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

Jeffrey McDaniel

Investor

Ven Raju

Investor

Megan Shaw

Managing Director, Life Sciences

Aaron Tainter

Investor

Past deals in Electronics

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.

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.

CorePower Magnetics

Pre Seed Round in 2022
CorePower Magnetics specializes in the manufacture of electric components using advanced magnetic core technology. This innovation aims to enhance efficiency and power density, enabling significant reductions in weight, volume, and losses without relying on rare earth metals. The company's products cater to industries such as data centers, microgrids, electric vehicles (EVs), and EV charging infrastructure, offering higher current capabilities, lower power needs, increased range, and faster charging speeds.

Arieca

Series A in 2022
Arieca LLC, founded in 2018 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializes in the development and distribution of Thubber, a thermally conductive rubber composite. This innovative material merges the compliance and elasticity of soft silicone rubber with the thermal conductivity of metal, making it suitable for various applications such as circuit wiring, sensors, and passive heat exchangers. Arieca's product addresses heat management challenges in the electronics industry, enhancing performance while ensuring safe interactions between devices and users. By providing an alternative to traditional rubber, Arieca aims to improve the efficiency of electronic components across multiple sectors.

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.

CorePower Magnetics

Seed Round in 2021
CorePower Magnetics specializes in the manufacture of electric components using advanced magnetic core technology. This innovation aims to enhance efficiency and power density, enabling significant reductions in weight, volume, and losses without relying on rare earth metals. The company's products cater to industries such as data centers, microgrids, electric vehicles (EVs), and EV charging infrastructure, offering higher current capabilities, lower power needs, increased range, and faster charging speeds.

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.

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.

Arieca

Seed Round in 2020
Arieca LLC, founded in 2018 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializes in the development and distribution of Thubber, a thermally conductive rubber composite. This innovative material merges the compliance and elasticity of soft silicone rubber with the thermal conductivity of metal, making it suitable for various applications such as circuit wiring, sensors, and passive heat exchangers. Arieca's product addresses heat management challenges in the electronics industry, enhancing performance while ensuring safe interactions between devices and users. By providing an alternative to traditional rubber, Arieca aims to improve the efficiency of electronic components across multiple sectors.

nanoGriptech

Venture Round in 2020
nanoGriptech, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company founded in 2012 that specializes in the manufacture of micro-fibrillar polymer-based dry adhesives and surfaces. Its key product offerings include Setex Gecko Tape, a reusable, residue-free tape, and the Setex Ultra-Thin Fastener, designed for seamless integration with smooth surfaces. The company draws inspiration from nature, mimicking the adhesion mechanism of gecko feet to create durable, versatile adhesives suitable for a wide range of applications. These include wearables, sports equipment, semiconductors, robotics, medical devices, automotive, and packaging. With a focus on innovation, nanoGriptech has established partnerships with several multinational corporations and has recently initiated its first sales in the high-friction clothing material market.

Arieca

Seed Round in 2019
Arieca LLC, founded in 2018 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializes in the development and distribution of Thubber, a thermally conductive rubber composite. This innovative material merges the compliance and elasticity of soft silicone rubber with the thermal conductivity of metal, making it suitable for various applications such as circuit wiring, sensors, and passive heat exchangers. Arieca's product addresses heat management challenges in the electronics industry, enhancing performance while ensuring safe interactions between devices and users. By providing an alternative to traditional rubber, Arieca aims to improve the efficiency of electronic components across multiple sectors.

Arieca

Seed Round in 2019
Arieca LLC, founded in 2018 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializes in the development and distribution of Thubber, a thermally conductive rubber composite. This innovative material merges the compliance and elasticity of soft silicone rubber with the thermal conductivity of metal, making it suitable for various applications such as circuit wiring, sensors, and passive heat exchangers. Arieca's product addresses heat management challenges in the electronics industry, enhancing performance while ensuring safe interactions between devices and users. By providing an alternative to traditional rubber, Arieca aims to improve the efficiency of electronic components across multiple sectors.

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.

Arieca

Seed Round in 2018
Arieca LLC, founded in 2018 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializes in the development and distribution of Thubber, a thermally conductive rubber composite. This innovative material merges the compliance and elasticity of soft silicone rubber with the thermal conductivity of metal, making it suitable for various applications such as circuit wiring, sensors, and passive heat exchangers. Arieca's product addresses heat management challenges in the electronics industry, enhancing performance while ensuring safe interactions between devices and users. By providing an alternative to traditional rubber, Arieca aims to improve the efficiency of electronic components across multiple sectors.

nanoGriptech

Seed Round in 2018
nanoGriptech, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company founded in 2012 that specializes in the manufacture of micro-fibrillar polymer-based dry adhesives and surfaces. Its key product offerings include Setex Gecko Tape, a reusable, residue-free tape, and the Setex Ultra-Thin Fastener, designed for seamless integration with smooth surfaces. The company draws inspiration from nature, mimicking the adhesion mechanism of gecko feet to create durable, versatile adhesives suitable for a wide range of applications. These include wearables, sports equipment, semiconductors, robotics, medical devices, automotive, and packaging. With a focus on innovation, nanoGriptech has established partnerships with several multinational corporations and has recently initiated its first sales in the high-friction clothing material market.

