Health & Wellness

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

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.

The American Heart Association Social Impact Funds are investment vehicles managed by American Heart Association, focused on advancing health equity and improving cardiovascular outcomes. The funds invest in companies addressing social determinants of health, access to care, and innovations that reduce disparities in underserved communities. By combining mission-driven capital with strategic partnerships, the platform supports startups and growth-stage companies working across healthcare, digital health, and community-based solutions that improve long-term health outcomes.

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.

Bain Capital Double Impact is the impact investing strategy of Bain Capital, focused on building market-leading companies that deliver both strong financial returns and measurable social and environmental impact. The platform leverages Bain Capital’s global reach and sector expertise to scale businesses across healthcare, sustainability, and inclusive growth. The firm partners with management teams to drive operational improvements, expand market reach, and embed impact into core business strategy. Its approach combines rigorous private equity discipline with a commitment to long-term, responsible value creation.

Better Society Capital is the UK’s leading social impact investor, focused on growing the flow of capital into solutions that address social challenges and inequalities. Established in 2012, the organization acts as a market builder, connecting investors, government, and social enterprises to scale impact investing across the UK. Rather than only deploying capital, Better Society Capital plays a catalytic role in developing the broader ecosystem, helping expand the UK impact investment market to over £11 billion while committing more than £1 billion directly into funds and enterprises.

Better Ventures is an early-stage impact venture capital firm investing in founders building solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The firm backs companies across climate, health, circular economy, PropTech, and sustainable consumer sectors, with a focus on scalable technologies that deliver measurable impact. Operating with an “impact + return” philosophy, Better Ventures supports entrepreneurs not just with capital, but with access to a curated network of operators, angels, and advisors. The firm positions founders as the drivers of change, helping them scale companies that generate both financial returns and meaningful environmental and social outcomes.

Bloomberg Philanthropies is the philanthropic organization of Michael Bloomberg, focused on improving lives at scale across the globe. The foundation works across more than 150 countries, supporting initiatives in public health, climate, education, government innovation, and the arts. Its approach combines data-driven decision-making with deep partnerships across governments, nonprofits, and institutions. Bloomberg Philanthropies is known for backing large-scale, measurable programs that aim to deliver systemic change and improve outcomes for millions of people worldwide.

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.

Gratitude Railroad is a community-driven impact investment firm that champions innovative ideas to advance planetary health and social well-being. They function as both an investment manager and a community of investors focused on mission-driven businesses, investing in early to growth stage companies and emerging private market funds dedicated to solving social and environmental challenges. Their mission is transforming capital for a thriving world, operating through a collaborative approach that brings together asset owners committed to learning, collaborating, and moving capital. The organization is supported by an experienced team with decades of relevant experience and diverse perspectives from the impact, investment, entrepreneurship, and philanthropic sectors, along with Venture Partners, Investment Committees, and a governing Board of Stewards. Gratitude Railroad plays a significant role in the impact investment ecosystem by fostering a community built for action and promoting systematic approaches to impact measurement and management. They actively engage in learning and convening activities, hosting conversations on the progress and future of impact measurement in collaboration with organizations like Fiduciary Trust International, helping to advance industry standards and practices.

Hopelab is a researcher, investor, and convener that focuses on equity-centered solutions for the mental health and well-being of Black, Brown, and Queer young people. They operate through multiple modalities including research, investment in innovators, and funding youth-centered solutions to advance mental health outcomes for underserved communities. Their mission is to advance the mental health and well-being of young people through uncovering knowledge and evidence, investing in innovators, and funding youth-centered solutions. Hopelab operates as an intergenerational collaborator, believing that equitable outcomes require partnership and shifting power dynamics to center young people's perspectives and lived expertise. Hopelab serves as a critical player in the mental health ecosystem by centering equity in all facets of their work and recognizing that systems of oppression like racism, homophobia, transphobia, and wealth inequities are interconnected. They amplify young leaders' voices and create opportunities to challenge existing narratives, spark dialogue, and inspire collective growth, making them essential advocates for dismantling barriers that prevent young people from living joyful and purposeful lives.

