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 Organic Food

PittMoss

Seed Round in 2024
PittMoss LLC is a manufacturer based in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, specializing in sustainable gardening solutions. The company produces PittMoss, a peat-free potting mixture made from organic additives and recycled paper fibers, which are designed to serve both commercial greenhouses and nurseries, as well as home gardeners across the United States. PittMoss is developed as a substitute for traditional sphagnum peat moss, providing an environmentally friendly alternative that helps reduce landfill waste. Additionally, the company offers PittMoss Prime, a versatile soil amendment that can be combined with compost, existing soil blends, or native soil to enhance plant growth. Founded in 1994, PittMoss emphasizes innovation through its research into recycling paper materials for horticultural use.

Ecotone Renewables

Pre Seed Round in 2023
Ecotone Renewables is focused on enhancing sustainable food and agricultural systems outside of large industrial frameworks. The company aims to empower communities to develop through sustainable food practices by providing innovative solutions for waste management. One of their key innovations, the "Seahorse," revolutionizes food and plant waste disposal by converting organic waste into renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertilizers through anaerobic digestion. By integrating patent-pending technology, Ecotone effectively removes contaminants such as plastic, metal, and glass from waste, creating efficient waste systems that serve various sectors, including grocery stores, college dorms, hotels, and restaurants. The company’s mission is to eliminate food waste and promote sustainability by transforming discarded food and energy into valuable nutrients, thereby closing the food loop and fostering sustainable communities.

DisSolves

Convertible Note in 2023
DisSolves Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company specializing in the development and manufacture of dissolvable packaging materials for the food industry. Founded in 2016, DisSolves creates innovative, edible packaging made from natural and plant-based ingredients, specifically designed for single servings of drink mixes such as protein powder and flavor enhancers. Their flagship product, a pod, replaces traditional non-recyclable packaging with a more convenient, environmentally friendly option. DisSolves is committed to sustainability, utilizing renewable and vegan materials such as seaweed and polysaccharides to ensure their packaging is both degradable and safe for consumption. The company aims to enhance consumer convenience while promoting health and environmental responsibility, addressing the growing demand for efficient and eco-friendly food packaging solutions.

DisSolves

Seed Round in 2022
DisSolves Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company specializing in the development and manufacture of dissolvable packaging materials for the food industry. Founded in 2016, DisSolves creates innovative, edible packaging made from natural and plant-based ingredients, specifically designed for single servings of drink mixes such as protein powder and flavor enhancers. Their flagship product, a pod, replaces traditional non-recyclable packaging with a more convenient, environmentally friendly option. DisSolves is committed to sustainability, utilizing renewable and vegan materials such as seaweed and polysaccharides to ensure their packaging is both degradable and safe for consumption. The company aims to enhance consumer convenience while promoting health and environmental responsibility, addressing the growing demand for efficient and eco-friendly food packaging solutions.

Ahemet Antidotes

Seed Round in 2020
Ahemet Antidotes is a biotechnology company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 2020. The company focuses on developing organic biologic treatments for livestock, aimed at reducing antibiotic resistance. Its innovative solutions are designed to prevent and treat diseases such as mastitis and pink-eye, addressing critical health issues in animals while promoting sustainable practices in agriculture. By replacing synthetic antibiotics with organic alternatives, Ahemet Antidotes seeks to enhance animal welfare and contribute to the overall health of livestock.

PittMoss

Seed Round in 2020
PittMoss LLC is a manufacturer based in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, specializing in sustainable gardening solutions. The company produces PittMoss, a peat-free potting mixture made from organic additives and recycled paper fibers, which are designed to serve both commercial greenhouses and nurseries, as well as home gardeners across the United States. PittMoss is developed as a substitute for traditional sphagnum peat moss, providing an environmentally friendly alternative that helps reduce landfill waste. Additionally, the company offers PittMoss Prime, a versatile soil amendment that can be combined with compost, existing soil blends, or native soil to enhance plant growth. Founded in 1994, PittMoss emphasizes innovation through its research into recycling paper materials for horticultural use.

PittMoss

Seed Round in 2019
PittMoss LLC is a manufacturer based in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, specializing in sustainable gardening solutions. The company produces PittMoss, a peat-free potting mixture made from organic additives and recycled paper fibers, which are designed to serve both commercial greenhouses and nurseries, as well as home gardeners across the United States. PittMoss is developed as a substitute for traditional sphagnum peat moss, providing an environmentally friendly alternative that helps reduce landfill waste. Additionally, the company offers PittMoss Prime, a versatile soil amendment that can be combined with compost, existing soil blends, or native soil to enhance plant growth. Founded in 1994, PittMoss emphasizes innovation through its research into recycling paper materials for horticultural use.

