to simulate walking in VR, enabling users to move in a defined space while remaining in place, which helps reduce motion sickness. The technology aims to enhance the realism of training simulations and immersive VR experiences for users around the world.

Adrich

Seed Round in 2023
Adrich is a Pittsburgh-based company that develops a consumer insights platform consisting of smart packaging hardware and customized software. The platform autonomously collects and transmits product usage data via product labels, capturing day and time, geolocation, and volumetric usage in real time. This data helps brands and retailers understand trends, behaviors, and usage patterns, supporting post-purchase engagement, retention, and targeted service.

Advanced Optronics

Pre Seed Round in 2022
Advanced Optronics designs and manufactures implantable sensors for intraoperative monitoring. These sensors provide real-time feedback during surgeries, helping reduce trauma and preserve residual hearing, particularly in cochlear implant procedures.

Touchwood Labs

Seed Round in 2022
Touchwood Labs, Inc. is an innovative company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 2019. The company specializes in developing technology for office and home furniture, focusing on creating interactive and screenless interfaces. Its proprietary invisible displays can be embedded beneath the surface of various materials, such as wood or plastic, allowing them to remain hidden until activated. This technology enables users to interact with multiple IoT-connected devices through seamless visual experiences, enhancing the way individuals engage with their environment. Touchwood Labs aims to revolutionize technology interactions by combining mindful design with advanced hardware, thereby fostering healthier relationships with technology in everyday settings.

Enkris Semiconductors

Series B in 2022
Enkris Semiconductors is a developer of high-quality gallium nitride (GaN) epitaxial wafers tailored for power electronics and micro-display applications. The company specializes in various GaN material solutions, including GaN-on-Si, GaN-on-SiC, GaN-on-Sapphire, and GaN-on-GaN, leveraging its proprietary technology to provide reliable and cost-effective materials. Enkris Semiconductors aims to support the advancement of next-generation RF devices, micro-LED technology, and other electronic applications by delivering superior GaN materials that are compatible with CMOS technology. Through its innovative approach, the company seeks to meet the growing demand for high-performance electronics in these rapidly evolving fields.

Touchwood Labs

Seed Round in 2021
Touchwood Labs, Inc. is an innovative company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 2019. The company specializes in developing technology for office and home furniture, focusing on creating interactive and screenless interfaces. Its proprietary invisible displays can be embedded beneath the surface of various materials, such as wood or plastic, allowing them to remain hidden until activated. This technology enables users to interact with multiple IoT-connected devices through seamless visual experiences, enhancing the way individuals engage with their environment. Touchwood Labs aims to revolutionize technology interactions by combining mindful design with advanced hardware, thereby fostering healthier relationships with technology in everyday settings.

Xogo

Seed Round in 2020
Xogo develops a hardware and software platform that enables people with disabilities to control their technology experience. The platform connects a wide range of devices and inputs, including USB, Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3.5mm jack interfaces, allowing users to operate cable boxes, smart home devices, video game consoles, and more in ways that suit their abilities and preferences. By integrating diverse devices, Xogo helps users maximize the functions of their devices and use technology on their terms.

SwifTAG Systems

Seed Round in 2020
SwifTAG Systems concepts and products were conceived by active researchers in the medical field who recognized the dramatic inefficiencies of existing small animal management systems and processes. Their mission is to bring high technology and medical research together to drive down costs and increase the time researchers spend doing actual research. They envision laboratories where animal management systems are functional, low maintenance, efficient, and as easy to use as a well-designed smartphone app. They want to see researchers focusing on medical breakthroughs, not on mindless small animal logistics. Their product lines include small animal tags, handheld and tabletop readers, cage and rack readers, whole laboratory management systems, and support software.

EKTO VR

Seed Round in 2020
EKTO VR is a Pittsburgh-based developer of wearable locomotion technology for virtual reality, including a motorized device called Traverse and wearable robotic boots. The devices use rotating plates and wheels to simulate walking in VR, enabling users to move in a defined space while remaining in place, which helps reduce motion sickness. The technology aims to enhance the realism of training simulations and immersive VR experiences for users around the world.

Adrich

Venture Round in 2020
Adrich is a Pittsburgh-based company that develops a consumer insights platform consisting of smart packaging hardware and customized software. The platform autonomously collects and transmits product usage data via product labels, capturing day and time, geolocation, and volumetric usage in real time. This data helps brands and retailers understand trends, behaviors, and usage patterns, supporting post-purchase engagement, retention, and targeted service.

ARIN Technologies

Seed Round in 2020
ARIN Technologies designs and delivers high-accuracy indoor positioning systems that enable real-time location tracking within buildings. Based in Pittsburgh and founded around 2015, the company uses ultra-wideband technology to provide precise positioning for indoor work environments, supporting situational awareness around material handling equipment such as forklifts. Its offerings combine hardware and software to improve safety, reduce collisions, and monitor productivity, contributing to safer workflows and efficient operations for industrial customers.

