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 Ph.D

Managing Director of Robotics Factory and Hardware

Peter Erin

Senior Investment Associate

Aaron Tainter

Director of Accelerator Programs

Steven Welles

Managing Director of Software

Past deals in Wearables

Humotech

Pre Seed Round in 2024
Humotech is a developer of a wearable robotics platform focused on advancing research and development in prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeletons. The company's flagship offering, the Caplex system, allows researchers to emulate real-world physical characteristics of their concepts, facilitating exploration, experimentation, and innovation with reduced risk and shorter development timelines. This programmable and high-performance platform provides customizable and expandable hardware and software, enabling users to rapidly develop, test, and evaluate wearable assistive technology ideas with human users prior to physical prototyping.

Sensi Fit

Pre Seed Round in 2024
Sensi Fit is a manufacturer specializing in athletic equipment, primarily developing fitness testing sensors. These sensors are designed to facilitate athletic testing for high-performance athletes, providing real-time quantitative data, biomechanics feedback, and training guidance. This enables athletes to enhance their performance without the need for wearables.

Resilient Lifescience

Pre Seed Round in 2023
Resilient Lifescience is a company dedicated to combating opioid overdose deaths through innovative technology. It has developed a wearable medical device that detects opioid overdoses and automatically administers naloxone, a medication used to counteract opioid effects, thereby mitigating the risks associated with these life-threatening situations. This device empowers patients to take control of their safety and potentially save lives, even in circumstances where immediate assistance from bystanders is unavailable. By focusing on creating effective and accessible medical systems, Resilient Lifescience seeks to make a significant impact on public health and safety in the face of the opioid crisis.

EKTO VR

Convertible Note in 2023
EKTO VR, Inc. is a technology company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, focused on developing innovative solutions for virtual reality experiences. Incorporated in 2018, EKTO VR specializes in wearable robotic boots that facilitate locomotion within virtual environments. These boots are engineered with rotating plates that adapt to the user’s walking direction and a unique wheel system that creates a natural walking sensation while allowing individuals to remain stationary. This design not only enhances the realism of training simulations but also aims to reduce motion sickness, providing users with an immersive experience without the risks associated with physical movement in real space. EKTO VR's products are particularly geared towards enhancing virtual reality games and training applications, making it a significant player in the evolving landscape of immersive technology.

Velo.AI

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Velo.AI focuses on enhancing cyclist safety through its innovative product, Copilot, an AI-powered bike light that integrates advanced autonomous vehicle technology. This system features a rear-facing camera that records video of each ride, capturing critical data while providing real-time alerts to cyclists about approaching vehicles. Copilot issues audible warnings when a driver approaches dangerously and employs visual signals to inform drivers about potential hazards involving bicyclists. Additionally, the technology includes predictive risk estimation capabilities, which analyze driver behavior to promote safer cycling practices and help prevent accidents. Through these features, Velo.AI aims to improve visibility for cyclists and contribute to safer road interactions.

Mamalux

Seed Round in 2023
Mamalux is a company that specializes in creating innovative, leakproof apparel designed for maternity and breastfeeding. Operating through an online store, Mamalux offers a range of personal luxury items, including gowns for nursing women and comfort-focused sleepwear for postpartum mothers. The company aims to enhance the shopping experience by providing a variety of stylish choices that promote both self-care and practicality for new mothers. By focusing on quality materials and functional designs, Mamalux addresses the unique needs of its customers while enabling them to maintain their sense of style during and after pregnancy.

Velo.AI

Seed Round in 2023
Velo.AI focuses on enhancing cyclist safety through its innovative product, Copilot, an AI-powered bike light that integrates advanced autonomous vehicle technology. This system features a rear-facing camera that records video of each ride, capturing critical data while providing real-time alerts to cyclists about approaching vehicles. Copilot issues audible warnings when a driver approaches dangerously and employs visual signals to inform drivers about potential hazards involving bicyclists. Additionally, the technology includes predictive risk estimation capabilities, which analyze driver behavior to promote safer cycling practices and help prevent accidents. Through these features, Velo.AI aims to improve visibility for cyclists and contribute to safer road interactions.

Apollo Neuroscience

Venture Round in 2023
Apollo Neuroscience, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company that manufactures a clinically validated wearable wellness device designed to assist the body in recovering from chronic stress through gentle vibrations. Established in 2016, the company also offers an application that integrates neuroscience and machine learning to enhance heart rate variability, promoting improved routines for waking, focusing, unwinding, and engaging the parasympathetic nervous system. The product is marketed directly to consumers through online sales and is positioned as a wellness solution rather than a treatment for psychiatric disorders.

