AI & Technology

AlphaLab is a nationally recognized startup accelerator based in Pittsburgh, supporting early-stage companies across software, hardware, life sciences, and robotics. Founded in 2008 and powered by Innovation Works, AlphaLab provides founders with capital, mentorship, and a structured program to accelerate growth. The platform operates multiple specialized tracks, including AlphaLab (software), AlphaLab Gear (hardware), AlphaLab Health (life sciences), and Robotics Factory, offering tailored support depending on the company’s sector. AlphaLab has played a key role in building Pittsburgh into a leading innovation hub, helping startups move from idea to scalable venture.

Angelini Ventures is the venture capital arm of Angelini Industries, investing in innovative startups across biotech and digital health. The firm focuses on advancing healthcare through breakthrough therapies, medical technologies, and data-driven solutions. With a global investment strategy, Angelini Ventures backs early and growth-stage companies working to improve patient outcomes and transform how diseases are treated and managed. The firm combines capital with deep industry expertise and strategic support from its parent organization.

Ashoka is one of the world’s leading organizations supporting social entrepreneurs. Founded in 1980, Ashoka pioneered the concept of social entrepreneurship and has built a global network of changemakers working to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through its flagship Ashoka Fellows program, the organization identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and a powerful global network. Ashoka’s broader mission is to create a world where everyone is a changemaker, embedding social innovation across education, business, and civil society.

Avaana Capital is an India-based venture capital firm investing in climate and sustainability solutions across sectors such as energy, mobility, agriculture, and industrial systems. The firm backs early-stage founders building scalable technologies that address climate change while driving economic growth. Co-founded by Anjali Bansal, Avaana combines deep operational expertise with a strong network across government, corporates, and global investors. The firm focuses on enabling the transition to a low-carbon economy through innovation and technology.

Cerulean Ventures is a $10 million pre-seed venture capital firm that backs founders building asset-light, rapid scaling software companies focused on climate solutions. They specifically target companies applying AI to build exponential solutions for nature and climate change. Their mission is to bring climate solutions to market quickly while fighting greenwashing and moving the climate economy beyond the green premium. Unlike traditional climate investors who focus on niche markets with green premiums or first-of-a-kind moonshots with decades-long timelines, Cerulean takes a different approach by identifying systemic leverage points where proprietary data, compute, AI scaling, and fintech solutions can rapidly scale. Cerulean matters in the ecosystem because they focus on transforming large economic sectors that have been resistant to digital transformation, including mining, niche manufacturing, soft tropical commodities, pharma supply chains, and emerging markets of natural capital and biodiversity. They position themselves as addressing the gap in climate investing by targeting systemic change rather than status quo business model disruptions.

The Cisco Foundation, established in 1997 by Cisco Systems, Inc., supports nonprofits and NGOs worldwide through strategic investments of cash, technology, and expertise to multiply their positive social impact. Working alongside Cisco Social Impact Investments, the Foundation catalyzes a vibrant ecosystem of changemakers focused on creating equitable, resilient, and empowered communities. The Foundation's mission centers on partnering with organizations to create and scale innovative digital solutions that promote a healthy planet and advance the well-being and self-reliance of underserved communities globally. They accomplish this by leveraging Cisco's comprehensive offerings including strategic guidance, catalytic funding, technology donations, and support from the broader Cisco community across four priority social impact sectors.

Climate Collective is a leading innovation network that specializes in putting digital technologies to work for climate and nature at scale. They focus on connecting AI and digital tools with environmental impact, running innovation programs and building AI fluency across climate and nature nonprofits. The organization operates by connecting innovators, nonprofits, and global leaders to turn technology into lasting climate and nature impact. They accomplish this through running innovation programs, building AI fluency across climate and nature organizations, and convening sustainability leaders and technologists to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing. Climate Collective plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by bridging the gap between technology innovation and environmental impact. Their flagship AI Explorers Summit brings together 100 leaders annually and is co-hosted by major organizations like Conservation International, UNDP, and TechChange, demonstrating their significant influence in shaping how AI is responsibly deployed for climate and nature solutions.

Connectivity Capital is the world's first impact investment fund focused on expanding internet access in frontier markets. The fund provides investment management and advisory services to partners who share their mission of bringing affordable broadband connectivity to every community worldwide. Their debt fund finances connectivity infrastructure by identifying, investing in, and partnering with market-leading ISPs and digital infrastructure companies across frontier markets. The fund also operates an insights platform that offers project advisory services, market assessments, and operational assistance to investors, operators, and partners in the connectivity space.

