The Robotics Factory

The Robotics Factory is Innovation Works' Pittsburgh program for robotics and automation founders. It is organized into three tracks: Create, Accelerate, and Scale. Create is aimed at moving concepts toward prototype, Accelerate is the intensive startup path, and Scale is for established companies expanding manufacturing capacity. Accelerate runs for six months and can provide up to $100,000, while the broader program is built around rolling access rather than a fixed annual call. The source does not frame this as a grant; it is an equity or investment route. The program also connects participants to specialized facilities, shared workspace, and a regional network that includes more than 125 advanced technology companies and leading universities. The fit is broad for robotics and automation ventures, from early ideas to companies preparing to scale. The strongest applicants are those with a clear robotics or automation use case and a concrete reason to use Pittsburgh's facilities and ecosystem, because the program is designed around hands-on development and commercial expansion.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.