Gus Gear

Seed Round in 2022
Gus Gear is a manufacturer of wearable securement clothing designed to protect implanted medical devices and enhance patient outcomes. The company's flagship product, the Central Line Vest, safeguards central catheters from damage, breakage, and accidental removal, allowing patients to maintain their quality of life while undergoing treatment. In addition to the Central Line Vest, Gus Gear's platform offers securement solutions for various medical devices, including ostomy pouches and feeding tubes. By using innovative securement systems, Gus Gear enables patients to manage their medical challenges effectively, promoting independence and wellbeing.

Element Exo

Seed Round in 2022
Element Exo specializes in the design and development of lightweight exoskeletons aimed at facilitating bending and lifting tasks. The company focuses on creating user-friendly products that assist wearers by storing energy when they bend and returning that energy when they stand, all without the need for motors, batteries, or electricity. This innovative approach helps reduce the risk of overuse injuries, particularly for workers engaged in repetitive lifting tasks. By enhancing the health and well-being of users, Element Exo's technology not only minimizes the potential for debilitating back injuries but also improves overall productivity in various work environments.

Hava Health

Seed Round in 2021
Hava Health, Inc. is a biotechnology company based in the United States that specializes in developing innovative solutions for nicotine addiction. The company manufactures a smoking cessation device, which includes a connected vape pen that integrates with a smartphone application called Hale. This digital drug therapy device aims to support individuals in their efforts to quit smoking by providing a modern approach to nicotine de-addiction. Through its technology, Hava Health seeks to enhance the effectiveness of smoking cessation efforts and improve health outcomes for users.

Mamalux

Seed Round in 2021
Mamalux is a company that specializes in creating innovative, leakproof apparel designed for maternity and breastfeeding. Operating through an online store, Mamalux offers a range of personal luxury items, including gowns for nursing women and comfort-focused sleepwear for postpartum mothers. The company aims to enhance the shopping experience by providing a variety of stylish choices that promote both self-care and practicality for new mothers. By focusing on quality materials and functional designs, Mamalux addresses the unique needs of its customers while enabling them to maintain their sense of style during and after pregnancy.

Apollo Neuroscience

Seed Round in 2021
Apollo Neuroscience, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company that manufactures a clinically validated wearable wellness device designed to assist the body in recovering from chronic stress through gentle vibrations. Established in 2016, the company also offers an application that integrates neuroscience and machine learning to enhance heart rate variability, promoting improved routines for waking, focusing, unwinding, and engaging the parasympathetic nervous system. The product is marketed directly to consumers through online sales and is positioned as a wellness solution rather than a treatment for psychiatric disorders.

JuneBrain

Seed Round in 2021
JuneBrain, LLC is a biotechnology company focused on enhancing the management of multiple sclerosis through innovative technology. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the company is developing a wearable, non-invasive imaging device that allows patients to monitor their disease activity from the comfort of their homes. This device is designed to facilitate the early detection of multiple sclerosis attacks and improve the monitoring of treatment efficacy. By leveraging telemedicine, JuneBrain aims to optimize remote assessments of neurological conditions, with the long-term objective of expanding its technology to address a wider range of neurodegenerative diseases. The company's approach is intended to enable more frequent and accessible monitoring of brain health, thereby enhancing patient care.

Gus Gear

Seed Round in 2021
Gus Gear is a manufacturer of wearable securement clothing designed to protect implanted medical devices and enhance patient outcomes. The company's flagship product, the Central Line Vest, safeguards central catheters from damage, breakage, and accidental removal, allowing patients to maintain their quality of life while undergoing treatment. In addition to the Central Line Vest, Gus Gear's platform offers securement solutions for various medical devices, including ostomy pouches and feeding tubes. By using innovative securement systems, Gus Gear enables patients to manage their medical challenges effectively, promoting independence and wellbeing.

EKTO VR

Seed Round in 2020
EKTO VR, Inc. is a technology company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, focused on developing innovative solutions for virtual reality experiences. Incorporated in 2018, EKTO VR specializes in wearable robotic boots that facilitate locomotion within virtual environments. These boots are engineered with rotating plates that adapt to the user’s walking direction and a unique wheel system that creates a natural walking sensation while allowing individuals to remain stationary. This design not only enhances the realism of training simulations but also aims to reduce motion sickness, providing users with an immersive experience without the risks associated with physical movement in real space. EKTO VR's products are particularly geared towards enhancing virtual reality games and training applications, making it a significant player in the evolving landscape of immersive technology.

