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

Peter Erin

Senior Investment Associate

Aaron Tainter

Director of Accelerator Programs

Steven Welles

Managing Director of Software

Past deals in Smart Home

Module

Venture Round in 2023
Module specializes in the development of modular housing projects that aim to provide innovative residential solutions for the urban environment. The company focuses on designing and constructing homes in a modular fashion, which allows for smart architectural designs to be accessible to a broader audience. By offering a pay-as-you-go model, Module enables potential homeowners to acquire the appropriate amount of living space tailored to their needs, making homeownership more affordable and flexible. The company's approach seeks to meet the demands of modern living while ensuring that customized housing services are available to its clients.

Touchwood Labs

Seed Round in 2022
TouchWood Labs, Inc., founded in 2019 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializes in the development of innovative technology for office and home furniture. The company creates a unique hardware platform that features proprietary invisible displays, which can be embedded beneath surfaces like wood or plastic. These displays activate when needed, providing interactive touch interfaces for users to control various IoT-connected devices. TouchWood Labs aims to enhance user experience by merging technology with mindful design, ultimately fostering healthier relationships with technology through its product offerings, which include work-from-home desks and coffee tables.

Module

Seed Round in 2021
Module specializes in the development of modular housing projects that aim to provide innovative residential solutions for the urban environment. The company focuses on designing and constructing homes in a modular fashion, which allows for smart architectural designs to be accessible to a broader audience. By offering a pay-as-you-go model, Module enables potential homeowners to acquire the appropriate amount of living space tailored to their needs, making homeownership more affordable and flexible. The company's approach seeks to meet the demands of modern living while ensuring that customized housing services are available to its clients.

Touchwood Labs

Seed Round in 2021
TouchWood Labs, Inc., founded in 2019 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializes in the development of innovative technology for office and home furniture. The company creates a unique hardware platform that features proprietary invisible displays, which can be embedded beneath surfaces like wood or plastic. These displays activate when needed, providing interactive touch interfaces for users to control various IoT-connected devices. TouchWood Labs aims to enhance user experience by merging technology with mindful design, ultimately fostering healthier relationships with technology through its product offerings, which include work-from-home desks and coffee tables.

Xogo

Seed Round in 2020
Xogo is a hardware and software platform aimed at empowering individuals, particularly those with disabilities, to effectively engage with technology. It provides a versatile solution by enabling connections between a wide variety of devices, including standard USB, Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3.5mm jack inputs. This compatibility allows users to integrate and control diverse technologies, such as cable boxes, smart home devices, and video game consoles, according to their specific needs and preferences. By addressing issues of device incompatibility and usability, Xogo helps users to maximize the functionality of their technology, fostering a more inclusive and user-friendly experience.

Hibersense

Seed Round in 2020
Hibersense offers a smart HVAC control solution designed to enhance comfort and energy efficiency in homes and multi-family dwellings. Their patent-pending system features wireless sensors and battery-operated vents that monitor room conditions such as temperature, motion, light, humidity, and sound. By employing machine learning algorithms, Hibersense optimizes heating and cooling for each individual space, effectively reducing energy consumption by up to 40% by avoiding the conditioning of unoccupied areas. This innovative approach not only improves tenant comfort and satisfaction but also provides valuable insights into building thermal dynamics and usage patterns, potentially increasing profitability for multi-family operators.

Touchwood Labs

Seed Round in 2020
TouchWood Labs, Inc., founded in 2019 and based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializes in the development of innovative technology for office and home furniture. The company creates a unique hardware platform that features proprietary invisible displays, which can be embedded beneath surfaces like wood or plastic. These displays activate when needed, providing interactive touch interfaces for users to control various IoT-connected devices. TouchWood Labs aims to enhance user experience by merging technology with mindful design, ultimately fostering healthier relationships with technology through its product offerings, which include work-from-home desks and coffee tables.

Module

Seed Round in 2020
Module specializes in the development of modular housing projects that aim to provide innovative residential solutions for the urban environment. The company focuses on designing and constructing homes in a modular fashion, which allows for smart architectural designs to be accessible to a broader audience. By offering a pay-as-you-go model, Module enables potential homeowners to acquire the appropriate amount of living space tailored to their needs, making homeownership more affordable and flexible. The company's approach seeks to meet the demands of modern living while ensuring that customized housing services are available to its clients.

Hibersense

Seed Round in 2019
Hibersense offers a smart HVAC control solution designed to enhance comfort and energy efficiency in homes and multi-family dwellings. Their patent-pending system features wireless sensors and battery-operated vents that monitor room conditions such as temperature, motion, light, humidity, and sound. By employing machine learning algorithms, Hibersense optimizes heating and cooling for each individual space, effectively reducing energy consumption by up to 40% by avoiding the conditioning of unoccupied areas. This innovative approach not only improves tenant comfort and satisfaction but also provides valuable insights into building thermal dynamics and usage patterns, potentially increasing profitability for multi-family operators.

