Program Manager, AlphaLab Gear / Robotics Factory Accelerate - Innovation Works, Inc.

Innovation Works, Inc.

Job Description Program Manager, AlphaLab Gear / Robotics Factory Accelerate Overview of Position The Program Manager, AlphaLab Gear & Robotics Factory Accelerate, leads the execution of the region’s most impactful early-stage accelerator program for hardware, robotics, and manufacturing startups.

This role is responsible for managing the AlphaLab Gear and Robotics Factory tracks within AlphaLab, focusing on supporting founders as they navigate the earliest and most challenging stages of bringing a hardware or robotics company to life.

The Program Manager serves as the primary point of contact for the AlphaLab Gear and Robotics Factory Accelerate tracks within AlphaLab, representing it to founders, mentors, and the wider hardware and robotics ecosystem.

This individual oversees day-to-day operations, leads the application and selection process, and works hands-on with early-stage entrepreneurs tackling complex engineering, manufacturing, and market-entry challenges.  This is a highly visible and mission‑driven role, ideal for someone with firsthand founder experience—or deep experience working with early‑stage hardware and robotics startups—who is passionate about guiding entrepreneurs through the ambiguity, constraints, and opportunities of starting a company from scratch.

It’s a role that benefits from a strong product management mindset, as managing an accelerator is much like managing a product :

• understanding customer needs, prioritizing features, and delivering outcomes.
• Primary Responsibilities Program Leadership & Operations Lead the AlphaLab Gear / Robotics Factory Accelerate application and selection process, including recruitment, application review, interviews, and final selection.
• Design and run a compelling, founder-focused program tailored to hardware, robotics, and manufacturing startups, covering customer discovery, engineering milestones, manufacturing pathways, supply chain planning, early product development, and fundraising.

Serve as the primary point of contact for all participating companies, conducting bi‑weekly 1 :