Farm Jenny

Seed Round in 2020
Farm Jenny LLC is an agricultural technology company based in Mars, Pennsylvania, specializing in wearable technology and sensor-based equipment for farm animals. Founded in 2017, the company focuses on enhancing animal health and productivity, as well as ensuring handler safety and operator satisfaction, particularly for small to mid-sized farms. Farm Jenny's innovative products enable users to monitor the behavior and health of their animals through behavior-tracking wearables and strategically placed sensors across the farm. The company also offers a subscription service that uses machine learning and predictive analytics to provide real-time alerts and recommendations to farmers' smartphones, ultimately helping them to improve productivity and safeguard their livestock.

Connect Wolf

Seed Round in 2020
Connect Wolf, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company founded in 2017, specializing in the manufacture of wearable devices designed for tracking individuals of all ages, including babies, children, and adults. The company has developed a modular wearable that provides location and heart rate information, allowing users to monitor their loved ones without the need for additional devices or connectivity through Bluetooth or WiFi. This innovative product aims to offer peace of mind to parents and caregivers by enabling them to check on the well-being of their children, elderly relatives, or patients remotely. Additionally, Connect Wolf caters to various organizations by offering solutions that can be integrated into their systems, enhancing the monitoring capabilities within settings such as senior centers and healthcare facilities.

Gus Gear

Seed Round in 2020
Gus Gear is a manufacturer of wearable securement clothing designed to protect implanted medical devices and enhance patient outcomes. The company's flagship product, the Central Line Vest, safeguards central catheters from damage, breakage, and accidental removal, allowing patients to maintain their quality of life while undergoing treatment. In addition to the Central Line Vest, Gus Gear's platform offers securement solutions for various medical devices, including ostomy pouches and feeding tubes. By using innovative securement systems, Gus Gear enables patients to manage their medical challenges effectively, promoting independence and wellbeing.

Sparkwear

Seed Round in 2020
Sparkwear is an events management company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 2019. It specializes in designing and manufacturing wearable devices aimed at enhancing networking and managing events. Sparkwear's flagship product, Aura Sparks, are Bluetooth-equipped light-emitting bracelets that help event attendees connect with others who share similar interests. These bracelets change color and provide gentle vibrations when near other attendees with matching interests, fostering increased interpersonal interaction and engagement in social environments.

AbiliLife

Seed Round in 2020
AbiliLife is a Pittsburgh-based company focused on improving the lives of patients with Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Founded in 2014, AbiliLife designs and manufactures biomedical solutions, including Calibrace, a brace that aids Parkinson’s disease patients in restoring equilibrium through a back tensioning system. This system enhances posture, positioning, and balance, providing postural stability and comfort for individuals with these conditions.

Farm Jenny

Seed Round in 2019
Farm Jenny LLC is an agricultural technology company based in Mars, Pennsylvania, specializing in wearable technology and sensor-based equipment for farm animals. Founded in 2017, the company focuses on enhancing animal health and productivity, as well as ensuring handler safety and operator satisfaction, particularly for small to mid-sized farms. Farm Jenny's innovative products enable users to monitor the behavior and health of their animals through behavior-tracking wearables and strategically placed sensors across the farm. The company also offers a subscription service that uses machine learning and predictive analytics to provide real-time alerts and recommendations to farmers' smartphones, ultimately helping them to improve productivity and safeguard their livestock.

Sparkwear

Seed Round in 2019
Sparkwear is an events management company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 2019. It specializes in designing and manufacturing wearable devices aimed at enhancing networking and managing events. Sparkwear's flagship product, Aura Sparks, are Bluetooth-equipped light-emitting bracelets that help event attendees connect with others who share similar interests. These bracelets change color and provide gentle vibrations when near other attendees with matching interests, fostering increased interpersonal interaction and engagement in social environments.

Apollo Neuroscience

Seed Round in 2019
Apollo Neuroscience, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company that manufactures a clinically validated wearable wellness device designed to assist the body in recovering from chronic stress through gentle vibrations. Established in 2016, the company also offers an application that integrates neuroscience and machine learning to enhance heart rate variability, promoting improved routines for waking, focusing, unwinding, and engaging the parasympathetic nervous system. The product is marketed directly to consumers through online sales and is positioned as a wellness solution rather than a treatment for psychiatric disorders.

