32 Startups Selected for AI & Robotics Venture Day at Carnegie Mellon University

PITTSBURGH - Sept. 23, 2025 - Southwestern Pennsylvania's rich history as the birthplace of artificial intelligence and one of the leading robotics markets in the country has influenced the region's next wave of startups. Thirty-two early-stage companies are ready to take the stage at AI & Robotics Venture Day, an exclusive investor showcase set for Sept. 24 at Carnegie Mellon University as part of CMU Startup Week.

Hosted by CMU and Innovation Works, the one-day event will feature investor-ready pitches from founders in artificial intelligence, robotics, health tech, energy, and other frontier sectors. The showcase highlights startups born and built in Southwestern Pennsylvania, including Aquatonomy, Wood Wide AI, Voiage, and Leaficient, all of which were members of CMU's VentureBridge Program and Innovation Works' AlphaLab accelerator program.

AI & Robotics Venture Day offers investors an early look at breakthrough technologies with opportunities for one-on-one deal-room meetings and follow-up discussions. The event underscores Pittsburgh's rise as a national hub for deep tech investment, with $999 million in venture capital flowing into the region in 2024, led by AI and life sciences.

"AI & Robotics Venture Day is the only platform of its kind in the country, and for the past seven years, it has connected investors with the next generation of deep tech founders," said Ven Raju, President & CEO of Innovation Works. "Together with Carnegie Mellon University, we've helped startups raise more than $1 billion in follow-on capital, fueling not only the regional economy but also shaping industries around the world."

"Carnegie Mellon startups have already reshaped industries worldwide, creating more than $658 billion in value and raising more than $40 billion to fuel new ventures. But the true story is about what comes next," said Meredith Meyer Grelli, Managing Director and Interim Executive Director at CMU's Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship. "AI & Robotics Venture Day and CMU Startup Week will shine a light on the founders who will carry forward Pittsburgh's legacy of innovation, transforming global markets and improving lives."

The afternoon program will run from 2-4:50 p.m. at CMU's McConomy Auditorium, including opening remarks, a moderated panel discussion, and rapid-fire pitches from participating startups.

The panel will be moderated by Meyer Grelli, with insights from Ven Raju, President & CEO of Innovation Works; and Abe Murray, General Partner at AlleyCorp Robotics. Together, they'll explore how Pittsburgh's ecosystem is fueling growth, shaping investment trends, and positioning startups for global impact.

Following the presentations, participating founders and investors will join a bagpiper-led procession to CMU's Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship. From 5-7 p.m., investors will take part in office hours, founder tables, and a networking reception.

Learn more about AI & Robotics Venture Day.

About Innovation Works

Innovation Works is one of the most active early-stage investors in the country and the most active in Pennsylvania. Since its inception of the seed fund in 1999, Innovation Works has invested in over 780 companies that have gone on to raise $3.54 billion in follow-on funding. Portfolio companies have generated and retained over 20,000 jobs in Pennsylvania. Innovation Works is part of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners network, which has catalyzed economic growth over the last 30 years by providing access to capital and networks that help foster innovation and technology-based economic development in Pennsylvania. Learn more at innovationworks.org.

About Carnegie Mellon University Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship

The Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship is Carnegie Mellon University's interdisciplinary hub for venture creation. Supported by a transformative $31 M gift from CMU alumnus Jim Swartz (Tepper '66, co-founder of Accel Partners) and housed in the Tepper Quad, the Center opened its doors in 2016 as the university's flagship entity for entrepreneurial activity and serves more than 500 startups annually.

As a centralized home for CMU's entrepreneurial students, faculty, staff, and alumni, the Swartz Center fosters venture creation through experiential programs, mentorship, networking, and access to capital. It supports programs include VentureBridge pre-seed accelerator, EIR and mentor networks, the Tartan Entrepreneur Fund, McGinnis Venture Competition, and the Gebhardt Sandbox Fund, as well as the Family Business Initiative and Corporate Startup Lab. Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) and guest mentors bring real-world experience alongside CMU's academic expertise to guide founder teams through ideation, product-market fit, and investor readiness. The Swartz Center delivers 100+ events annually, ranging from workshops and speaker series to pitch competitions and cross-campus networking, all aimed at transforming bold ideas into market-ready ventures.

Learn more at cmu.edu/swartz-center-for-entrepreneurship.

Contact
Jane Joseph
Innovation Works
(412) 722-8474
[email protected]

Lexie Capperella
Gregory FCA for Innovation Works
[email protected]