Transforming Ideas into Impact: The 2025 UpPrize Innovation Challenge
Innovation Works is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 BNY UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, a competition that continues to spotlight the region’s boldest entrepreneurs building solutions for social and economic impact.
Now in its 8th cycle, UpPrize, a partnership between BNY and Innovation Works, recognizes founders who are harnessing technology, creativity, and compassion to make life better for people and communities across Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania.
Since its inception, the BNY UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge has invested over $3.4 million into startups driving progress in areas like healthcare, accessibility, education, workforce development, and environmental innovation.
Meet the 2025 BNY UpPrize Winners
After months of applications, mentorship, and judging, the competition culminated in a live pitch event where finalists presented their high-impact solutions.
We’re proud to announce this year’s UpPrize 2025 winners, presented by Eric Boughner and Mike Keslar of BNY.
Early-Stage Track
D.A.D. founder Anwan Wesley accepts UpPrize Early-Stage Grand Prize
Grand Prize: D.A.D Doing It All Day, Anwan Wesley
Empowering dads with tools, resources, and a supportive community to navigate every stage of fatherhood.
On LinkedIn, D.A.D. App celebrated saying, “The genuine support and applause was encouraging and I’m super grateful to represent for Fathers across the world!”
Wombs wins second-place at BNY UpPrize 2025
Second Place: Wombs, Lauren Peggy Doyle
Wombs is building the operating system for maternal wellness. Our AI-powered “Digital Doula” provides 24/7 guidance while connecting mothers to OB/GYNs, midwives, doulas, and mental health professionals.
Advanced-Stage Track
Parcel Health Takes the Stage to accept Advanced-Stage Grand Prize
Grand Prize: Parcel Health, Melinda Su-En Lee & Mallory Barrett
Ultra sustainable and eco-friendly prescription packaging that delivers superior functionality, Parcel’s Tully Tube is the world’s first paper prescription bottle.
From Parcel’s Founder on LinkedIn: “Led by co-founders who are not Pittsburgh natives, this honor made our team feel more than just welcomed, but celebrated, as judges affirmed Parcel Health’s bold vision and unstoppable drive to reimagine the role healthcare packaging plays to protect people and preserve the planet. We are so grateful and welcome the opportunity to continue to fill medicine cabinets with safer parcels, here in Pittsburgh and beyond!”
Founders of DashStrom win UpPrize Second-Place prize
Second Place: DashStrom, Christina Ramirez & Dr. Kataki Desai
DashStrom get kids off screens through a transformative program designed to build emotional resilience through active play.
Each of these companies embodies the spirit of inclusive innovation—transforming local ideas into global impact.
Honoring the 2025 UpPrize Semi-Finalists
Innovation Works and BNY extend congratulations to all the 2025 UpPrize semi-finalists, whose creativity and commitment to solving complex challenges made this year’s competition one of the strongest yet.
Their innovations represent the best of Pittsburgh’s entrepreneurial energy, combining social good with scalable technology.
Explore the full list of 2025 semi-finalists and their inspiring work by watching these two track videos:
Early-Stage Semi-Finalists
D.A.D Doing It All Day
Wombs
Advance-Stage Semi-Finalists
DashStrom
Parcel Health
A Powerful Partnership: Innovation Works and BNY
The continued success of the BNY UpPrize Innovation Challenge reflects the strong collaboration between our team and that of BNY. The Challenge is powered by Innovation Works, bring their expertise in readying founders for commercialization through capital, customer-readiness, and community. Our teams are united by a shared belief that inclusive innovation drives regional prosperity.
BNY’s commitment to supporting mission-driven entrepreneurs ensures that founders in our region have the tools, resources, and funding they need to grow—and to make a lasting impact on their communities.
Learn More About UpPrize and Innovation Works
Want to discover more about the UpPrize Challenge, past winners, and how to apply for future opportunities?
Follow us on LinkedIn! Innovation Works and UpPrize