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 Navigation and Mapping

Hummingbird Systems

Seed Round in 2024
Hummingbird Systems provides On demand aerial mapping and data analysis of construction sites and agriculture using drones.

CapSen Robotics

Seed Round in 2024
CapSen Robotics develops advanced computer vision systems that enable machines to comprehend and navigate cluttered environments. Their core technology, derived from MIT research on 3D object detection, empowers robots and automation systems in various industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and retail inventory management.

Phlux Technologies

Seed Round in 2023
Founded in 2020, Phlux Technologies specializes in developing innovative 3D sensor technology for robotics and automation. Its products enhance safety and efficiency by enabling robots to navigate effectively, protecting workers from hazards, and detecting obstacles.

Aquatonomy

Non Equity Assistance in 2023
Aquatonomy provides underwater robot autonomy software that includes localization, mapping, and planning.

Aquatonomy

Seed Round in 2023
Aquatonomy provides underwater robot autonomy software that includes localization, mapping, and planning.

CapSen Robotics

Seed Round in 2022
CapSen Robotics develops advanced computer vision systems that enable machines to comprehend and navigate cluttered environments. Their core technology, derived from MIT research on 3D object detection, empowers robots and automation systems in various industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and retail inventory management.

Phlux Technologies

Seed Round in 2022
Founded in 2020, Phlux Technologies specializes in developing innovative 3D sensor technology for robotics and automation. Its products enhance safety and efficiency by enabling robots to navigate effectively, protecting workers from hazards, and detecting obstacles.

Phlux Technologies

Seed Round in 2021
Founded in 2020, Phlux Technologies specializes in developing innovative 3D sensor technology for robotics and automation. Its products enhance safety and efficiency by enabling robots to navigate effectively, protecting workers from hazards, and detecting obstacles.

Identified Technologies

Seed Round in 2020
Identified Technologies Corporation specializes in self-piloting aerial mapping and land survey drones, providing comprehensive data scanning, capture, access, and analytics solutions. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company develops technologies that enhance project visibility and team productivity across various industries, including energy, mining, manufacturing, and construction. Its offerings include advanced features such as 3-D volumetric analysis, 2-D distance measurement, contour line mapping, and digital surface models. The platform also facilitates job site tracking, as-built versus as planned comparisons, and progress forecasting, enabling businesses to improve project monitoring and profitability.

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.

CapSen Robotics

Seed Round in 2020
CapSen Robotics develops advanced computer vision systems that enable machines to comprehend and navigate cluttered environments. Their core technology, derived from MIT research on 3D object detection, empowers robots and automation systems in various industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and retail inventory management.

PathVu

Seed Round in 2020
PathVu is dedicated to enhancing the accessibility and safety of pedestrian pathways, sidewalks, and trails for individuals of all abilities. The company develops tools designed to improve walkability, including devices for measuring pathways and mobile applications that allow smartphone users to report sidewalk defects. By collecting high-quality data quickly, PathVu aims to create a more navigable environment, promoting safe and independent travel while contributing to lower pollution levels, higher property values, and healthier communities.

RoadBotics

Non Equity Assistance in 2019
RoadBotics uses advanced computer vision technology to inspect roads and infrastructure globally. It rapidly identifies road issues at scale, providing unbiased ratings and interactive maps for data-driven decision-making by governments and communities.

Yodel Labs

Seed Round in 2019
Yodel Labs is a developer of a mobile positioning platform focused on delivering highly accurate location services in the mobile device industry. The company specializes in an acoustic location processing system that provides centimeter-level accuracy for indoor positioning. By utilizing low-cost, energy-harvesting ultrasound beacons, Yodel Labs enables mobile application developers to create high-accuracy localization applications. This technology facilitates a seamless connection between the virtual and physical worlds, enhancing user experiences in various applications.

RoadBotics

Seed Round in 2018
RoadBotics uses advanced computer vision technology to inspect roads and infrastructure globally. It rapidly identifies road issues at scale, providing unbiased ratings and interactive maps for data-driven decision-making by governments and communities.

Identified Technologies

Seed Round in 2018
Identified Technologies Corporation specializes in self-piloting aerial mapping and land survey drones, providing comprehensive data scanning, capture, access, and analytics solutions. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company develops technologies that enhance project visibility and team productivity across various industries, including energy, mining, manufacturing, and construction. Its offerings include advanced features such as 3-D volumetric analysis, 2-D distance measurement, contour line mapping, and digital surface models. The platform also facilitates job site tracking, as-built versus as planned comparisons, and progress forecasting, enabling businesses to improve project monitoring and profitability.

CapSen Robotics

Seed Round in 2018
CapSen Robotics develops advanced computer vision systems that enable machines to comprehend and navigate cluttered environments. Their core technology, derived from MIT research on 3D object detection, empowers robots and automation systems in various industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and retail inventory management.

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.

RoadBotics

Seed Round in 2018
RoadBotics uses advanced computer vision technology to inspect roads and infrastructure globally. It rapidly identifies road issues at scale, providing unbiased ratings and interactive maps for data-driven decision-making by governments and communities.

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.

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.

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.

Identified Technologies

Venture Round in 2017
Identified Technologies Corporation specializes in self-piloting aerial mapping and land survey drones, providing comprehensive data scanning, capture, access, and analytics solutions. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company develops technologies that enhance project visibility and team productivity across various industries, including energy, mining, manufacturing, and construction. Its offerings include advanced features such as 3-D volumetric analysis, 2-D distance measurement, contour line mapping, and digital surface models. The platform also facilitates job site tracking, as-built versus as planned comparisons, and progress forecasting, enabling businesses to improve project monitoring and profitability.

