Fundraising Fox

Aaron Tainter

Investor

Director of Accelerator Programs at Innovation Works

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Writes $100K – $150K checks · typically $125K

About

Aaron Tainter serves as Director of Accelerator Programs at Innovation Works, where he oversees AlphaLab, a four-track accelerator program supporting early-stage startups in software, hardware, life sciences, and robotics. With nearly 20 years of experience in venture capital and innovation strategy, he manages seed-stage investments, portfolio company support, and founder recruitment while teaching startup funding and venture capital at Carnegie Mellon University as an adjunct instructor. AlphaLab portfolio companies have raised over $1.3 billion in follow-on capital and achieved more than 20 successful exits.

Experience

  1. Carnegie Mellon UniversityAdjunct Instructorcurrent2024 — presentPittsburgh, PA
  2. Innovation WorksDirector of Accelerator Programscurrent2023 — present
  3. Innovation WorksPortfolio Executive, AlphaLab2023
  4. Innovation WorksSenior Manager, AlphaLab and Portfolio2022 — 2023Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
  5. Innovation WorksSenior Program Manager, Software and AlphaLab2018 — 2022
  6. Innovation WorksProgram Manager at AlphaLab2014 — 2018Greater Pittsburgh Area
  7. Chatham UniversityAdjunct Professor2015 — 2018Greater Pittsburgh Area
  8. Bristol-Myers SquibbSenior Manager - Continuous Improvement & Metrics2012 — 2014Princeton, NJ
  9. Bristol-Myers SquibbResearch & Development Strategic Operations MBA Summer Intern2011Princeton, New Jersey
  10. Meakem Becker Venture CapitalAssociate2006 — 2010
  11. Meakem Becker Venture CapitalAnalyst2005 — 2006

Education

  1. Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of BusinessMBA, Strategy2009 — 2011
  2. Eastern UniversityBS, Business Management2001 — 2005

Skills & more

Strategic Consulting2Board of Directors2Accelerator2Early-Stage Startups1Strategic Planning1Business Operations1Financial Modeling4Business Strategy10Venture Capital25Product Development2Due Diligence7Financial Analysis8
+12 moreContinuous ImprovementInternet StrategyData AnalysisManagement ConsultingManagementAnalysisProject ManagementOperations ManagementStrategyMergers & AcquisitionsStart-upsCross-functional Team Leadership

From Aaron's professional profile.

Colleagues at Innovation Works

Andrew Katon
Electromechanical Engineer at Innovation Works
Bob Starzynski
Chief Business Development Officer and Treasurer at Innovation Works
Brian Dougherty
Electrical Prototyping Engineer at Innovation Works
Candice Lutz
Accountant at Innovation Works
Carl Daley
Board Member at Innovation Works
Cindy Franc
Program Assistant – Startable, Communications and Human Resources at Innovation Works
David K. Roger
Board Member at Innovation Works
Deborah Walker
Senior Legal Counsel at Innovation Works

Network4

Jeffrey McDaniel
Investor at Innovation Works
Jim Jen
Managing Director at Innovation Works
Megan Shaw
Managing Director at Innovation Works
Rich Lunak
President at Innovation Works

Investors connected to Aaron in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Aaron Tainter work?
Aaron Tainter is Director of Accelerator Programs at Innovation Works.
What check size does Aaron Tainter write?
Aaron Tainter typically writes checks of $100K – $150K.

Same school

Also attended Carnegie Mellon University - Tepper School of Business58

Cindy PadnosFounder and Managing Partner at Illuminate VenturesMarkInvestor at Yu GalaxyMarco DeMirozGeneral Partner & Co-founder at The Venture Reality FundAndrew BartusiakSenior Associate at PeakSpan Capital PartnersMurli RaviCo-founder and Managing Partner at Tin Men CapitalJensen WarnockCOO at Mercato Partners

+ 52 more

Also attended Eastern University1

Sierra ElliottProduct Marketing Manager at Black Angel Group

Shared employers

Also worked at Innovation Works32

Ven RajuPresident & CEO at Ben Franklin Technology PartnersSophie BurkholderInvestment Associate at Innovation WorksJeanne IasellaManaging Director of Life Sciences at Innovation WorksIlana DiamondManaging Partner at 412 Venture FundJane K. JosephDirector of Communications and Community Development at Innovation WorksGretchen WeaverInvestor at Innovation Works

+ 26 more

Also worked at Bristol-Myers Squibb49

Dan LynchInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Scott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Avantika DaingFounding Partner at Plum Alley InvestmentsJake BauerVenture Partner at ARCH Venture PartnersBeth SeidenbergFounding Managing Director at Westlake Village BioPartnersAdam ZongEntrepreneur-In-Residence at The Innovation Space

+ 43 more