# Innovation Works

> Innovation Works is a Pittsburgh nonprofit venture development organization serving Southwestern Pennsylvania. It combines seed investment with AlphaLab’s sector-specific accelerator tracks, manufacturing assistance, and investor and customer connections to help early-stage technology companies reach the market.

- **Founded:** 1988
- **Headquarters:** Pittsburgh, United States
- **Products:** Seed Fund, AlphaLab, AlphaLab Gear, AlphaLab Health, Robotics Factory
- **Notable:** Current impact page reports 830+ companies supported, $3.74 billion in portfolio follow-on funding, and 81 successful exits., Innovation Works and affiliated programs invested $6.96 million in 50 companies in 2025., The Seed Fund reports $93 million invested in 372 companies since 1999.

## Products & services

- **Seed Fund** — Early institutional investment, usually $150,000-$250,000 initially and up to $800,000 total, plus managing-director support.
- **AlphaLab** — Six-month in-person accelerator with software, gear, health, and robotics tracks; offers up to $100,000 and commercial coaching.
- **AlphaLab Gear** — Hardware track covering products, suppliers, manufacturing, and distribution.
- **AlphaLab Health** — Joint program with Allegheny Health Network providing clinical mentorship, offices, and BSL-1 laboratory access.
- **Robotics Factory** — Create, Accelerate, and Scale programs combining industry problem discovery, investment, and production support.
- **Scalable Grants** — Up to $25,000 in reimbursement for eligible manufacturing expenses; pays 50% of approved expenses, subject to the cap.
- **Scale Residency** — Six months of scale-shop access and prototyping and manufacturing support in Lawrenceville.
- **Startable** — Free youth entrepreneurship program.
- **Venture Expo** — Introductions and startup presentations for investors.

## Achievements

- Current impact page reports 830+ companies supported, $3.74 billion in portfolio follow-on funding, and 81 successful exits.
- Innovation Works and affiliated programs invested $6.96 million in 50 companies in 2025.
- The Seed Fund reports $93 million invested in 372 companies since 1999.
- AlphaLab was included in TIME and Statista’s America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators 2026 list.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — On October 6, Innovation Works reported that 56 regional startups took part in Venture Expo and AI & Robotics Venture Day during September StartUP PGH week.
- **2026-08** — AlphaLab announced inclusion in the TIME/Statista accelerator list; it described its current cohort as 21 startups.
- **2026-08** — Innovation Works published an AdSkate case study covering its pivot and acquisition by Brunner in 2026.
- **2026-04** — AlphaLab opened applications for the 2027 cohort, with a July 17, 2026 deadline and planned neuroscience subtrack.
- **2026-02** — AlphaLab announced an initial 2026 cohort of 20 companies across its four tracks.
- **2025-12** — AHN and Innovation Works announced a neuroscience subtrack for 2027, expanding the annual health cohort from six to eight companies.

## Links

- Website: https://www.innovationworks.org/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/innovation-works/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/iwpgh
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iwpgh

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/innovation-works
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-07