Innovation Works

Partnering for your success

The world has changed. It’s no longer enough to drive process improvement or seek best practices. To fully envision the future, companies need to look outward. It’s about working alongside the best and the brightest to fuel your success.

Innovation Works has built a network of corporate, university and government partners to help you create bold new solutions to the world’s problems. By partnering alongside some of the biggest, best and brightest organizations in the region, we help make your great idea into the next big thing.

Ben Franklin Technology Partners

Innovation Works is a proud member of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, one of the nation’s longest-running technology-based economic development programs. Together, Ben Franklin Technology Partners combines the best practices early-stage investing with a higher purpose – to lead the region’s technology community to new heights, creating jobs and transforming lives.

IW and our BFTP counterparts across the state focus on the entrepreneur and innovation as the ultimate engines of growth and deliver crucial resources to help drive that growth, including:

  • Investing risk capital in emerging technology-based enterprises and established businesses;
  • Providing hands-on technical and business expertise to spur enterprise growth and accelerate commercialization activities;
  • Delivering customized solutions that draw on an extensive network of public and private resources, including universities, federal laboratories and research institutions.

Connecting the Hub of Pittsburgh's Startup Community

Corporate

It’s no secret that startups and corporations have their fair share of differences. They speak different languages, run at different speeds and serve different purposes. However, despite the discrepancies, partnering alongside a corporate counterpart may be just what your startup needs. Innovation Works helps foster customized collaborations with the corporate community to provide you with the tools, expertise, and experiences you need to push your idea forward.

Investors

There are a lot of early-stage investors out there, but sometimes it can be difficult to pick and choose your perfect match. At Innovation Works, we focus on connecting our portfolio of startups with their perfect investor match to help grow their ideas into the next big thing. Because we know your company inside and out, we are able to match your needs with the right investors who are ready and willing to help take your idea to the next level.

Learn More About the Investor Process

Universities

From NoWait to Hibersense some of our most successful startups got their start at the University level. The world-renowned universities in the Pittsburgh region are a vital source of research, technologies and talent for getting your idea up and running. By working alongside the likes of Carnegie Mellon, University of Pittsburgh, Chatham University, Duquesne University and other universities across the region, we are able to help your great idea reach its full potential.

Government/Economic Development

Almost every great idea could use a helping hand. Whether your idea is in need of funding assistance or just looking for some guidance of where to turn, Innovation Works partners alongside some of the region’s best Government & Economic Development Agencies that devote their time, information and passion towards getting you what you need to be successful.