Module

Seed Round in 2019
Module specializes in the development of modular housing projects that aim to provide innovative residential solutions for the urban environment. The company focuses on designing and constructing homes in a modular fashion, which allows for smart architectural designs to be accessible to a broader audience. By offering a pay-as-you-go model, Module enables potential homeowners to acquire the appropriate amount of living space tailored to their needs, making homeownership more affordable and flexible. The company's approach seeks to meet the demands of modern living while ensuring that customized housing services are available to its clients.

Smoke Detective

Seed Round in 2019
Smoke Detective develops a smoke detection application that transforms any camera-enabled smart device into a smoke detector. The application utilizes advanced algorithms to monitor and detect smoke by processing images and videos in real-time, relying on standard mobile processors for efficiency. By identifying visible smoke, the system can promptly send alerts or mobile notifications to users, helping them stay vigilant and reduce the risk of fire incidents. This innovative approach eliminates the need for calibration or additional hardware, making smoke detection accessible and convenient for a wide range of users.

Hibersense

Seed Round in 2019
Hibersense offers a smart HVAC control solution designed to enhance comfort and energy efficiency in homes and multi-family dwellings. Their patent-pending system features wireless sensors and battery-operated vents that monitor room conditions such as temperature, motion, light, humidity, and sound. By employing machine learning algorithms, Hibersense optimizes heating and cooling for each individual space, effectively reducing energy consumption by up to 40% by avoiding the conditioning of unoccupied areas. This innovative approach not only improves tenant comfort and satisfaction but also provides valuable insights into building thermal dynamics and usage patterns, potentially increasing profitability for multi-family operators.

Hibersense

Seed Round in 2018
Hibersense offers a smart HVAC control solution designed to enhance comfort and energy efficiency in homes and multi-family dwellings. Their patent-pending system features wireless sensors and battery-operated vents that monitor room conditions such as temperature, motion, light, humidity, and sound. By employing machine learning algorithms, Hibersense optimizes heating and cooling for each individual space, effectively reducing energy consumption by up to 40% by avoiding the conditioning of unoccupied areas. This innovative approach not only improves tenant comfort and satisfaction but also provides valuable insights into building thermal dynamics and usage patterns, potentially increasing profitability for multi-family operators.

LifeWhere

Seed Round in 2018
LifeWhere, LLC is a software company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in predictive analytics for the home service provider market. Founded in 2016, the company has developed innovative solutions that enable users to monitor the health of home utility systems. Its flagship offering, LifePulse technology, utilizes Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities to connect various household machines to the cloud, allowing for real-time monitoring and analysis. The platform provides a home health dashboard that alerts service providers to potential issues before they escalate, thereby streamlining maintenance and reducing downtime. By enhancing the efficiency of repair processes and improving staff utilization, LifeWhere helps both residential and commercial property owners prevent significant failures in their utility systems. LifeWhere, LLC operates as a subsidiary of Resideo Technologies, Inc. as of June 2019.

Hibersense

Seed Round in 2018
Hibersense offers a smart HVAC control solution designed to enhance comfort and energy efficiency in homes and multi-family dwellings. Their patent-pending system features wireless sensors and battery-operated vents that monitor room conditions such as temperature, motion, light, humidity, and sound. By employing machine learning algorithms, Hibersense optimizes heating and cooling for each individual space, effectively reducing energy consumption by up to 40% by avoiding the conditioning of unoccupied areas. This innovative approach not only improves tenant comfort and satisfaction but also provides valuable insights into building thermal dynamics and usage patterns, potentially increasing profitability for multi-family operators.

Module

Convertible Note in 2018
Module specializes in the development of modular housing projects that aim to provide innovative residential solutions for the urban environment. The company focuses on designing and constructing homes in a modular fashion, which allows for smart architectural designs to be accessible to a broader audience. By offering a pay-as-you-go model, Module enables potential homeowners to acquire the appropriate amount of living space tailored to their needs, making homeownership more affordable and flexible. The company's approach seeks to meet the demands of modern living while ensuring that customized housing services are available to its clients.

