The Robotics Factory

The Robotics Factory

Supports Pittsburgh robotics startups through staged acceleration, prototype-to-production training, and investor-oriented growth tracks.

The Robotics Factory is Innovation Works' dedicated robotics and automation program based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It operates three distinct tracks — Create, Accelerate, and Scale — designed to support entrepreneurs at every stage from initial concept through manufacturing expansion. The program connects participants with a network of 125+ advanced technology companies and top universities, and provides access to state-of-the-art facilities and collaborative workspaces.

The Accelerate track is the funding-bearing component: a six-month intensive for early-stage robotics and automation startups that provides up to $100,000 in investment. This track is structurally integrated with AlphaLab's Robotics program, situating Accelerate participants within Innovation Works' broader portfolio ecosystem. The Create track focuses on structured workshops that take ideas from concept to working prototype, targeting pre-company individuals or teams. The Scale track targets established robotics companies seeking to expand manufacturing capabilities, providing resources and connections rather than a fixed cash award. The program operates on a cohort basis with no fixed public application deadline.

The Robotics Factory is specifically scoped to robotics and automation ventures; applicants outside that domain should look to AlphaLab's Software, Gear, or Health tracks. For Accelerate applicants, demonstrating a working prototype or early product and a clear manufacturing pathway is central to a competitive application. Innovation Works' portfolio network — spanning 780+ companies and $3.54 billion in follow-on capital raised — provides meaningful post-program connectivity for robotics companies seeking enterprise pilots, supply-chain partners, or Series A investors focused on industrial technology.