UpPrize Finalists Offer Solutions With An Emphasis On Racial and Economic Justice
11.28.22
UpPrize Finalists Offer Solutions With An Emphasis On Racial and Economic Justice
Fifth Annual Final Event to Be Held November 29, 2022
PITTSBURGH – November 28, 2022 – The final event for the ten semi-finalists competing for the BNY Mellon UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge will be held at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center on Thursday, November 29, 2022. Three finalists will be selected by a slate of community judges and will receive monetary awards to help them further develop and market their innovations that follow this year’s theme of promoting racial and/or economic justice. The winner will receive $150,000, second place will receive $100,000, and third place will receive $50,000.
“UpPrize is the signature endeavor of the BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania,” said Eric Boughner, Chairman, BNY Mellon Pennsylvania. “UpPrize increases the positive impact on the region’s economy and quality of life for our community. It has been incredibly gratifying to see these entrepreneurs gain the resources they need to expand their ideas into the marketplace,” Mr. Boughner continued.
Since its launch in 2015, the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge has allocated more than $2.5 million in investments, grants and technical assistance to 20 different companies and technologies. “UpPrize was created to improve the lives of people who are marginalized and/or economically underserved,” said Daisey Holmes, President, BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania and Head of Global Impact Citizenship, BNY Mellon. “BNY Mellon is proud to have galvanized and supported these ideas and to have been part of the impact these innovations make on the community.”
The final event will showcase three-minute pitches by all ten semi-finalists before the top three are selected. The semi-finalists include:
Ayudate
Behaivior
de-bias
DisSolves, Inc
Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity
Make It Home Safe
Meerkat Village
Precision Neuro
The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore
Toyz Electronics, LLC
“Innovation Works is thrilled to help administer UpPrize,” said Ven Raju, President and CEO of Innovation Works. “Whether our team is mentoring the entrepreneurs, holding office hours, or helping hone business plans, the work is gratifying when societal good is coupled with innovation,” Raju continued. “We gain so much from the passion and commitment of the companies who compete in the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge.” The final event starts at 6:00 pm ET on November 29 and is free of charge to attend. Those interested to attend can register online. To learn more about the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, visit www.upprize.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: TERRI GLUECK
(412)818-8191 mobile
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Innovation Works (IW) is the Pittsburgh region’s most active pre- and seed-stage investor in technology startups and one of the most active early investors in the country for emerging technology companies. This is the third year Innovation Works has administered the UpPrize, the signature event of the BNY Mellon Foundation, due to IW’s familiarity with vetting and operationalizing young companies. Though Innovation Works performs the administrative end of UpPrize, IW does not have a role in judging the outcome of UpPrize. Judging is handled by an independent group of regional volunteer judges from the investment, nonprofit and wider community.