Hibersense

Seed Round in 2018
Hibersense offers a smart HVAC control solution designed to enhance comfort and energy efficiency in homes and multi-family dwellings. Their patent-pending system features wireless sensors and battery-operated vents that monitor room conditions such as temperature, motion, light, humidity, and sound. By employing machine learning algorithms, Hibersense optimizes heating and cooling for each individual space, effectively reducing energy consumption by up to 40% by avoiding the conditioning of unoccupied areas. This innovative approach not only improves tenant comfort and satisfaction but also provides valuable insights into building thermal dynamics and usage patterns, potentially increasing profitability for multi-family operators.

Module

Seed Round in 2018
Module specializes in the development of modular housing projects that aim to provide innovative residential solutions for the urban environment. The company focuses on designing and constructing homes in a modular fashion, which allows for smart architectural designs to be accessible to a broader audience. By offering a pay-as-you-go model, Module enables potential homeowners to acquire the appropriate amount of living space tailored to their needs, making homeownership more affordable and flexible. The company's approach seeks to meet the demands of modern living while ensuring that customized housing services are available to its clients.

LifeWhere

Seed Round in 2017
LifeWhere, LLC is a software company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, specializing in predictive analytics for the home service provider market. Founded in 2016, the company has developed innovative solutions that enable users to monitor the health of home utility systems. Its flagship offering, LifePulse technology, utilizes Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities to connect various household machines to the cloud, allowing for real-time monitoring and analysis. The platform provides a home health dashboard that alerts service providers to potential issues before they escalate, thereby streamlining maintenance and reducing downtime. By enhancing the efficiency of repair processes and improving staff utilization, LifeWhere helps both residential and commercial property owners prevent significant failures in their utility systems. LifeWhere, LLC operates as a subsidiary of Resideo Technologies, Inc. as of June 2019.

Hibersense

Convertible Note in 2017
Hibersense offers a smart HVAC control solution designed to enhance comfort and energy efficiency in homes and multi-family dwellings. Their patent-pending system features wireless sensors and battery-operated vents that monitor room conditions such as temperature, motion, light, humidity, and sound. By employing machine learning algorithms, Hibersense optimizes heating and cooling for each individual space, effectively reducing energy consumption by up to 40% by avoiding the conditioning of unoccupied areas. This innovative approach not only improves tenant comfort and satisfaction but also provides valuable insights into building thermal dynamics and usage patterns, potentially increasing profitability for multi-family operators.

Xogo

Convertible Note in 2017
Xogo is a hardware and software platform aimed at empowering individuals, particularly those with disabilities, to effectively engage with technology. It provides a versatile solution by enabling connections between a wide variety of devices, including standard USB, Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3.5mm jack inputs. This compatibility allows users to integrate and control diverse technologies, such as cable boxes, smart home devices, and video game consoles, according to their specific needs and preferences. By addressing issues of device incompatibility and usability, Xogo helps users to maximize the functionality of their technology, fostering a more inclusive and user-friendly experience.

Xogo

Convertible Note in 2016
Xogo is a hardware and software platform aimed at empowering individuals, particularly those with disabilities, to effectively engage with technology. It provides a versatile solution by enabling connections between a wide variety of devices, including standard USB, Bluetooth, WiFi, and 3.5mm jack inputs. This compatibility allows users to integrate and control diverse technologies, such as cable boxes, smart home devices, and video game consoles, according to their specific needs and preferences. By addressing issues of device incompatibility and usability, Xogo helps users to maximize the functionality of their technology, fostering a more inclusive and user-friendly experience.

NewCare Solutions

Venture Round in 2014
The SilentAlert Resident Attendant System is a product of NewCare Solutions, LLC. Located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, NewCare Solutions is a spinoff of medSage Technologies, LLC and was created when its founder, William Kaigler, was unable to find an effective and affordable solution to help his 85-year old mother live independently in her home. The SilentAlert Resident Attendant System became a reality after his mother was hospitalized and her sleep was continuously disrupted by an audible bed alarm for another patient.

NewCare Solutions

Series A in 2013
The SilentAlert Resident Attendant System is a product of NewCare Solutions, LLC. Located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, NewCare Solutions is a spinoff of medSage Technologies, LLC and was created when its founder, William Kaigler, was unable to find an effective and affordable solution to help his 85-year old mother live independently in her home. The SilentAlert Resident Attendant System became a reality after his mother was hospitalized and her sleep was continuously disrupted by an audible bed alarm for another patient.

NewCare Solutions

Seed Round in 2011
The SilentAlert Resident Attendant System is a product of NewCare Solutions, LLC. Located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, NewCare Solutions is a spinoff of medSage Technologies, LLC and was created when its founder, William Kaigler, was unable to find an effective and affordable solution to help his 85-year old mother live independently in her home. The SilentAlert Resident Attendant System became a reality after his mother was hospitalized and her sleep was continuously disrupted by an audible bed alarm for another patient.
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