AT

Aaron Tainter

Director of Accelerator Programs at Innovation Works

Greater Pittsburgh Region

Investor
VC

Invests in

Stages:

Series A
Seed

  • Min Investment:

    $100,000.00

  • Max Investment:

    $150,000.00

  • Target Investment:

    $125,000.00

Skills

Strategic Consulting
Board of Directors
Accelerator
Early-Stage Startups
Strategic Planning
Business Operations
Financial Modeling
Business Strategy
Venture Capital
Product Development
Due Diligence
Financial Analysis
Continuous Improvement
Internet Strategy
Data Analysis
Management Consulting
Management
Analysis
Project Management
Operations Management

Education

Lists including Aaron

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AH

All Series A Investors

14748 people

AM
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All Seed Investors

19691 people

Work Experience

CM
Carnegie Mellon University

2024

  • Adjunct Instructor

    2024

    I teach an undergraduate course at Carnegie Mellon focused on how early-stage startups raise capital and how venture investors evaluate deals. The class covers startup funding strategy, term sheet negotiation, valuation, and exit planning, with a strong emphasis on real-world application through case studies and simulations.

IW
Innovation Works

2014

  • Director of Accelerator Programs

    2023

    I lead the unified AlphaLab accelerator at Innovation Works, overseeing program strategy, team performance, and founder outcomes across our software, hardware, life sciences, and robotics tracks. My role focuses on driving cross-program alignment, strengthening operational consistency, and scaling the impact of our accelerator portfolio. I manage a high-performing team, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and invest in professional development through a shared community of practice. My goal is to ensure AlphaLab delivers a world-class experience for both founders and funders.

  • Portfolio Executive, AlphaLab

    2023 - 2023

  • Senior Manager, AlphaLab and Portfolio

    2022 - 2023

  • Senior Program Manager, Software and AlphaLab

    2018 - 2022

  • Program Manager at AlphaLab

    2014 - 2018

CU
Chatham University

2015 - 2018

  • Adjunct Professor

    2015 - 2018

    BUS550 Innovation and Commercialization

BS
Bristol-Myers Squibb

2012 - 2014

  • Senior Manager - Continuous Improvement & Metrics

    2012 - 2014

    Led global R&D optimization initiatives that drove over $8M in cost savings and efficiency gains. Partnered with senior leaders to streamline operations across a 2,500-person organization, including redesigning budgeting governance that reduced year-over-year variance by 70%. Acted as an internal consultant on cross-functional initiatives, collaborating with clinical vendors and internal teams to solve high-impact challenges. Promoted to Senior Manager and recognized with multiple STAR Awards for operational excellence and strategic execution.

BS
Bristol-Myers Squibb

2011 - 2011

  • Research & Development Strategic Operations MBA Summer Intern

    2011 - 2011

Meakem Becker Venture Capital

2005 - 2010

  • Associate

    2006 - 2010

    Sourced and evaluated more than 3,000 early-stage startups across SaaS, logistics, robotics, and hardware. Built and led the firm’s deal pipeline, resulting in investments that led to successful exits. Developed financial models, market analyses, and investment theses to guide partner decisions. Managed pre-investment diligence and worked directly with founders on business model validation and growth strategy.

  • Analyst

    2005 - 2006