EKTO VR

Pre Seed Round in 2019
EKTO VR, Inc. is a technology company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, focused on developing innovative solutions for virtual reality experiences. Incorporated in 2018, EKTO VR specializes in wearable robotic boots that facilitate locomotion within virtual environments. These boots are engineered with rotating plates that adapt to the user’s walking direction and a unique wheel system that creates a natural walking sensation while allowing individuals to remain stationary. This design not only enhances the realism of training simulations but also aims to reduce motion sickness, providing users with an immersive experience without the risks associated with physical movement in real space. EKTO VR's products are particularly geared towards enhancing virtual reality games and training applications, making it a significant player in the evolving landscape of immersive technology.

EXGwear

Seed Round in 2018
EXGwear is a developer of wearable devices and artificial intelligence technology aimed at improving mental health and facilitating human-machine interactions. The company specializes in creating compact, brain-computer-interface-enabled wearable Internet of Things (IoT) devices that enable users to engage with assistive robotic systems. By utilizing brain wave signals, EXGwear's technology allows individuals to monitor their mental states, enhancing productivity and convenience in various applications.

Apollo Neuroscience

Seed Round in 2018
Apollo Neuroscience, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company that manufactures a clinically validated wearable wellness device designed to assist the body in recovering from chronic stress through gentle vibrations. Established in 2016, the company also offers an application that integrates neuroscience and machine learning to enhance heart rate variability, promoting improved routines for waking, focusing, unwinding, and engaging the parasympathetic nervous system. The product is marketed directly to consumers through online sales and is positioned as a wellness solution rather than a treatment for psychiatric disorders.

LaneSpotter

Seed Round in 2018
LaneSpotter finds safe bike routes for cyclists and provides real-time information about the roads they ride. Unlike current apps, LaneSpotter leverages its community to create living maps that highlight real-life road conditions. By sharing their knowledge of local streets and businesses, LaneSpotter’s cycling community generates information that cannot be captured with a static map, like road safety ratings, bike infrastructure, alerts for road conditions like potholes, and recommended rides and routes.

AbiliLife

Seed Round in 2018
AbiliLife is a Pittsburgh-based company focused on improving the lives of patients with Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Founded in 2014, AbiliLife designs and manufactures biomedical solutions, including Calibrace, a brace that aids Parkinson’s disease patients in restoring equilibrium through a back tensioning system. This system enhances posture, positioning, and balance, providing postural stability and comfort for individuals with these conditions.

Spand-Ice

Seed Round in 2018
Spand-Ice LLC is a manufacturer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in back pain relief products. Founded in 2015 with the support of Kickstarter backers, the company initially launched its Recovery Wrap and Revive Tank, aimed at individuals suffering from chronic back pain. In 2016, Spand-Ice expanded its product line with the introduction of the Maternity Relief Wrap, designed specifically for pregnant women to alleviate pregnancy-related back pain. The company focuses on providing wearable support gear that incorporates thermal therapy and adjustable compression, targeting areas such as the back, hips, and gluteal regions. By addressing the unique challenges faced during motherhood, Spand-Ice aims to support women on their journey, ensuring they can manage pain effectively while adapting to their changing bodies during pregnancy and postpartum.

Farm Jenny

Seed Round in 2018
Farm Jenny LLC is an agricultural technology company based in Mars, Pennsylvania, specializing in wearable technology and sensor-based equipment for farm animals. Founded in 2017, the company focuses on enhancing animal health and productivity, as well as ensuring handler safety and operator satisfaction, particularly for small to mid-sized farms. Farm Jenny's innovative products enable users to monitor the behavior and health of their animals through behavior-tracking wearables and strategically placed sensors across the farm. The company also offers a subscription service that uses machine learning and predictive analytics to provide real-time alerts and recommendations to farmers' smartphones, ultimately helping them to improve productivity and safeguard their livestock.

LaneSpotter

Seed Round in 2018
LaneSpotter finds safe bike routes for cyclists and provides real-time information about the roads they ride. Unlike current apps, LaneSpotter leverages its community to create living maps that highlight real-life road conditions. By sharing their knowledge of local streets and businesses, LaneSpotter’s cycling community generates information that cannot be captured with a static map, like road safety ratings, bike infrastructure, alerts for road conditions like potholes, and recommended rides and routes.

Behaivior

Seed Round in 2017
Behaivior LLC is a digital health company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, focused on predicting and preventing addiction relapses through innovative technology. Founded in 2017, Behaivior integrates wearable devices with machine learning algorithms to analyze real-time data from various physiological metrics, such as heart rate and skin temperature. The company’s platform, known as Recovery, employs this data to deliver timely interventions tailored to the needs of individuals in recovery. By utilizing a SaaS business model, Behaivior aims to democratize mental health recovery and support, assisting users in maintaining their wellness while enabling care providers to enhance their service delivery. Through its proactive approach, Behaivior seeks to improve mental health outcomes and reduce crisis events associated with addiction.

