Innovation Works’ Robotics Factory welcomes 5 companies to Accelerate program

The Robotics Factory, an Innovation Works program designed to create, accelerate and scale robotics startups in the Pittsburgh region, has accepted five companies to the second cohort of its Accelerate program.

The companies include ForSight Assistive Devices, HeadStraitLabs, Humotech, Journey Robotics and Reclamation Factory.

New members receive funding, access to facilities

The companies will receive up to $100,000 in investment, six months of structured programming and content, hands-on 1-on-1 engagement with industry experts, network building and 12 months of office space at the Robotics Factory’s facility in Lawrenceville, Penn. with access to the Robotics Factory Scale prototyping and testing facility.

“The companies joining the Accelerate program follow unique paths to create and build their businesses. We help them perform customer discovery, develop product and market fit, and grow into successful startups,” said Kevin Dowling, managing director of the Robotics Factory. “Pittsburgh's broad and deep community of robotics leaders is the perfect environment for these companies to thrive. Our team of entrepreneurs is eager to provide their deep domain and commercialization experience to this cohort.”

This cohort spans robotics applications from multiple industries, including health tech, aviation and plastic recycling.

ForSight Assistive Devices: Wearable devices to safely guide visually impaired users through unfamiliar and dynamic environments.

HeadStrait Labs: Medical devices that improve patient outcomes during prehospital care and emergency transportation.

Humotech: Wearable device platforms enabling researchers and developers to accelerate innovation in prosthetics, orthotics and exoskeletons.

Journey Robotics: Aviation automation offering to improve the safety and efficiency of loading, unloading, handling and throughout of passenger cargo. The creation of Journey Robotics was sparked by the founder’s participation in the Aviation and Robotics Summit in April 2023.

Reclamation Factory: Automated, modular plastics recycling machines producing high-quality and manufacture-ready source materials from disposed plastics.

Since graduation, members of the inaugural cohort made notable accomplishments.

• CellX Technologies closed over $6 million in Seed Stage funding
• Voaige has raised $2 million in pre-seed led by Draper Associates and Boost VC
• Aquatonomy secured $20,000 and first place at the Duquesne New Venture Challenge
• Velo AI sold out their first production run of Copilot