PITTSBURGH — May 29, 2025 — Innovation Works, one of the most active early-stage investors in the country, will host its invitation-only Venture Expo at the Sheraton Hotel at Station Square, connecting accredited institutional investors with over 50 curated startups spanning artificial intelligence, robotics, software, life sciences, and hardware.
Chris Barton, Founder and first CEO of Shazam, will deliver the keynote as a fireside chat with Innovation Works CEO Ven Raju. Barton, a three-time startup founder who pioneered mobile ecosystems at Google and Dropbox, holds 12 patents, including one found within the Google search algorithm.
“The Venture Expo is a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the innovation driving Pittsburgh’s emergence as a nationally recognized technology hub,” Raju said. “By bringing together breakthrough startups and capital providers in a focused format, we accelerate the connections that fuel economic growth and position our region for continued success.”
The day-long program includes:
- Curated 1:1 meetings between investors and founders
- First look at companies from AlphaLab and the Robotics Factory
- Panel discussions on regional capital trends and the evolving landscape of robotics and advanced manufacturing
- An inside look at investment strategy and growth through the lens of Duolingo’s Sisi Liu
According to the 13th annual review of Pittsburgh’s technology investment landscape, last year’s 182 unique deals set a new record for venture capital activity in the region. In each of the last four years, total startup investments in the region have exceeded $1 billion. Pittsburgh ranks 13th among emerging startup ecosystems, with more than 300 venture firms investing in the region over the past decade.
The region has become a national destination for innovation and talent, fueled by world-class institutions like Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh, and sustained by the grit and creativity of local entrepreneurs. The Innovation Works Venture Expo is a front-row seat to the next wave of scalable, investment-ready startups, giving investors from around the country early access to emerging technology in software, AI, hardware, life sciences, and robotics.
Join us on June 10 and discover why over 300 venture firms have invested in Pittsburgh’s rising tech ecosystem.
About Innovation Works
Innovation Works is one of the most active early-stage investors in the country and the most active in Pennsylvania. Since its inception of the seed fund in 1999, Innovation Works has invested in over 780 companies that have gone on to raise $3.3 billion in follow-on funding. Portfolio companies have generated and retained over 20,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. Innovation Works is part of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners network, which has catalyzed economic growth over the last 30 years by providing access to capital and networks that help foster innovation and technology-based economic development in Pennsylvania. Learn more at innovationworks.org.
Contact:
Jane Joseph
Innovation Works
(412) 722-8474 mobile
jjoseph@innovationworks.org
Lexie Capperella
Gregory FCA for Innovation Works
innovationworks@gregoryfca.com