Insider Brief
- Thirty-two early-stage startups will pitch to investors at AI & Robotics Venture Day on Sept. 24 at Carnegie Mellon University, highlighting Pittsburgh’s role as a national hub for deep tech investment.
- The event, hosted by CMU and Innovation Works, will feature companies in AI, robotics, health tech, and energy, including alumni of the VentureBridge and AlphaLab accelerator programs.
- With $999 million in venture capital flowing into Southwestern Pennsylvania in 2024, the showcase offers investors deal-room meetings and networking opportunities to engage with the region’s next wave of innovators.
PRESS RELEASE — 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.