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.

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.

ViaHero

Angel Round in 2016
ViaHero, LLC is an online platform that connects travelers with local experts, referred to as Heroes, to create personalized travel experiences. Founded in 2015 and based in New York, the company allows travelers to share their preferences and specific trip requirements, which Heroes use to develop customized travel guidebooks and maps. These resources are accessible through an app on iOS or Android devices, offering a tailored approach similar to a traditional guidebook, but designed to reflect the unique tastes and interests of the traveler. By leveraging local insights and personalized recommendations, ViaHero aims to enhance independent travel, enabling users to explore destinations through the eyes of a local.

Kaarta

Seed Round in 2016
Kaarta, Inc. specializes in 3D model generation software that processes environmental data to create accurate and usable 3D models. The company utilizes a patented technology rooted in advanced robotics to enable real-time mobile 3D reality capture, mapping complex environments efficiently without reliance on external signal infrastructures like GPS or Wi-Fi. Its offerings include a hand-held 3D scanning system, called Contour, which allows users to walk through an environment while generating a 3D map in real-time. Kaarta also provides Stencil 2, a mobile mapping platform designed for rapid scanning. By employing specialized localization algorithms and purpose-built technology, Kaarta enhances the ability to bridge the physical world with its digital twin, serving a variety of applications in architecture, geospatial analysis, and autonomous robotics. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company was previously known as Real Earth, Inc. before rebranding in December 2016.

CapSen Robotics

Angel Round in 2016
CapSen Robotics develops advanced computer vision systems that enable machines to comprehend and navigate cluttered environments. Their core technology, derived from MIT research on 3D object detection, empowers robots and automation systems in various industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and retail inventory management.

ViaHero

Funding Round in 2015
ViaHero, LLC is an online platform that connects travelers with local experts, referred to as Heroes, to create personalized travel experiences. Founded in 2015 and based in New York, the company allows travelers to share their preferences and specific trip requirements, which Heroes use to develop customized travel guidebooks and maps. These resources are accessible through an app on iOS or Android devices, offering a tailored approach similar to a traditional guidebook, but designed to reflect the unique tastes and interests of the traveler. By leveraging local insights and personalized recommendations, ViaHero aims to enhance independent travel, enabling users to explore destinations through the eyes of a local.

Identified Technologies

Seed Round in 2015
Identified Technologies Corporation specializes in self-piloting aerial mapping and land survey drones, providing comprehensive data scanning, capture, access, and analytics solutions. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company develops technologies that enhance project visibility and team productivity across various industries, including energy, mining, manufacturing, and construction. Its offerings include advanced features such as 3-D volumetric analysis, 2-D distance measurement, contour line mapping, and digital surface models. The platform also facilitates job site tracking, as-built versus as planned comparisons, and progress forecasting, enabling businesses to improve project monitoring and profitability.

Identified Technologies

Seed Round in 2014
Identified Technologies Corporation specializes in self-piloting aerial mapping and land survey drones, providing comprehensive data scanning, capture, access, and analytics solutions. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the company develops technologies that enhance project visibility and team productivity across various industries, including energy, mining, manufacturing, and construction. Its offerings include advanced features such as 3-D volumetric analysis, 2-D distance measurement, contour line mapping, and digital surface models. The platform also facilitates job site tracking, as-built versus as planned comparisons, and progress forecasting, enabling businesses to improve project monitoring and profitability.

Propel

Series A in 2014
Propel IT, Inc. is a software company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in operational performance optimization for the commercial transportation industry. Founded in 2003, Propel has developed RouteRisk, a mobile platform that addresses the rising concerns of accident rates and insurance costs within commercial fleets. RouteRisk tracks, scores, and predicts risks associated with commercial vehicle operations, aiming to reduce accidents by over 50%. The platform integrates cutting-edge technology, including turn-by-turn routing and in-cab safety alerts, alongside an extensive database of regulatory and inspection information. By leveraging big data, Propel enables fleet managers and drivers to enhance safety, improve fuel efficiency, and foster better alignment of incentives across the transportation and logistics sectors.

Propel

Seed Round in 2013
Propel IT, Inc. is a software company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in operational performance optimization for the commercial transportation industry. Founded in 2003, Propel has developed RouteRisk, a mobile platform that addresses the rising concerns of accident rates and insurance costs within commercial fleets. RouteRisk tracks, scores, and predicts risks associated with commercial vehicle operations, aiming to reduce accidents by over 50%. The platform integrates cutting-edge technology, including turn-by-turn routing and in-cab safety alerts, alongside an extensive database of regulatory and inspection information. By leveraging big data, Propel enables fleet managers and drivers to enhance safety, improve fuel efficiency, and foster better alignment of incentives across the transportation and logistics sectors.

AllPoint Systems

Seed Round in 2010
AllPoint Systems is a software and data processing company that specializes in 3D LIDAR technology, focusing on the roadway and building markets. The company provides innovative solutions that enable surveyors and engineers to complete large-scale projects with remarkable speed and efficiency, significantly surpassing traditional manual methods. By developing software that collects and processes 3D point cloud data, AllPoint Systems addresses the increasing demands of asset owners and meets the rising expectations driven by advancements in High Definition Scanning and Terrestrial Mobile LiDAR Scanning technologies. This positions AllPoint Systems as a key player in enhancing the capabilities of surveying and engineering professionals in their projects.
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