Innovation Works is a nationally prominent seed stage investor and has developed industry-leading accelerator programs, AlphaLab and AlphaLab Gear. Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network make up one of the largest integrated healthcare delivery and finance systems in the country. By combining IW’s proven acceleration model with unparalleled clinical access and support, AlphaLab Health will surround you with the resources to accelerate your time to impact.
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“AlphaLab Health provided early stage capital, industry connections, the expertise of a top research institute and access to highly regarded clinicians. All of these resources propelled our research and development program forward.”
"Alphalab Health has been a game changer. Having an idea and creating the technology is one thing, making a company out of it is a whole new ball game, especially in the healthcare space. Our mentors at AlphaLab Health really helped us to create a structured approach to explore product market fit. They showed us how to navigate the complex healthcare system, providing us with invaluable connections along the way. A game-changer."
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"AlphaLab Health was the perfect springboard for us. The partnership between Innovation Works and Allegheny Health Network gave us a unique blend of expertise and mentorship across healthcare and entrepreneurship, allowing us to iterate our product and go-to-market strategies. By the end of the program, we were accepted into Techstars where we continued to build on our momentum from ALH, tripling our customer count, and helping us close our seed round. We’re very grateful for the opportunities provided to us by AlphaLab Health and know our journey wouldn’t be the same without it."
Aaron Tainter is the Director of Accelerator Programs for the IW family of accelerators, overseeing AlphaLab, AlphaLab Health, AlphaLab Gear, and the Robotics Factory. With a rich background in finance, venture capital, and operations, Aaron brings a wealth of expertise to guide companies in optimizing their financials, operational plans, and fundraising strategies. Outside of the accelerators, he enjoys playing and watching a variety of sports as well as coaching the sports of his young boys.
Jeanne is our Managing Director of Life Sciences. Jeanne is an experienced leader in the healthcare space with more than 25 years in the medical device, pharma, and healthcare software sectors. Most recently she served as Chief Solutions Officer at TeleTracking Technologies, responsible for product management, marketing, and M&A activity for the company, which focuses on software solutions for hospital operations. Prior roles include leading the pharmacy supply chain solution for Omnicell, Vice President of Mergers & Acquisitions for Bayer HealthCare, and Chief Information Officer for MEDRAD.
Maria is the Program Manager for Life Sciences where she focuses on the AlphaLab Health accelerator and the associated recruiting and operations. In this role, Maria is actively involved in the accelerator lifecycle from beginning to end and works closely with the companies, partners, and mentors participating in the program. She was a Graduate Research Assistant in the uBiointerface Lab at the University of Pittsburgh where she specialized in developing electrochemical methods for eradicating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Previously, Maria served as a teaching assistant for the Hk Maker Lab, a summer engineering design program for NYC high school students, and selected projects to be incubated at the Harlem Biospace. Maria holds a BS degree in Biomedical Engineering from Columbia University and an MS degree in Bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
As the Accelerators Operations Lead, Dejana formalizes and establishes a strong customer experience foundation across our accelerator programs. She collaborates with various IW teams to enhance cross-sector engagement with Founders and works closely with IW's Platform and Program Managers to deliver cohesive offerings based on evolving needs. Dejana holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Allegheny College.
Prior to joining Innovation Works, Cigdem worked at the innovation offices of the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. In Colorado, she built and ran a biotechnology accelerator program called SPARK Colorado, in collaboration with Stanford University. Cigdem drafted and co-secured the NIH REACH grant, which enabled SPARK Colorado to receive $4M and become part of a national network of innovation hubs funded by the NIH. She was faculty at Boston College, a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard University, and a pre-doctoral fellow at Oxford University. She also worked at the Turkish Chambers of Commerce, running economic development and institutional capacity-building programs with international partners. Cigdem enjoys working with founders and thinking through challenges around the processes of innovation and venture formation, especially in life sciences, where the potential for direct impact is huge!
Dr. Cohen graduated in 1976 from Syracuse University with a BS in Biology. He earned his medical degree from SUNY – Upstate Medical Center in 1979, completed a Urology residency at Case Western Reserve in 1984 and finished a Fellowship in Urology Fellowship at The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in 1985. He joined Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) in 1985. He was President of Triangle Urological Group, served as CMO of AGH 2013-2014 and was President of AGH from 2016-2020. Presently, he is the Chief Physician Executive, Community Health and Innovation. Dr. Cohen is President of Chemimage Corporation.
Matthew is the Director of Operations at the Suburban Campus of Allegheny Health Network (AHN). He earned his undergraduate degree in Exercise Physiology (Science) from Slippery Rock University, originally intending to pursue a career in Physical Therapy, until realizing it wasn't the path he wanted. After earning his degree, Matthew gained valuable experience working in Corporate Wellness in Tampa, FL, and Atlanta, GA, before returning to Western Pennsylvania. He went on to earn his master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Pittsburgh’s Graduate School of Public Health while working as an administrative resident at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH).With almost nine years of experience at AHN, Matthew has had the opportunity to serve in a variety of roles and settings.
You'll be able to meet virtually with a member of the AlphaLab Health team