Touchwood Labs

Seed Round in 2020
Touchwood Labs, Inc. is an innovative company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 2019. The company specializes in developing technology for office and home furniture, focusing on creating interactive and screenless interfaces. Its proprietary invisible displays can be embedded beneath the surface of various materials, such as wood or plastic, allowing them to remain hidden until activated. This technology enables users to interact with multiple IoT-connected devices through seamless visual experiences, enhancing the way individuals engage with their environment. Touchwood Labs aims to revolutionize technology interactions by combining mindful design with advanced hardware, thereby fostering healthier relationships with technology in everyday settings.

Hebi Robotics

Seed Round in 2020
Hebi Robotics designs and supplies robotic technology to accelerate development and customization of robotic systems. The company develops intelligent, connected building blocks and robot kits, including arms, mobile bases, and walking robots, as well as modular sensors that use elastic actuators to control torque, position, and velocity. Its offerings combine hardware and software tools that enable engineers, researchers, and industrial integrators to control actuators at the joint level or as a synchronized system, delivering flexible, reconfigurable solutions that reduce development time and costs.

SwifTAG Systems

Seed Round in 2019
SwifTAG Systems concepts and products were conceived by active researchers in the medical field who recognized the dramatic inefficiencies of existing small animal management systems and processes. Their mission is to bring high technology and medical research together to drive down costs and increase the time researchers spend doing actual research. They envision laboratories where animal management systems are functional, low maintenance, efficient, and as easy to use as a well-designed smartphone app. They want to see researchers focusing on medical breakthroughs, not on mindless small animal logistics. Their product lines include small animal tags, handheld and tabletop readers, cage and rack readers, whole laboratory management systems, and support software.

EKTO VR

Pre Seed Round in 2019
EKTO VR is a Pittsburgh-based developer of wearable locomotion technology for virtual reality, including a motorized device called Traverse and wearable robotic boots. The devices use rotating plates and wheels to simulate walking in VR, enabling users to move in a defined space while remaining in place, which helps reduce motion sickness. The technology aims to enhance the realism of training simulations and immersive VR experiences for users around the world.

Adrich

Seed Round in 2019
Adrich is a Pittsburgh-based company that develops a consumer insights platform consisting of smart packaging hardware and customized software. The platform autonomously collects and transmits product usage data via product labels, capturing day and time, geolocation, and volumetric usage in real time. This data helps brands and retailers understand trends, behaviors, and usage patterns, supporting post-purchase engagement, retention, and targeted service.

ARIN Technologies

Seed Round in 2018
ARIN Technologies designs and delivers high-accuracy indoor positioning systems that enable real-time location tracking within buildings. Based in Pittsburgh and founded around 2015, the company uses ultra-wideband technology to provide precise positioning for indoor work environments, supporting situational awareness around material handling equipment such as forklifts. Its offerings combine hardware and software to improve safety, reduce collisions, and monitor productivity, contributing to safer workflows and efficient operations for industrial customers.

Adrich

Seed Round in 2018
Adrich is a Pittsburgh-based company that develops a consumer insights platform consisting of smart packaging hardware and customized software. The platform autonomously collects and transmits product usage data via product labels, capturing day and time, geolocation, and volumetric usage in real time. This data helps brands and retailers understand trends, behaviors, and usage patterns, supporting post-purchase engagement, retention, and targeted service.

Adrich

Seed Round in 2017
Adrich is a Pittsburgh-based company that develops a consumer insights platform consisting of smart packaging hardware and customized software. The platform autonomously collects and transmits product usage data via product labels, capturing day and time, geolocation, and volumetric usage in real time. This data helps brands and retailers understand trends, behaviors, and usage patterns, supporting post-purchase engagement, retention, and targeted service.

ARIN Technologies

Seed Round in 2017
ARIN Technologies designs and delivers high-accuracy indoor positioning systems that enable real-time location tracking within buildings. Based in Pittsburgh and founded around 2015, the company uses ultra-wideband technology to provide precise positioning for indoor work environments, supporting situational awareness around material handling equipment such as forklifts. Its offerings combine hardware and software to improve safety, reduce collisions, and monitor productivity, contributing to safer workflows and efficient operations for industrial customers.

Adrich

Convertible Note in 2017
Adrich is a Pittsburgh-based company that develops a consumer insights platform consisting of smart packaging hardware and customized software. The platform autonomously collects and transmits product usage data via product labels, capturing day and time, geolocation, and volumetric usage in real time. This data helps brands and retailers understand trends, behaviors, and usage patterns, supporting post-purchase engagement, retention, and targeted service.