The DocuSign Foundation focuses on investing in the power of agreements that bring people together, build trust, and create lasting change. The foundation operates under the philosophy of 'Agreements for Good,' recognizing that agreements are fundamental to building trust and driving meaningful social impact. As the philanthropic arm of DocuSign, a market leader trusted by 1.7 million customers, the foundation leverages the company's expertise in agreement management and digital transformation to support initiatives that create positive change in communities.

Google.org is Google's philanthropic arm that connects nonprofits to funding and additional resources to aid underserved communities worldwide. The organization focuses on three key areas: Knowledge, Skills & Learning, Scientific Progress, and Stronger Communities, leveraging Google's innovation and technology to promote progress and expand opportunity for everyone. The organization operates by providing funding, programs, and technical expertise to accelerate the missions of organizations around the globe. Google.org brings the best of Google's resources, research, and innovation to support initiatives that unlock AI's full potential to advance society and improve lives. Their approach combines direct funding with Google's technological capabilities and expertise. Google.org plays a significant role in the philanthropic ecosystem by bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and social impact. The organization matters because it represents one of the world's largest tech companies dedicating substantial resources to address society's biggest challenges, from reducing traffic congestion and tracking wildfires to expanding cybersecurity opportunities and supporting veterans' mental health.

The Intel Foundation works to strengthen communities by rallying Intel employees to volunteer and providing technology, learning opportunities, and investments needed in local communities to create long-term impact. Their vision is for technology to expand what's possible for every person and community, genuinely empowering a new generation. The Foundation focuses on three main areas: amplifying Intel employees' volunteer commitments and charitable giving, championing K-12 and higher education STEM experiences to ensure the future is filled with innovators from every community, and helping communities stay strong before, during, and after crises by investing in local partners and infrastructure.

Omidyar Network is a philanthropy whose mission is to bend the arc of the digital revolution toward shared power, prosperity, and possibility. They envision a future where shared humanity steers our digital future and work to hardwire humanity into technology development and implementation. The organization operates with a broad network of visionaries and innovators, focusing on key drivers of our shared digital future including the culture of technology, governance of technology, and the business of technology. With new leadership under CEO Michele Jawando, a tech and policy leader and civil rights attorney, Omidyar Network is positioned to address pivotal moments in AI development and the broader digital transformation.

ReGen Ventures is an impact-focused venture capital firm that invests in foundational regenerative technologies designed to power a future of abundance. They focus on four core investment areas: clean energy, planetary intelligence, programmable matter, and adaptive robotics, partnering with founders who are building transformative technologies from the atomic to planetary scale. The firm operates with a mission to reimagine the world by supporting technologies that make regeneration inevitable, enabling infinite growth and prosperity on a finite planet. They take a hands-on approach with founders, providing comprehensive support that ranges from business modeling to personal wellness, emphasizing long-term sustainable returns over short-term wins. ReGen Ventures positions itself as an innovator in the investment space, paving a new path for what investments should be by focusing on root causes rather than symptoms of environmental challenges. They are building what they call a "ReGenerative Future" where climate change is reframed as an opportunity for transformation, backing founders with unreasonable ambition who alter understanding of what's possible in addressing planetary challenges.

SOSV is a global venture capital firm and accelerator founded in 1995, operating one of the most active deep tech and life sciences investment programs in the world. The firm runs multiple accelerator programs, including HAX for hardware and robotics, IndieBio for life sciences and biotech, and Orbit for climate and sustainability — providing intensive company-building support alongside early-stage capital. With over $1.5 billion in AUM and a portfolio exceeding 1,000 companies across more than 70 countries, SOSV occupies a distinctive position in the venture landscape: a programmatic investor that takes companies from idea stage through to growth and beyond. The firm's accelerator model means it is often the first institutional check into a company, with follow-on capability through later rounds. SOSV has a strong impact orientation across its portfolio, with climate, food systems, health, and sustainability representing a significant share of its investments. Its programs in particular have become known as launchpads for companies working on hard scientific and engineering problems that require more than capital to succeed.

Twilio.org is the social impact arm of Twilio, the leading digital communications platform, dedicated to empowering organizations that are doing good. The organization focuses on increasing nonprofits' capacity to serve their communities by providing access to digital technology, financial resources, and a dedicated support team. Through initiatives like the Impact Access Program and Impact Fund, Twilio.org helps social impact organizations scale responsibly with discounts, credits, and funding for digital transformation projects. The organization offers comprehensive support including solution paths for digital engagement projects, educational resources, and partnerships with qualified implementers to help nonprofits leverage Twilio's communication tools effectively.