Innovation Works Inc

THIS EDA INVESTMENT SUPPORTS THE SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA (SWPA) NEW ECONOMY COLLABORATIVE, A COALITION OF THE REGION'S LEADING UNIVERSITY, PHILANTHROPIC, AND PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERS, WITH STRENGTHENING THE ROBOTICS AND AUTONOMY CLUSTER IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA BY ENSURING THAT ITS ECONOMIC BENEFITS EQUITABLY REACH RURAL AND COAL-IMPACTED COMMUNITIES IN THE 11-COUNTY REGION. THE FIVE PROJECTS FUNDED AS PART OF THIS AWARD INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR THE EXPANDED PATHWAYS TO NEW ECONOMY CAREERS TO GROW THE REGION'S EXISTING ROBOTICS AND AI-RELATED WORKFORCE TRAINING PORTFOLIO AND A SME ROBOTICS ADOPTION PROJECT TO SUPPORT TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION BY SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES. ONCE IMPLEMENTED, THE INVESTMENT WILL HELP DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN REGIONAL INDUSTRY CLUSTERS - ALL WHILE EMBRACING ECONOMIC EQUITY, CREATING GOOD-PAYING JOBS, AND ENHANCING U.S. COMPETITIVENESS GLOBALLY.

THIS EDA INVESTMENT FUNDS THE SCALING NETWORKS IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PROJECT, TO HELP DEEPEN, STRENGTHEN AND CROSS-POLLINATE NETWORKS OF MENTORS, CORPORATE PARTNERS, INVESTORS, AND SUPPLY CHAIN PARTNERS FOR MORE SCALABLE DELIVERY OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SERVICES TO STARTUPS, WHILE ALSO ADDING SPECIFIC EXPERTISE IN-HOUSE TO ADDRESS THE ABOVE-MENTIONED CHALLENGES. THE PROJECT WORK INCLUDES MAKING NETWORKS OF MENTORS, INVESTORS, CORPORATE PARTNERS, MANUFACTURING SUPPLIERS, AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL FROM THE RESPECTIVE NETWORKS OF IW AND CMU COLLECTIVELY ACCESSIBLE TO COMPANIES IN THE REGIONAL ECOSYSTEM; EXPANDING THE NETWORKS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO ADD DIVERSITY IN SKILLS AND BACKGROUNDS, WITH GREATER SECTOR-SPECIFICITY, DIGITAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT, AND A PLATFORM APPROACH TO BRING MENTOR NETWORKS TOGETHER; BROADENING ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAINING PROGRAMMING, SPECIFICALLY SUPPORTING MORE BUSINESSES LED BY DIVERSE FOUNDERS (WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND ENTREPRENEURS FROM RURAL COMMUNITIES), WHILE ADDING WORKSHOPS ON KEY AREAS OF COMMERCIALIZATION; AND CREATING STRONGER ON-RAMPS FOR STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN ENTERING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL WORKFORCE, WITH STEM-RELATED INTERNSHIPS, ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION SESSIONS, AND HUMAN RESOURCES SUPPORT THAT HELPS STARTUPS CREATE A DIVERSE STAFF AND INCLUSIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT. ONCE IMPLEMENTED, THESE ACTIVITIES WILL WORK TO ADDRESS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED STARTUP DEMAND, A NEED OF STARTUPS FOR MORE SPECIALIZED SUPPORT, AND THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IN THE TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM.

I6-TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION

ALPHALAB ACCEL. PROGRAM

FY 23 CONGRESSIONAL COMMUNITY PROJECT INNOVATION WORKS

INITIATIVE THAT CONNECTS RURAL MANUFACTURERS WITH HARDWARE STARTUP COMPANIES IN SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

BUSINESS INNOVATION

FY 2012 CLUSTER