Impact Engine is a venture capital and private equity firm that invests in companies driving positive impact across three core areas: economic empowerment, education, environmental sustainability, and health. As a registered investment advisor, they build and manage diversified portfolios that seek to optimize both financial and social returns through their dual approach of fund investments and direct co-investments. Their mission centers on bringing more capital to markets where financial returns drive positive social and environmental impacts. They operate through multiple strategies including private equity fund investments balanced across growth equity and buyout stages, co-investments in select portfolio companies, and bespoke partnership vehicles tailored to meet specific investor objectives in collaboration with partners like Bernstein Private Wealth Management. Impact Engine has established itself as a recognized leader in the impact investing ecosystem, earning recognition as a Top Impact Company 2025 and inclusion in the ImpactAssets 50 as an Emeritus Impact Manager. Their portfolio companies have demonstrated significant real-world impact, with measurable outcomes like preventing millions of pounds of food waste, improving patient quality of life, and saving millions for student loan borrowers, positioning them as a meaningful force in scaling impact-driven businesses.

LeapFrog Investments is a private equity firm that focuses on scaling purpose-driven businesses across Asia and Africa to achieve sustainable growth, profitability, and measurable social impact. The firm invests in companies operating primarily in three key sectors: financial services, healthcare, and climate solutions, targeting businesses that serve emerging consumers and low-income populations. LeapFrog operates on a "profit with purpose" model, partnering with business leaders to drive integrated returns that combine financial performance with social impact. Their approach is grounded in a clear theory of change aimed at empowering low-income consumers to become agents of their own transformation, providing them with tools and services to make entrepreneurial leaps out of poverty. The firm provides not just capital but also resources and expertise to help portfolio companies reach emerging consumers at scale with relevant, affordable, and essential services. LeapFrog has established itself as a significant player in the impact investing ecosystem, demonstrating that commercial returns and social impact can be successfully integrated. Their rigorous approach to impact measurement, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals, sets industry standards for transparency and accountability in impact investing. The firm's scale of operation, reaching 559 million people through their portfolio companies and supporting 33 million jobs, positions them as a major force in driving inclusive economic growth in emerging markets.

Masawa Fund is a European venture capital fund that invests in seed-stage startups focused on mental health and wellness solutions. They target companies working on mental illness cures, mental wellness improvement, and addressing social determinants of mental health including sleep, nutrition, and loneliness. The fund operates in a $400 billion market, recognizing that 1 in 5 people will develop a mental health condition and that mental ill-health costs the EU €630 billion annually. Masawa operates through their "Nurture Capital" approach, which puts humans at the center of their investment strategy and focuses on organizational health and founder wellbeing to minimize risk. Their mission is to advance human flourishing by weaving people, purpose, and prosperity together, creating a compassionate world where people can thrive and reach their potential. The fund was sparked by their founder's personal experience with mental illness and their vision of making wellness accessible to all. Masawa matters in the ecosystem because they are addressing a critical gap where 65% of startups fail from people problems, and founders face 2-3 times higher rates of depression and substance abuse than the general population. They are working to humanize finance and evolve venture capital by supporting purpose-driven founders who are solving real human needs. Their approach recognizes that inner transformation enables outer change, positioning mental health as a catalyst for broader social and environmental solutions.

MIT Solve is an initiative of MIT that provides social impact and entrepreneurship services, connecting startups with funding and resources to address global challenges. The organization launches open calls for exceptional and diverse solutions to pressing global problems from innovators anywhere in the world, focusing on areas including climate, economic prosperity, health, learning, indigenous communities, youth innovation, and innovative financing. MIT Solve operates on the belief that building a better future requires new voices and ideas from diverse sources. They run challenges to identify groundbreaking solutions, then provide selected innovators with the backing of MIT and their community of supporters to scale their impact and drive lasting change. The organization has established itself as a platform that bridges the gap between innovative solutions and the resources needed to implement them at scale. Over its ten-year history, MIT Solve has become a significant force in the global innovation ecosystem, having run over 100 challenges and received more than 26,800 applications from 185 countries. Their community of innovators and solutions have reached over 370 million lives worldwide, demonstrating tangible impact from refugee education in Lebanon to agricultural improvements in Ethiopia. The organization has mobilized over $80 million and forged over 1,000 partnerships, establishing itself as a crucial connector between social entrepreneurs and the resources they need to create meaningful change.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is a leading national philanthropy dedicated to transforming health in our lifetime through bold and innovative approaches. The foundation works collaboratively with others to achieve health equity faster and create a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a fundamental right for all. RWJF focuses on taking bold leaps to address systemic health challenges and promote inclusive solutions that benefit communities across the nation. The foundation operates with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, recognizing that achieving true health equity requires addressing the root causes of health disparities and working toward comprehensive transformation of health systems.

