Innovation Works provides seed capital and business assistance
to entrepreneurs in southwestern Pennsylvania's most promising
technology startups.
to entrepreneurs in southwestern Pennsylvania's most promising
technology startups.
Last week I was in D.C. attending the first annual meeting of the Advanced Energy Economy (AEE), a new national association that “promotes a better business climate for all segments of the advanced energy industry and helps American companies and workers succeed as the world transitions to a smarter energy future.” For the past two years IW has been helping to conceptualize and shape the AEE, and in that time, a lot has changed. “Green” and “clean”—two of the most widely used adjectives describing energy interests in the U.S.—have begun to lose their luster in some minds due to the decrease … Continue reading
As entrepreneurs discuss ways to capitalize their companies for sustainability and growth, the conversation often turns into how and from whom to obtain funding as well as the health of the region’s financing environment. To that end, the Southwest PA (SWPA) region is showing significant signs of growth not only in the levels of VC funding received but in the activity of our local and non-local angel investors. Southwestern PA’s Fundraising Climate In examining data supplied by Thomson One, we can be cautiously optimistic. Over the last few years growth in total investment dollars has been trending upward, … Continue reading
Our companies are accomplishing some amazing things–and the media is taking note. Here’s a digest of some of the recent press within our portfolio: Hands on With the World’s First Power Folding Stroller from 4Moms [VIDEO] Source: Mashable Circadiance has big plans for 2012 Source: Pittsburgh Business Times Cohera Medical heads into U.S. trials for its surgical adhesive, TissuGlu Source: Pittsburgh Business Times DeepLocal is featured in CommArt’s “Fresh” section Source: Communication Arts IB2C raises $4.3M series A; prepares fertility product launch Source: Pittsburgh Business Times Digital signage company Industry Weapon has secret weapon: … Continue reading
Hire the Disabled: The Power of the Human Spirit Should Never Be Underestimated. As technology has allowed a highly mobile workforce, the ability for organizations to secure bright-minded and eager workers into the fold has never been better. Hundreds of people with disabilities are looking for jobs, including our returning troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Let’s find them. Emphasize Volunteerism: Give back to the community. Volunteerism is a simple way to reach out to the community and attract like-minded individuals. Would you like those people on your team? Bend But Don’t Break: Don’t wait for Mr. or Ms. … Continue reading
I wanted to let you all know about an exciting new program at Carnegie Mellon that will be of great interest to our IW, AlphaLab, and i6 portfolio companies whose co-founders are recent graduates of Carnegie Mellon. Carnegie Mellon’s Open Field Entrepreneurs Fund (OFEF) is a new, groundbreaking model for providing early-stage business financing to CMU alumni who are driving innovation. The OFEF is open to all CMU graduates from the past five years who have the desire to become entrepreneurs. OFEF enables recent CMU graduates to follow their entrepreneurial dreams. We give them a viable alternative to … Continue reading
Preview the success stories we'll be featuring at the #iwannualmtg next week--this one ft. @theresumator [VIDEO] https://t.co/esairJWG 2 days agoCongrats to @iwpgh portfolio co @BPLGlobal on winning #PghBizTimesEvents #EnergyLeadershipAwards 2 days agoYahoo soap opera features new cast of leaders - as company continues to drift! http://t.co/a2q2BjcP 5 days ago