LaneSpotter

Seed Round in 2017
LaneSpotter finds safe bike routes for cyclists and provides real-time information about the roads they ride. Unlike current apps, LaneSpotter leverages its community to create living maps that highlight real-life road conditions. By sharing their knowledge of local streets and businesses, LaneSpotter’s cycling community generates information that cannot be captured with a static map, like road safety ratings, bike infrastructure, alerts for road conditions like potholes, and recommended rides and routes.

AbiliLife

Convertible Note in 2016
AbiliLife is a Pittsburgh-based company focused on improving the lives of patients with Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Founded in 2014, AbiliLife designs and manufactures biomedical solutions, including Calibrace, a brace that aids Parkinson’s disease patients in restoring equilibrium through a back tensioning system. This system enhances posture, positioning, and balance, providing postural stability and comfort for individuals with these conditions.

SolePower

Convertible Note in 2016
SolePower creates a connected work boot that helps industrial workers become safer and more efficient. Industrial worksites are dangerous and dynamic; the costs of small inefficiencies add up quickly, and big mistakes can result in serious incidents or loss of life. SmartBoots aim to lower incident rates, increase work site visibility, and establish metrics from which workflow and safety improvements can be made. At the core of the system is an Army-tested, patented kinetic charger which uses walking motion to sustainably charge sensors embedded inside the boot. (Pilot unit includes GPS, Ultra Wideband, RFID, IMU, Sub-GHz RF, thermocouple, Wifi, altimeter). SolePower's mission is to take the functionality of a variety of standalone wearables and combine them into a single, compact, self-charged platform. The team is partnered with SR Max (a leading safety footwear provider) and the US Army.

AbiliLife

Seed Round in 2015
AbiliLife is a Pittsburgh-based company focused on improving the lives of patients with Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Founded in 2014, AbiliLife designs and manufactures biomedical solutions, including Calibrace, a brace that aids Parkinson’s disease patients in restoring equilibrium through a back tensioning system. This system enhances posture, positioning, and balance, providing postural stability and comfort for individuals with these conditions.

SolePower

Seed Round in 2015
SolePower creates a connected work boot that helps industrial workers become safer and more efficient. Industrial worksites are dangerous and dynamic; the costs of small inefficiencies add up quickly, and big mistakes can result in serious incidents or loss of life. SmartBoots aim to lower incident rates, increase work site visibility, and establish metrics from which workflow and safety improvements can be made. At the core of the system is an Army-tested, patented kinetic charger which uses walking motion to sustainably charge sensors embedded inside the boot. (Pilot unit includes GPS, Ultra Wideband, RFID, IMU, Sub-GHz RF, thermocouple, Wifi, altimeter). SolePower's mission is to take the functionality of a variety of standalone wearables and combine them into a single, compact, self-charged platform. The team is partnered with SR Max (a leading safety footwear provider) and the US Army.

Diamond Kinetics

Seed Round in 2014
Diamond Kinetics, founded in 2012 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializes in providing real-time quantitative data, biomechanics feedback, and training guidance for baseball and softball players. The company offers products such as SwingTracker for comprehensive swing analysis, PitchTracker Baseball and Softball for detailed pitching analysis, and Axon Sports. Additionally, Diamond Kinetics provides DiamondCLUB, a platform that allows users to analyze and compare swings, share data, and enhance training programs. Their solutions utilize wireless inertial measurement units and mobile applications to help players improve their performance. The company sells its products online, catering to players of all ages and skill levels.

SolePower

Seed Round in 2013
SolePower creates a connected work boot that helps industrial workers become safer and more efficient. Industrial worksites are dangerous and dynamic; the costs of small inefficiencies add up quickly, and big mistakes can result in serious incidents or loss of life. SmartBoots aim to lower incident rates, increase work site visibility, and establish metrics from which workflow and safety improvements can be made. At the core of the system is an Army-tested, patented kinetic charger which uses walking motion to sustainably charge sensors embedded inside the boot. (Pilot unit includes GPS, Ultra Wideband, RFID, IMU, Sub-GHz RF, thermocouple, Wifi, altimeter). SolePower's mission is to take the functionality of a variety of standalone wearables and combine them into a single, compact, self-charged platform. The team is partnered with SR Max (a leading safety footwear provider) and the US Army.
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