Save the Children Global Ventures is part of Save the Children, a leading humanitarian organization that has been protecting children worldwide for over 100 years. Founded in 1919 by Eglantyne Jebb to address children's suffering after World War I, the organization now operates in the United States and around the world to give children a healthy start in life, opportunities to learn, and protection from harm. Save the Children has transformed the lives of over 1 billion children globally through their comprehensive approach to child welfare. The organization is guided by five core values: Accountability, Integrity, Ambition, Collaboration, and Creativity. These values drive their mission to inspire breakthroughs in how the world treats children and achieve immediate and lasting impact in their lives. Save the Children responds to crises by being among the first to arrive and last to leave, providing critical support including treating malnutrition, delivering lifesaving aid in emergencies, and keeping children safe while learning.

The Skoll Foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world's most pressing problems. They focus on supporting social entrepreneurs who offer compelling visions, creative solutions, and proven approaches to addressing global challenges. Created in 1999 by Jeff Skoll, the Foundation operates with a clear mission to build a sustainable world of peace and prosperity for all. Their approach centers on three core activities: investing in social entrepreneurs and innovators, connecting their community to drive transformational change, and championing those who advance bold and equitable solutions. The Skoll Foundation plays a significant role in the social innovation ecosystem by hosting the annual Skoll World Forum and maintaining a community of social entrepreneurs working on large-scale change. They have established themselves as a leading voice in supporting social enterprises that aim to achieve impact at scale, even during times of crisis and mass disruption.

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.

SustainVC is an impact-focused venture capital firm that backs innovative entrepreneurs working toward a sustainable, more equitable, and healthier world. The firm focuses on two primary impact areas: Climate & Sustainability, and Access & Opportunity, targeting companies that can deliver both positive impact and positive returns. Their mission centers on supporting entrepreneurs who share their vision of creating systemic change through market-driven solutions. SustainVC operates with the philosophy that profitable investments and meaningful impact can go hand in hand, seeking to accelerate positive change through strategic capital deployment. The firm plays an important role in the impact investing ecosystem by bridging the gap between traditional venture capital and social impact. With offices in Boston, Durham, and Philadelphia, SustainVC positions itself as a key player in supporting the growth of companies that can address critical societal and environmental challenges while generating strong financial returns.

T1D Fund is the world's first scaled venture fund dedicated exclusively to type 1 diabetes, operating as an impact investment fund that supports promising companies through equity investments and expertise. They focus specifically on accelerating treatments, prevention, and cures for the approximately 9 million people living with T1D globally. The fund operates as a powerful platform for collaboration, using catalytic capital and expertise to de-risk investments and create a flywheel effect that attracts other investors to the T1D space. As a wholly owned, not-for-profit independently run subsidiary of Breakthrough T1D, they leverage their intellectual capital and expert network to offer comprehensive support to portfolio companies, steering them through regulatory, clinical, and commercial milestones. With over $200 million in assets under management and 25+ active portfolio companies, T1D Fund creates significant impact in the diabetes ecosystem by reinvesting 100% of returns to propel continuous progress. Their unique position as subject matter experts combined with access to Breakthrough T1D's extensive network of research, clinical, and medical expertise enables them to transform the landscape of T1D investment and accelerate the development of life-changing therapies.

The Vistria Group is a next-generation private investment firm that operates at the intersection of purpose and profit, seeking to deliver both financial returns and societal impact. Founded in 2013, Vistria partners with growing businesses in essential industries including Healthcare, Knowledge & Learning Solutions, and Financial Services that are of strategic importance to the long-term economic success of the United States. The firm operates three investment platforms: Flagship Equity Funds launched in 2014 focused on control investments in U.S. middle-market companies with $10-$100 million in EBITDA, a Structured Credit Fund launched in 2021 that invests in senior and junior debt tranches as well as preferred equity, and focuses on job creation, active citizenship, and positive outcomes for all stakeholders beyond just investors.

Unreasonable Group is a Colorado-based international company that partners with growth-stage entrepreneurs solving pressing global challenges through capital, community, and storytelling. They operate a Fellowship program that handpicks and privately invites the world's most compelling solutions, focusing on five key verticals: Energy & Environment, Food & Water, Health, and other sectors aimed at transitioning into a more resilient and regenerative economy. Their mission centers on creating trusted partnerships and moving capital to ensure a better future, believing in the power of business and finance to drive lasting, scalable change. They build trust across growth-stage entrepreneurs, institutions, and investors by channeling exclusive deal-flow to investors and partnering with institutions to discover profit in solving global problems. Unreasonable Group has established itself as a significant force in the impact ecosystem, striving to become the world's most trusted community in service of a more connected and regenerative economy. Their approach of focusing on scaling what works has created a substantial network that operates across multiple countries and industries, demonstrating that reasonable ideas seldom change anything while unreasonable ones drive progress.