Venture Expo 2026 Put 56 Regional Startups in Front of Investors

In September, 56 startups joined Innovation Works' Venture Expo at The Oaklander Hotel and AI & Robotics Venture Day during StartUP PGH week. The companies varied in stage, with 31 in pre-seed, 20 raising seed rounds, and four at Series A. The event drew more than 500 attendees across two days and gave a platform for these founders to connect with interested investors who want to see our region continue to flourish.

Jeff June, Chief Operating Officer of the Trivedi Institute for Space and Global Biomedicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, delivered the keynote followed by John Thornton, CEO of Astrobotic, two months after Voyager Technologies completed its acquisition of the Pittsburgh lunar company.

Ven Raju, President and CEO of Innovation Works, and Jane Joseph, IW's Director of Communications and Community Development, discussed the 2025 Pittsburgh Technology Investment Report from IW and EY. Pittsburgh companies raised $2.29 billion last year, and institutional venture capital hit a record $2.06 billion. Uncommitted local venture capital, however, fell to about $23 million, a 10-year low.

At lunch, Steve Hayton of Venture Builders Fund, and Aaron Tainter, Innovation Works, presented Two Sides of the Same Bet, a conversation on trust when investing in new technologies.

To round out the event, attendees heard from two panels, one investor and one founder.

Investor Panel:

Chris MacPherson, Lovelace AI (Moderator)

John Chu, 212.vc

Harshita Mira Venkatesh, Avesta Fund

Sreekar Gadde, Bluetree VC

Founder Panel:

Steve Welles, Innovation Works (Moderator)

Reeg Allen, Journey Robotics

Colin Huwyler, Optimus Technologies

Melinda Su-En Lee, Parcel Health

Founders pitched in two sessions on Sept. 15, alongside a panel of investors and founders discussing why investors are moving earlier and writing bigger checks. After an investor dinner at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, IW hosted private founder meetings on Sept. 16 before investors headed to Carnegie Mellon University for AI & Robotics Venture Day, presented with CMU's Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship and Venture Bridge. Check out the full list of presenting companies below.

Companies presenting at Venture Expo 2026

Thank you to all who made this year's event the best yet!

Venture Expo will return in 2027, so don't miss it! Sign up now to receive more information when it becomes available.

By: Dave Issac

Photo Credit: South Breeze Photography

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