PittMoss

Series B in 2019
PittMoss LLC is a manufacturer based in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, specializing in sustainable gardening solutions. The company produces PittMoss, a peat-free potting mixture made from organic additives and recycled paper fibers, which are designed to serve both commercial greenhouses and nurseries, as well as home gardeners across the United States. PittMoss is developed as a substitute for traditional sphagnum peat moss, providing an environmentally friendly alternative that helps reduce landfill waste. Additionally, the company offers PittMoss Prime, a versatile soil amendment that can be combined with compost, existing soil blends, or native soil to enhance plant growth. Founded in 1994, PittMoss emphasizes innovation through its research into recycling paper materials for horticultural use.

DisSolves

Seed Round in 2019
DisSolves Inc. is a Pittsburgh-based company specializing in the development and manufacture of dissolvable packaging materials for the food industry. Founded in 2016, DisSolves creates innovative, edible packaging made from natural and plant-based ingredients, specifically designed for single servings of drink mixes such as protein powder and flavor enhancers. Their flagship product, a pod, replaces traditional non-recyclable packaging with a more convenient, environmentally friendly option. DisSolves is committed to sustainability, utilizing renewable and vegan materials such as seaweed and polysaccharides to ensure their packaging is both degradable and safe for consumption. The company aims to enhance consumer convenience while promoting health and environmental responsibility, addressing the growing demand for efficient and eco-friendly food packaging solutions.

PittMoss

Seed Round in 2018
PittMoss LLC is a manufacturer based in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, specializing in sustainable gardening solutions. The company produces PittMoss, a peat-free potting mixture made from organic additives and recycled paper fibers, which are designed to serve both commercial greenhouses and nurseries, as well as home gardeners across the United States. PittMoss is developed as a substitute for traditional sphagnum peat moss, providing an environmentally friendly alternative that helps reduce landfill waste. Additionally, the company offers PittMoss Prime, a versatile soil amendment that can be combined with compost, existing soil blends, or native soil to enhance plant growth. Founded in 1994, PittMoss emphasizes innovation through its research into recycling paper materials for horticultural use.

PittMoss

Seed Round in 2018
PittMoss LLC is a manufacturer based in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, specializing in sustainable gardening solutions. The company produces PittMoss, a peat-free potting mixture made from organic additives and recycled paper fibers, which are designed to serve both commercial greenhouses and nurseries, as well as home gardeners across the United States. PittMoss is developed as a substitute for traditional sphagnum peat moss, providing an environmentally friendly alternative that helps reduce landfill waste. Additionally, the company offers PittMoss Prime, a versatile soil amendment that can be combined with compost, existing soil blends, or native soil to enhance plant growth. Founded in 1994, PittMoss emphasizes innovation through its research into recycling paper materials for horticultural use.

PittMoss

Convertible Note in 2017
PittMoss LLC is a manufacturer based in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, specializing in sustainable gardening solutions. The company produces PittMoss, a peat-free potting mixture made from organic additives and recycled paper fibers, which are designed to serve both commercial greenhouses and nurseries, as well as home gardeners across the United States. PittMoss is developed as a substitute for traditional sphagnum peat moss, providing an environmentally friendly alternative that helps reduce landfill waste. Additionally, the company offers PittMoss Prime, a versatile soil amendment that can be combined with compost, existing soil blends, or native soil to enhance plant growth. Founded in 1994, PittMoss emphasizes innovation through its research into recycling paper materials for horticultural use.

PittMoss

Seed Round in 2015
PittMoss LLC is a manufacturer based in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, specializing in sustainable gardening solutions. The company produces PittMoss, a peat-free potting mixture made from organic additives and recycled paper fibers, which are designed to serve both commercial greenhouses and nurseries, as well as home gardeners across the United States. PittMoss is developed as a substitute for traditional sphagnum peat moss, providing an environmentally friendly alternative that helps reduce landfill waste. Additionally, the company offers PittMoss Prime, a versatile soil amendment that can be combined with compost, existing soil blends, or native soil to enhance plant growth. Founded in 1994, PittMoss emphasizes innovation through its research into recycling paper materials for horticultural use.
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