We Know Hardware is Hard

IW has the grit and knowledge to get you from prototype to production and every step in between.

The Pittsburgh region is rich with robotics, manufacturing, and hardware. IW offers a unique hardware program designed to help hardware companies capitalize on the region’s manufacturing resources while developing, scaling, and commercializing their products.

IW has funded many of the area’s top hardware companies including RE2, Digital Dream Labs, Adrich, and Diamond Kinetics. Current growing hardware companies include Core Power Magnetics, Arieca, Ekto VR, Subtl Beauty, ESTAT Actuation, and Finish Robotics.

How we help

Capital

Since 1999, IW’s hardware portfolio has 129 hardware companies provided over $30M in funding, raised over $1B in follow-on funding, and seen 19 exits.

Hardware companies can receive funding through our AlphaLab Gear accelerator program and our IW seed fund. Initial investment amounts vary based on stage of company and fund, but are typically up to $50K for AlphaLab and up to $150K for our seed fund.

Looking for funding? Here are some basics about the companies IW works with:

Have ties to Southwestern PA
Built an initial working product and validated need with initial customers (pre-seed or accelerator stage)
Proven value and demonstrated customer revenue traction (seed stage)
Developing repeatable customer acquisition processes (seed stage)
Currently raising additional investments in a funding round (seed stage)

Want to know more? Schedule office hours with our Hardware Team

We’d also point you to IW’s Startup Recipes collection which is designed to help you validate customer needs and build initial prototypes with minimal funds. Get cooking today!

Know How

IW’s team brings a diversity of experience, knowledge and expertise to the table. Our hardware and AlphaLab Gear team, led by three-peat hardware startup founder Mike Formica, has experience building and scaling hardware companies, leading marketing and go-to-market strategies at venture-backed startups and raising venture-capital investments.

To complement our awesome hardware team, IW boasts an amazing manufacturing team to assist with market production. Our team can introduce you to the area’s top manufacturers in robotics, plastics, circuit boards, medical devices, and more.

Additionally, the IW team brings commercialization, investment and functional experience in related areas such as marketing, human resources, software development, healthcare and life sciences to help scaling businesses to their next stage of growth.

In short, IW has the people you need to create a custom hardware experience to meet your company’s needs.

Learn how hardware startup Adrich used the knowledge from IW and AlphaLab Gear to get to the next stage of growth.

Networks

IW’s network is always growing. We are connecting with industry experts with years of experience and trailblazing new-comers at the forefront of their fields. Our network consists of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, industry and community partners that span the country. Whether you are looking for a peer advisor, out-of-the-box thinker, or trusted industry expert, IW can help make connections locally, regionally, or nationally.

Our manufacturing network is constantly growing. Take a look at our Scalable Program.

Community

They say it takes a village to launch a startup and in the IW Portfolio, you are never alone.

IW fosters a community of entrepreneurs through our:

Active portfolio and alumni network
Founder’s lunches and peer groups
Mentor relationships
Accelerator co-working space
Online community group
Hosting and sponsoring community events
Perks and discounts through the Global Accelerator Network
Alumni soccer team
And more!

Throughout IW’s programs, networks, and community, we support diversity and inclusion. IW believes that diversity of backgrounds, thoughts, experiences, and ideas is essential to growing a prosperous startup. Learn more about IW’s commitment to diversity!

IW is proud to call Pittsburgh home and there are many reasons to love this region! See why we think Pittsburgh is the place to launch and get your startup to the next stage of growth!

AlphaLab Gear is one of the longest programs of its kind around because we know what it takes to get a hardware startup off the ground. We get hardware.

And whether you come to us with a design or a working prototype, we’re thinking about what it takes to build it reliably, at scale and at a price your customers are willing to pay.

The AlphaLab Gear hardware accelerator provides investment and guides you through a bespoke program and an optional manufacturing-focused module. Access an instant network of on-site technical experts, investors and customers and grow your startup in Pittsburgh, the center of hardware and robotics.

There are two points in time when hardware companies are best equipped to fundraise and scale successfully:

Identifying their first target market, and
Proving that customers will pay to use their product, and when they’re ready to manufacture at scale.

The AlphaLab Gear program helps companies reach these points faster. Our model works. Over 85% of our alumni raise follow-on funding. And as a program of Innovation Works, the 8th most active seed-stage investor in the country, there are opportunities for seed and follow-on funding, support from our Executives in Residence, and connections to a huge network of investors and corporate partners. We’re at the center of hardware and robotics in our region. Whether you want to manufacture locally, regionally or globally we’ve got the connections and expertise to get you there.

Throughout and after the program, AlphaLab Gear provides:

$50K in funding and the opportunity to raise money from the Innovation Works seed fund post-program
Bespoke programming by industry leaders to get from innovation to commercialization;
1:1 interactions with us and the extended Innovation Works team
Additional connections to our network of mentors, investors, and industry leaders as well as access to GAN perks.
Community with our robust network of alumni through various interactions
Workshop space
Office space in a collaborative work environment filled with snack and drinks to fuel you and your business

Want to learn more about AlphaLab Gear? Check them out at alphalabgear.org.

Scalable

Scalable connects hardware entrepreneurs with forward-thinking manufacturers in Southwestern Pennsylvania to create long-lasting relationships that fuel innovation in our local economy.

We provide hardware entrepreneurs with support in design for manufacturability, finding the right manufacturer, growing your supply chain, and scaling products while cutting costs.

Funding to work with local, forward-thinking, manufacturers

The Scalable Innovation Grant is designed to encourage hardware entrepreneurs to form strong relationships with local manufacturers; no more long-distance partnerships or precarious supply chains. Our model empowers entrepreneurs to advance from the prototyping stage into production by providing startups with up to $15,000 as an incentive to build lasting relationships with local manufacturers.

Innovation Works

Innovation Works

Programs

Hardware