When we welcome a new Innovation Works’ Robotics Factory Accelerate cohort, it’s more than an announcement, it’s a glimpse into the future of robotics. Each of our 2025 companies is solving challenges that every robotics founder knows well: precision, adaptability, efficiency, and integration with the human world.

Together, they offer a snapshot of how Pittsburgh’s robotics community is building the next generation of technology.

Precision Under Pressure — Space Precision Systems

Team:

Hahna Alexander, CEO

Daniel Sherwin, CTO

Gal Inbar, CFO

Robotics innovators know that the smallest tolerances often carry the biggest consequences. Space Precision Systems is pushing the boundaries of accuracy and reliability in extreme environments, proving how robotics can meet the demands of satellite manufacturers, space agencies, and commercial launch providers.

Closing the Automation Loop — RoboLoop

Team:

Matt Travers, CAO

Ned Eldridge, CEO

The future of robotics lies in systems that tackle global problems. RoboLoop is taking on e-waste by making it possible to scale end-of-life processing to keep pace with its growth. Using artificial intelligence and customized robots, Roboloop is minimizing material contamination while maximizing generalizable material throughput.

Extending Human Reach — Beyond Reach Labs

Founder:

Mitch Fogelson, CEO

From operating in hazardous environments to reaching places humans can’t, robotics has always been about amplifying human capability. Beyond Reach Labs is designing solutions that extend our reach by redefining the design of deployable infrastructure for Earth and space.

Reimagining Surfaces and Interfaces — Silly Surfacing

Founders:

Keith Giuliani, CEO

Lynda Giuliani, President

As robots move out of controlled factory floors and into real-world environments, surfaces become a new frontier. Silly Surfacing is exploring how materials and interfaces can transform from obstacles into opportunities, helping both people and robots navigate with greater safety and ease.

Learning from Nature’s Playbook — Octopulse

Founders:

Paul L. Grech, Founder & CEO

Rohan Singh, Co-founder

Nature is the ultimate engineer of adaptability. Octopulse automates fish grading and phenotyping with AI-powered vision, helping farms cut labor costs, improve health outcomes, and scale profitably. This is an example of robotics moving to improve critical processes that rely on manual inspection, which is slow, error-prone, and limits production. Taking cues from living organisms to navigate unpredictable environments, this work points toward a future where robotics evolves beyond rigid machines into lifelike partners.

Why This Matters for Robotics in Pittsburgh

These five companies represent the shared challenges robotics founders everywhere face. By addressing them here in Pittsburgh, they’re strengthening the region’s position as a global leader for robotics innovation. From space-ready precision to octopus-inspired agility, this cohort shows the world what’s possible when founders, mentors, and manufacturers come together to build.

An Invitation to Build Together

The Robotics Factory Accelerate is more than a program; it’s part of a growing community of robotics companies building in Southwestern Pennsylvania. If you’re a robotics founder navigating similar challenges, we invite you to connect, collaborate, and join us in shaping what’s next.