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 Wearables

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.

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 specializes in developing wearable medical devices designed to prevent opioid overdose deaths. Their innovative device detects and automatically administers naloxone, enabling timely intervention even when no one else is present.

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.

Velo.AI

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Velo.AI develops Copilot, an AI-powered bike light that enhances cyclist safety. It offers video recording, audible warnings for approaching vehicles, visual alerts for drivers, and predictive risk estimation to prevent crashes.

Mamalux

Seed Round in 2023
Mamalux specializes in designing and selling high-quality, leakproof apparel tailored for maternity and breastfeeding. Their online platform offers a range of personal luxury items, including sleepwear designed for comfort during the postpartum period.

Velo.AI

Seed Round in 2023
Velo.AI develops Copilot, an AI-powered bike light that enhances cyclist safety. It offers video recording, audible warnings for approaching vehicles, visual alerts for drivers, and predictive risk estimation to prevent crashes.

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 designs and develops lightweight exoskeletons that facilitate lifting and bending tasks, reducing the risk of overuse injuries for workers engaged in repetitive lifting.

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 specializes in designing and selling high-quality, leakproof apparel tailored for maternity and breastfeeding. Their online platform offers a range of personal luxury items, including sleepwear designed for comfort during the postpartum period.

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
Founded in 2017, JuneBrain develops wearable, non-invasive imaging devices for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to monitor their disease activity at home. This enables early detection of MS attacks and improves treatment efficacy monitoring.

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 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.

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 develops wearable devices for tracking loved ones, providing peace of mind through real-time location and heart rate monitoring. Their products cater to babies, children, adults, and patients, offering modular designs tailored for different purposes.

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
Founded in 2019, Sparkwear specializes in designing wearable technology for enhancing social interactions at events. Its flagship product, Aura Sparks, are Bluetooth-equipped light-emitting bracelets that help attendees find others with similar interests.

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
Founded in 2019, Sparkwear specializes in designing wearable technology for enhancing social interactions at events. Its flagship product, Aura Sparks, are Bluetooth-equipped light-emitting bracelets that help attendees find others with similar interests.

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 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.

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
Founded in 2015, Spand-Ice specializes in manufacturing wearable support products designed to alleviate back pain and provide thermal therapy. Their product line includes the Recovery Wrap, Revive Tank, and Maternity Relief Wrap, catering primarily to individuals experiencing chronic back pain and pregnant women.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.
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