Xogo

Convertible Note in 2017
Xogo develops a hardware and software platform that enables people with disabilities to control their technology experience. The platform connects a wide range of devices and inputs, including USB, Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3.5mm jack interfaces, allowing users to operate cable boxes, smart home devices, video game consoles, and more in ways that suit their abilities and preferences. By integrating diverse devices, Xogo helps users maximize the functions of their devices and use technology on their terms.

ARIN Technologies

Seed Round in 2017
ARIN Technologies designs and delivers high-accuracy indoor positioning systems that enable real-time location tracking within buildings. Based in Pittsburgh and founded around 2015, the company uses ultra-wideband technology to provide precise positioning for indoor work environments, supporting situational awareness around material handling equipment such as forklifts. Its offerings combine hardware and software to improve safety, reduce collisions, and monitor productivity, contributing to safer workflows and efficient operations for industrial customers.

SolePower

Convertible Note in 2016
SolePower develops connected work boots that power embedded sensors through a kinetic insole charger that harvests energy from walking. The system provides real-time location, status, and environmental data to improve safety and efficiency on industrial worksites, helping reduce incident rates and increase visibility for workflow optimization. Pilot units integrate GPS, Ultra Wideband, RFID, inertial measurement, Sub‑GHz RF, a thermocouple, Wi‑Fi, and an altimeter, with the aim of replacing multiple standalone wearables with a single self-charging platform. The company collaborates with SR Max and the US Army to advance safety footwear and related industrial applications.

Xogo

Convertible Note in 2016
Xogo develops a hardware and software platform that enables people with disabilities to control their technology experience. The platform connects a wide range of devices and inputs, including USB, Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3.5mm jack interfaces, allowing users to operate cable boxes, smart home devices, video game consoles, and more in ways that suit their abilities and preferences. By integrating diverse devices, Xogo helps users maximize the functions of their devices and use technology on their terms.

Adrich

Seed Round in 2016
Adrich is a Pittsburgh-based company that develops a consumer insights platform consisting of smart packaging hardware and customized software. The platform autonomously collects and transmits product usage data via product labels, capturing day and time, geolocation, and volumetric usage in real time. This data helps brands and retailers understand trends, behaviors, and usage patterns, supporting post-purchase engagement, retention, and targeted service.

Hebi Robotics

Seed Round in 2015
Hebi Robotics designs and supplies robotic technology to accelerate development and customization of robotic systems. The company develops intelligent, connected building blocks and robot kits, including arms, mobile bases, and walking robots, as well as modular sensors that use elastic actuators to control torque, position, and velocity. Its offerings combine hardware and software tools that enable engineers, researchers, and industrial integrators to control actuators at the joint level or as a synchronized system, delivering flexible, reconfigurable solutions that reduce development time and costs.

SolePower

Seed Round in 2015
SolePower develops connected work boots that power embedded sensors through a kinetic insole charger that harvests energy from walking. The system provides real-time location, status, and environmental data to improve safety and efficiency on industrial worksites, helping reduce incident rates and increase visibility for workflow optimization. Pilot units integrate GPS, Ultra Wideband, RFID, inertial measurement, Sub‑GHz RF, a thermocouple, Wi‑Fi, and an altimeter, with the aim of replacing multiple standalone wearables with a single self-charging platform. The company collaborates with SR Max and the US Army to advance safety footwear and related industrial applications.

LifeShel

Seed Round in 2014
LifeShel is a technology company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that specializes in manufacturing innovative smartphone cases. The company's flagship product, the Whistl case, is designed to enhance personal safety by incorporating features that include an alarm system, audio and video recording capabilities, and alerts to law enforcement and designated contacts. This product aims to empower users by providing a reliable means of protection in potentially dangerous situations. In addition to their focus on personal safety, LifeShel also supplies satellite communication hardware for industrial applications, offering robust solutions that perform reliably in challenging environments. Overall, LifeShel is committed to enhancing safety and communication through its advanced technology offerings.

SolePower

Seed Round in 2013
SolePower develops connected work boots that power embedded sensors through a kinetic insole charger that harvests energy from walking. The system provides real-time location, status, and environmental data to improve safety and efficiency on industrial worksites, helping reduce incident rates and increase visibility for workflow optimization. Pilot units integrate GPS, Ultra Wideband, RFID, inertial measurement, Sub‑GHz RF, a thermocouple, Wi‑Fi, and an altimeter, with the aim of replacing multiple standalone wearables with a single self-charging platform. The company collaborates with SR Max and the US Army to advance safety footwear and related industrial applications.

25eight

Seed Round in 2010
25eight, an online database for gadgets, allows users to find implementations and combinations of hardware and software.
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