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.

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.

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.

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.

LumiShield Technologies

Pre Seed Round in 2015
LumiShield Technologies develops and supplies sustainable metal oxide coatings that protect metal substrates from corrosion and enhance paint adhesion. Its flagship product, Lumidize®, is an aluminum oxide coating applied via electroplating that can be used on a wide range of metal substrates and multi‑metal components. The technology improves durability, reduces manufacturing costs, and eliminates many environmental problems associated with conventional pretreatment processes. The company serves industries such as automotive, aerospace, marine, electronics, and infrastructure, providing solutions that extend the life of metal parts and vessels used in chemical and other demanding environments.

nanoGriptech

Seed Round in 2015
nanoGriptech, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company founded in 2012 that specializes in the manufacture of micro-fibrillar polymer-based dry adhesives and surfaces. Its key product offerings include Setex Gecko Tape, a reusable, residue-free tape, and the Setex Ultra-Thin Fastener, designed for seamless integration with smooth surfaces. The company draws inspiration from nature, mimicking the adhesion mechanism of gecko feet to create durable, versatile adhesives suitable for a wide range of applications. These include wearables, sports equipment, semiconductors, robotics, medical devices, automotive, and packaging. With a focus on innovation, nanoGriptech has established partnerships with several multinational corporations and has recently initiated its first sales in the high-friction clothing material market.

LumiShield Technologies

Pre Seed Round in 2015
LumiShield Technologies develops and supplies sustainable metal oxide coatings that protect metal substrates from corrosion and enhance paint adhesion. Its flagship product, Lumidize®, is an aluminum oxide coating applied via electroplating that can be used on a wide range of metal substrates and multi‑metal components. The technology improves durability, reduces manufacturing costs, and eliminates many environmental problems associated with conventional pretreatment processes. The company serves industries such as automotive, aerospace, marine, electronics, and infrastructure, providing solutions that extend the life of metal parts and vessels used in chemical and other demanding environments.

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.

nanoGriptech

Seed Round in 2014
nanoGriptech, Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company founded in 2012 that specializes in the manufacture of micro-fibrillar polymer-based dry adhesives and surfaces. Its key product offerings include Setex Gecko Tape, a reusable, residue-free tape, and the Setex Ultra-Thin Fastener, designed for seamless integration with smooth surfaces. The company draws inspiration from nature, mimicking the adhesion mechanism of gecko feet to create durable, versatile adhesives suitable for a wide range of applications. These include wearables, sports equipment, semiconductors, robotics, medical devices, automotive, and packaging. With a focus on innovation, nanoGriptech has established partnerships with several multinational corporations and has recently initiated its first sales in the high-friction clothing material market.

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.

Liquid X

Series A in 2013
Liquid X specializes in developing and manufacturing functional electronics components using additive manufacturing techniques. The company partners with electronics industry manufacturers to create and print high-performance metal traces and films for applications such as sensors, heating elements, smart textiles, and thin-film solar cells. Liquid X's unique metallic conductive inks contain actual metal atoms, enabling low-temperature processing on a wide range of substrates, including paper, plastics, and organic materials.

SenSevere

Seed Round in 2013
SenSevere develops hydrogen and hydrocarbon sensors for chemically and thermally severe environments. SenSevere sensors deliver real-time safety and compliance monitoring solutions in the power generation, environmental, and chemicals manufacturing industries. SenSevere's hydrogen sensor assists in detecting faulty conditions that may lead to explosions in industrial processes, enabling electrochemical and energy markets to provide chemical detection in industrial processes at locations where no monitoring previously existed due to the harshness of the operating environment.

25eight

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

Plextronics

Venture Round in 2004
Plextronics is a company that specializes in printed electronics, particularly in the development of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays and lighting. The company focuses on innovative technologies involving conductive inks and associated processes, which are essential for the mass production of printed electronic devices. Additionally, Plextronics is involved in the development of active layer technology for organic solar cells and plastic circuitry. By advancing these technologies, Plextronics aims to reduce production costs and enhance the feasibility of integrating printed electronics into various applications.

XACTIX

Grant in 2002
XACTIX designs, develops and distributes equipment for manufacturing micro electromechanical systems (MEMS). XACTIX manufactures xenon difluoride etching systems for commercial and university customers, research and development applications; CVE etch modules for xenon difluoride gas; and xenon difluoride silicon etch systems. The company also offers etching services that support chambers while maintaining etch pressures and gas distribution, as well as for releasing MEMS devices. The company’s products are also used to manufacture devices for the removal of exposed sacrifical silicon which do not require uniformity etching across the wafer. XACTIX was founded in 1998 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As of June 25, 2013, XACTIX operates as a subsidiary of SPTS Technologies Limited.
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