AlphaLab Gear

An offshoot from the more general tech accelerator AlphaLab, this Pittsburgh program focuses on hardware, robotics and “Internet of things” companies. It takes a 5% stake for a $25,000 investment or 9% for $50,000.

The mentors from nearby Carnegie Mellon provide the biggest value, according to Hahna Alexander, CTO of Sole Power, which makes a power-generating shoe insole to charge portable devices and graduated from the general accelerator in 2012.

Read more on CNN Money.