Ira Moskowitz has led the Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute, a manufacturing innovation institute for robotics and AI, since 2020. The ARM Institute offers its members, many of which are technology startups, benefits that include access to funding for technology projects and opportunities to connect with potential customers, often working in tandem with local organizations such as the Pittsburgh Robotics Network and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
What inspires you to assist startups?
What inspires me and every member of the ARM Institute staff is the ability to make a difference when it comes to growing U.S. manufacturing. We all experienced the challenge of not making enough products to meet the needs of our citizens during the pandemic. Our mission is to avoid or lessen these challenges in the future. And this can only be done with the ideas and products coming from our regional tech community to make robotics and AI easier to use, more flexible to perform a variety of tasks and safer around humans.
What is a challenge for Pittsburgh’s startup community?
Pittsburgh does an amazing job creating early stage companies, but it is a challenge keeping them through a high-growth period. We need to invest in incentives and/or funding to keep our startups growing in Pittsburgh. This has to be done with a combination of public and private commitments, and, most importantly, it needs to be viewed as a priority by elected officials and community leaders.
What has you most optimistic about the region’s startups in the years to come?
Our startups, in general, have reached national or international impact like never before. I’m optimistic that more companies, and specifically, more robotics and AI companies, have the ability to become just as successful and impactful.
Join us at The Assembly in Bloomfield on Sept. 20 to honor our Fire Awards recipients and celebrate innovation, resilience and the spirit of entrepreneurship.
