UpPrize is a social innovation challenge funded by BNY Mellon and powered by Innovation Works. This year's challenge will focus on technologies supporting racial and economic justice while also strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion among entrepreneurs and businesses in southwestern Pennsylvania’s tech ecosystem.
External link for UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge
Congratulations to 2024 UpPrize Semifinalist Peoples Energy Analytics for winning $25,000 in the Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure (RETI) Consortium Pitch Competition! 👏
🎉 Congratulations Peoples Energy Analytics https://lnkd.in/ds-acxDE
UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge reposted this
🚀 Join Us for an Inspiring Evening! 🌟 Meet Anna Li, a Pitt/CMU MD-PhD student and the Founder of Korion Health, the $1M winner of this year's Hult Prize, at our upcoming Entrepreneur's Roundtable! 🎉 📅 Date: November 18 🕡 Time: 6:30 PM 📍 Location: 1145 Benedum Hall Discover how Anna's journey started at a Pitt hackathon and led her to launch an innovative company making waves in health tech! 💡 Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to learn from her experiences and get inspired! This event is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024. Student, faculty, and staff from the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and other universities are welcome to attend. 👉 Registration is required by Nov. 8. To register, go to https://hubs.li/Q02Vmmv-0 🙌✨ University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering University of Pittsburgh Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship #PittEvents #HultPrize #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek #KorionHealth
UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge reposted this
We had a great experience with the UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge Congrats to all of the winners Astria Biosciences Pathway Accessibility Solutions, Inc. (pathVu) Bindr® and thank you to BNY and Innovation Works for the ongoing support! #CopilotCommunity #socialimpact #innovation #bikelife #safety #community
UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge reposted this
Footbridge founder and CEO Kim Eckel was recently quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, reflecting on how UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge's 2020 support helped move Footbridge from concept to action. That initial local support has grown into opportunities to share our model for rapid, flexible family assistance at the national level, including at the recent White House presentation mentioned in the article. The photos attached to this post are from that event. Read more about this year’s UpPrize finalists and how our win in 2020 was the first step toward Footbridge’s journey toward a national stage: https://lnkd.in/enzpQCWy
UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge reposted this
PITT STUDENT ENTREPRENEURS CELEBRATE BIG WINS FOR THEIR BIG IDEAS! 💡🎉 Last week, 2 University of Pittsburgh teams, Astria Biosciences & FlowCellutions, won a combined $225K for their startup ideas! 💸 1. Congratulations to team Astria Bioscienceson their first place win at the 2024 UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge! 👏 The team has received $125K for their startup which is developing a blood test for brain aneurysms. This is the second year in a row that Pitt has placed at UpPrize, with Korion Health winning in the Racial Equity category ($75K) in 2023. 👉 Read more: https://hubs.li/Q02V8fcY0 2. Congratulations to FlowCellutions for receiving an $100K award for NSF technology assistance at the Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure (RETI) Consortium’s Tech Showcase held at the Energy Innovation Center right here in Pittsburgh! This funding will help support FlowCellutions’ pilot partnerships and commercialization of their battery diagnostics platform. 🔋 👉 Learn more about FlowCellutions: https://hubs.li/Q02V83280 University of Pittsburgh Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge reposted this
🌟 What an incredible UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge 2024 Final Showcase! A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for yesterday’s event, and congratulations to all of our innovators for their inspiring presentations and impact-driven missions. We’re thrilled to announce our 2024 winners: 🏅 Grand Prize: Astria Biosciences – Advancing aneurysm diagnostics to improve access for all 🥈 Second Place: Pathway Accessibility Solutions, Inc. (pathVu) – Making pedestrian pathways accessible for everyone 🥉 Third Place: Bindr® – Fostering safer and more inclusive connections in dating Thank you to BNY and our valued partners for supporting our mission. Special gratitude to Michael Keslar, Eric Boughner, and the entire BNY team for their dedication to social impact and innovation in Pittsburgh. To all our semi-finalists—thank you for sharing your powerful visions and ideas. You are paving the way for a better future, and we’re excited to see what’s next for each of you! 💡 Together, we’re proving that Pittsburgh is a beacon of social innovation. Let’s continue to build a brighter, more inclusive world! #UpPrize2024 📸 Photo credit: Elisa Cevallos 💻 Website: https://lnkd.in/eavS3UkU
UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge reposted this
Thank you Rachel Meek Beckstrom, UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge, and BNY for supporting our vision to improve patient outcomes!
Last night, I had the opportunity to attend the UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge Final Showcase, sponsored by BNY MELLON FOUNDATION OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA and Innovation Works. It was inspiring to see so many innovative ideas aimed at addressing pressing social issues that effect my hometown (amongst others). Congratulations to all the participants for their passion and dedication! I'm looking forward to seeing how these projects evolve and create positive impact in our communities. Special shoutout to this year’s winners: 🥇 Astria Biosciences 🥈 Pathway Accessibility Solutions, Inc. (pathVu) 🥉 Bindr® #SocialInnovation #UpPrizeBNY #CommunityImpact #Collaboration #BNY #InnovationWorks
UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge reposted this
CEO, Founder, Strategic Advisor, Facilitator, Educator, Musician, Equity & Inclusion Advocate
#UpPrize2024 As a past winner and entrepreneur, I was honored to serve as a judge this year. Congratulations to the 2024 UpPrize: Social Innovation Challenge winners: 🥇Astria Biosciences 🥈Pathway Accessibility Solutions, Inc. (pathVu) 🥉Bindr® Thank you Joyce Howard for all you do, the Innovation Works team for your commitment to founders, community, and social impact, and BNY for investing in entrepreneurship.
Congratulations to the 2024 UpPrize BNY Social Innovation Challenge Finalists! 🎉 🥇 First Place - Astria Biosciences 🥈 Second Place - Pathway Accessibility Solutions, Inc. (pathVu) 🥉 Third Place - Bindr® It’s been an incredible 6 months, and we’re so grateful for your support along the way. Now, it’s time to follow these amazing companies on their journey to making a real impact in SWPA! 🌍✨ Stay tuned as they dive into the UpPrize Masterclass and gear up for the big Launch in May 2025. You won’t want to miss what’s next!
Today’s the day! We’re thrilled to welcome everyone to the UpPrize 2024 Final Showcase! Hosted by Innovation Works in partnership with BNY UpPrize brings together Pittsburgh’s brightest social innovators dedicated to creating real change in our communities. 🌟 A warm thank you to Michael Keslar and Eric Boughner of BNY Pennsylvania for kicking off today’s event and to Mayor Ed Gainey for his inspiring words on the power of innovation for social good. Special thanks to Ven Raju and Joyce Howard of Innovation Works for their ongoing leadership and commitment to nurturing impactful ideas. Our semi-finalists represent a variety of industries and are on a mission to address pressing social challenges through creative, forward-thinking solutions. Today, we celebrate their journeys, passion, and drive to make a difference.