Applications are open for the program, which will provide Pennsylvania-based startups with mentorship, network resources and up to $100,000 in funding.
The Robotics Factory accelerator is a seven-month program that will offer six “pre-seed” robotics companies co-working space, access to various resources including a production-grade prototype shop and robot lab, and other support tailored to their specific business needs.
Participants in the program will also have access to mentorship opportunities with other Pittsburgh-based robotics companies and national and global industrial partners via the Pittsburgh Robotics Network.
“Pittsburgh is a world leader in robotics and automation, and the Robotics Factory helps take this to the next level by providing the mentorship, resources and connections needed to take new innovative concepts from the idea stage to a commercial solution that can be deployed at scale,” said Joel Reed, President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, in a release. “The Robotics Factory provides an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to learn how to develop successful solutions to pressing industry challenges.”
The funding is provided through Innovation Works (IW), an investor in early-stage technology companies that are based in southwest Pennsylvania. It’s part of the statewide Ben Franklin Technology Partners, a network of four centers developed to help diversify Pennsylvania’s economy. The Ben Franklin Technology Partners are partially funded by the Commonwealth of PA and overseen by the Department of Community and Economic Development. To date, IW has invested $117 million in more than 700 companies.
The Robotics Factory is a group of robotics programs led by Innovation Works and the Pittsburgh Robotics Network. It’s a part of the $63 million Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant awarded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the Southwestern Pennsylvania New Economy Collaborative. The Robotics Factory was created to create, accelerate and scale robotics startups in the Pittsburgh region.
“What captured the attention of the EDA and made the Southwestern Pennsylvania application stand out for the competitive Build Back Better grant was the region’s cohesive approach to building and leveraging the workforce and capabilities of robotics industries,” said Ven Raju, president and CEO of Innovation Works. “Not only will the Robotics Factory programs address existing problems experienced by industries that can be solved using robotics and automation solutions, we plan to also provide the resources and funding that are so critical to emerging companies.”
Start-up companies working in robotics and robotics-adjacent sectors, as well as other advanced technologies that relate to automation, must apply for the accelerator before the end of February 2023.