# Idea Foundry

> Idea Foundry is a VC fund in Pittsburgh backing Software and Health Care. See 72 investments, check sizes, portfolio and contact details. Updated Aug 2026.

- Type: VC Fund
- Location: Pittsburgh, United States
- Total investments: 72
- Last investment: Mar 2025
- Lead investor: 1%
- Last updated: Aug 2026
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/idea-foundry
- X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ideafoundrypgh
- Website: http://ideafoundry.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IdeaFoundryPGH/

Idea Foundry is a VC fund in Pittsburgh focused on Software and Health Care. Founded in 2002, Idea Foundry a Pittsburgh-based non-profit innovation acceleration and commercialization organization focused on creating high-potential, innovation-related jobs in the life sciences, entertainment and education, social enterprise, advanced materials, and water sectors. With more than 250 companies in its portfolio, Idea Foundry isa pioneer in hands-on business development and technology transfer.

## Contacts

5 contacts available for Idea Foundry. Shizune tracks 3 team members at Idea Foundry. Sign up free to unlock them: https://app.shizune.co/sign-up/investor-profiles/find-team-emails/idea-foundry?utm_source=investor_profile

## Investment focus

### Industry

| Industry | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Software | 18 | 25% |
| Health Care | 12 | 17% |
| Manufacturing | 9 | 13% |
| Information Technology | 7 | 10% |
| Education | 6 | 8% |

105 industries tracked in total.

### Stage

| Stage | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Convertible Note | 58 | 81% |
| Seed | 2 | 3% |
| Non-equity Assistance | 2 | 3% |
| Pre-Seed | 1 | 1% |
| Series A | 1 | 1% |

8 stages tracked in total.

### Country

| Country | Investments | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | 56 | 78% |
| Uganda | 2 | 3% |
| Peru | 1 | 1% |
| Colombia | 1 | 1% |

## Team

| Name | Title | Investments | Profile |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jay Murray | Entrepreneurial Program Manager & Technical Lead | 0 | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/jay-murray-6cc8 |
| Mike Matesic | President & CEO | 0 | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/mike-matesic |
| Yiqun Sun | Program Manager | 0 | https://shizune.co/investors/profile/yiqun-sun |

