What Does Innovation Works Do?

Total employees102
HeadquartersPittsburgh
Founded1999

Innovation Works (IW) stands as one of the nation's most active seed-stage investors and a cornerstone of Southwestern Pennsylvania's technology ecosystem. Since its inception in 1999, IW has been dedicated to fueling the growth of high-potential technology startups by providing essential seed capital, expert mentorship, and a comprehensive suite of resources. Through its acclaimed programs like AlphaLab (software) and AlphaLab Gear (hardware), IW helps entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of launching and scaling their businesses. The organization plays a critical role in fostering innovation across diverse sectors, including software, hardware, robotics, and life sciences, thereby contributing to regional economic development and job creation.

Where Is Innovation Works's Headquarters?

HQ Function

The headquarters serves as the central hub for all of Innovation Works' operations, including investment decision-making, management of its accelerator programs (AlphaLab, AlphaLab Gear), portfolio company support, and community engagement efforts.

Notable Features:

Located in Riverfront Place, the office offers modern, collaborative workspaces designed to facilitate interaction between staff, entrepreneurs, and mentors. It often hosts workshops, networking events, and demo days for its accelerator cohorts.

Work Culture:

The work culture at Innovation Works is entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and deeply committed to the success of startups. It fosters collaboration, continuous learning, and a supportive environment for both its internal team and the founders it serves.

HQ Significance:

IW's headquarters is a vital anchor in Pittsburgh's tech startup community, acting as a gateway for entrepreneurs seeking funding and guidance. Its presence signifies the region's commitment to fostering a robust innovation economy.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' design and atmosphere reflect Innovation Works' core values of innovation, collaboration, accessibility, and dedication to fostering growth within the entrepreneurial community.

Location:

Innovation Works primarily focuses its direct investments and operational support within Southwestern Pennsylvania. However, its global impact is realized through the international market reach and ambitions of its portfolio companies. IW also fosters global connections by engaging with international best practices in venture investment and startup acceleration to benefit its local ecosystem.

Street Address:

810 River Avenue, Suite 200

City:

Pittsburgh

State/Province:

PA

Country:

USA

Where Else Does Innovation Works Operate Around the World?

Pittsburgh, PA/USA

Address: 6024 Broad St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (AlphaLab Program)

Serves as a focused environment for early-stage software companies to rapidly develop their products, achieve market validation, and prepare for subsequent funding rounds within the Pittsburgh tech ecosystem.

Pittsburgh, PA/USA

Address: 6022 Broad St, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 (AlphaLab Gear Program)

Supports and accelerates the growth of startups building tangible products, leveraging Pittsburgh's strengths in manufacturing, engineering, and robotics, and connecting them to vital resources and expertise.

Buying Intent Signals for Innovation Works

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Innovation Works? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Innovation Works' leadership includes:

Rich Lunak - President & CEO
Terri Glueck - VP, Community Development & Communications
Ven Raju - Managing Director, Riverfront Ventures
Diane Coutput - Chief Financial Officer
Aaron Tainter - Managing Director, AlphaLab
Afshan Khan - Managing Director, AlphaLab Gear
Afolabi Agboola - Managing Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Who's Investing in Innovation Works?

Innovation Works has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)
Richard King Mellon Foundation
U.S. Economic Development Administration
Various Corporate and Philanthropic Foundations

What Leadership Changes Has Innovation Works Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

No major executive hires or exits have been publicly announced by Innovation Works in the last 12 months (as of mid-2024). The leadership team remains stable, focused on its ongoing mission. Key strategic hires, such as the Managing Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, occurred just outside this immediate 12-month window but represent recent strengthening of the team.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byInnovation Works?

Discover the tools Innovation Works uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Innovation Works Email Formats and Examples

Innovation Works primarily utilizes a common professional email format: the first initial of an employee's name followed by their last name, all before the '@innovationworks.org' domain. For example, if an employee is named Jane Doe, her email address would likely be 'jdoe@innovationworks.org'.

[first_initial][last]@innovationworks.org

Format

tglueck@innovationworks.org

Example

90%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Innovation Works?

NEXTpittsburghMarch 26, 2024

How Innovation Works is helping build Pittsburgh’s robotics and autonomy cluster

NEXTpittsburgh featured Innovation Works' significant contributions to developing Pittsburgh's robotics and autonomy sector, highlighting its accelerator programs like AlphaLab Gear and strategic investments that foster growth in this key industry for the region....more

Technical.lyJanuary 26, 2024

Innovation Works participates in $1M seed round for PGH-based DisSolves

Innovation Works participated in a $1 million seed funding round for DisSolves, a Pittsburgh startup creating edible, dissolvable packaging. This investment underscores IW's commitment to supporting innovative and sustainable technology companies in the region....more

Innovation Works BlogNovember 7, 2023

AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear Welcome New Cohorts, Fueling Pittsburgh’s Startup Growth

Innovation Works announced the new cohorts for its AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear accelerator programs, introducing a diverse group of startups poised to contribute to Pittsburgh's innovation landscape with support and seed funding from IW....more

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