## Investments

| Company | Description | Amount | Stage | Date | Website |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ruedata | Por medio de un software especializado en recolección y procesamiento de datos de llantas, Ruedata entrega resultados reales y tangibles de ahorro en uso de llantas, eficiencias en los costos de flotas de transporte de carga y pasajeros. Adicional mente se contribuye al medio ambiente minimizando el impacto al dejar de emitir toneladas de CO2. |  | Seed | Mar 06, 2025 |  |
| Optimus Technologies | Optimus Technologies is a clean energy technology company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Optimus manufactures the Vector System, an advanced fuel system technology that enables diesel engines to operate on 100% biodiesel. Emissions reductions for heavy-duty fleet applications are challenging or impossible to achieve in a cost-effective mannerthrough other means. The Vector System integrates into existing operations to facilitate a seamless transition to low-carbon fuels. | $17.8M | Series A | Apr 18, 2023 |  |
| Opareta | Opareta builds digital infrastructure for analog agent networks to enhance business growth for agents, network managers, and agent partners. Offerings include performance management for agents and field teams, float (e-value) and cash reconciliation, KYA (know-your-agent) and KYC (know-your-customer), fraud detection, credit decisioning,digitization and tracking of field team operations, and in-app agent products powered by partners. |  |  | Aug 24, 2022 |  |
| Opareta | Opareta builds digital infrastructure for analog agent networks to enhance business growth for agents, network managers, and agent partners. Offerings include performance management for agents and field teams, float (e-value) and cash reconciliation, KYA (know-your-agent) and KYC (know-your-customer), fraud detection, credit decisioning,digitization and tracking of field team operations, and in-app agent products powered by partners. | $250K | Pre-Seed | Aug 24, 2022 |  |
| Takataka Plastics | Takataka Plastics is involved in recycling and transformation of plastic waste into wall tiles, coasters, face masks, and others. | $2K | Non-equity Assistance | Jan 21, 2022 |  |
| Yo-Waste | The Yo-Waste cloud platform helps government & private garbage collection companies and municipal authorities to manage garbage collection logistics such as maximizing garbage collection locations while lowering operating costs in terms of fuel expenses and others. This is all achieved through our hauler app and garbage collection andscheduling mobile applications.Our core objectives as a company include; To create a full waste & recycling company focussed on sustainability To work with customers and recycling firms to divert wastes from landfills To develop new & innovative technologies focussed on waste management & recycling To disrupt the waste management industry in Africa To connect haulers & recyclers with businesses & households to reduce unnecessary waste transportation costs and save both environmental & economic resources. To help haulers & recyclers get more clients and earn extra income | $1.3K | Non-equity Assistance | Jan 21, 2022 |  |
| Silabuz | As companies spend time and money recruiting new tech hires, the talent they’re looking for might be on-site already. Silabuz helps companies see the potential in their existing employees and upskill tech talent to meet their needs. With Silabuz’s skill testing and upskilling solutions, companies can reduce turnover while saving up to 70% onrecruiting and retention. In turn, tech job seekers without access to traditional higher education are elevated to higher career trajectories. | $20K | Convertible Note | Nov 24, 2020 |  |
| Sulo XYZ | Sulo XYZ is a portable, power bank rental station for smartphones and small electronic devices. Sulo allows users to use an app to rent, use and return power banks at multiple locations. Sulo's power bank rental stations are about the size of a toaster and can be purchased by retail establishments for use in their stores.The technology isdesigned to reduce the creation of individual chargers, give users a convenient way to charge on the go, and allow retail establishments to advertise on their products. | $20K | Convertible Note | Oct 19, 2020 |  |
| nanoGriptech | NanoGriptech has developed a nature-inspired microfiber based adhesive that functions in the same way a gecko’s feet stick to surfaces. As a dry, durable, residue-free, and customizable adhesive, nanoGriptech’s product provides a superior alternative to reusable adhesives currently being used in a large variety of industries such as clothing,sports, automotive, product design, and medical devices.The company has successfully engaged in partnerships with several multinational corporations across these industries and just started its first small volume sale in high friction/grip clothing material market. | $6M | Venture - Series Unknown | Mar 12, 2020 |  |
| Marinus Analytics | Marinus Analytics is an open-source intelligence and internet safety organization. Combating crimes including human trafficking, child sex abuse, and money laundering, as well as protecting vulnerable victims, are two areas on which we place a special emphasis. | $65K | Convertible Note | Feb 02, 2020 |  |

10 of 72 investments shown.

## Co-investors
- [Innovation Works](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/innovation-works) — VC Fund, 3 deals together
- [ITIC: Industrial Technology Investment Corporation](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/industrial-technology-investment-corporation) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/urban-redevelopment-authority-of-pittsburgh) — VC Fund, 2 deals together
- [Grouse Ridge Capital](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/grouse-ridge-capital) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [Inventram](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/inventram) — VC Fund, 1 deal together
- [Koc Holding](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/koc-holding) — VC Fund, 1 deal together

## Similar investors

### Similar stage
- [Right Side Capital Management](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/right-side-capital-management) — VC Fund
- [SOSV](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/sosv) — VC Fund
- [Innova Memphis](https://shizune.co/investors/profile/innova-memphis) — VC Fund

## FAQ

### What does Idea Foundry invest in?

Idea Foundry invests primarily in Software, Health Care and Manufacturing startups, most often at Convertible Note and Seed stage. Most of the 72 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in United States. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.

### How do I contact Idea Foundry?

Public channels for Idea Foundry include LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and the website linked on this profile. For a verified work email and phone number, create a free Shizune account — contact data is searched across 20+ sources and validated before delivery, so your outreach lands in the right inbox.

### Who are the partners at Idea Foundry?

The team at Idea Foundry includes Jay Murray (Entrepreneurial Program Manager & Technical Lead), Mike Matesic (President & CEO) and Yiqun Sun (Program Manager). The Team section lists each member with their title, investment count and links.

### Is Shizune's investor data accurate?

Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.

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