JOIN US AT THE 2025 UPPRIZE LAUNCH EVENT!
THE 2025 UPPRIZE VIRTUAL LAUNCH IS MAY 21, 2025 AT NOON
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UPPRIZE 2025

The BNY UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, powered by Innovation Works, creates cross-sector partnerships to solve some of our community’s most pressing problems.

Introducing Our New Tracks

This year's challenge introduces an innovative two-track structure designed to support social entrepreneurs at different stages of their journey

EARLY-STAGE TRACK

Designed for pre-incorporated or newly incorporated ventures, this track supports early-stage founders who are building from the ground up.

Award Structure
  • Grand Prize: $75,000
  • Second Place: $50,000
LEARN MORE
ADVANCED-STAGE TRACK

Built for incorporated companies—whether for-profit or nonprofit—this track is for founders who are post-launch with a product already in the market.

Award Structure
  • Grand Prize: $125,000
  • Second Place: $75,000
LEARN MORE
UPCOMING EVENT

THE 2025 UPPRIZE BOOTCAMP

The UpPrize Bootcamp is a free, one-day workshop led by Innovation Works’ Accelerator Team to help aspiring entrepreneurs strengthen their applications and navigate startup challenges. Open to all applicants, the Bootcamp features expert-led sessions on topics like social enterprise strategy, customer segmentation, value proposition, and revenue planning.

2025 LAUNCH EVENT RECAP

UpPrize 2024 Recap

CLICK HERE TO VIEW

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EVERYONE WINS!

The BNY UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge returns for its eighth cycle. Administered by Innovation Works and fully funded by BNY, this program connects nonprofit and entrepreneurial communities to develop technology-based solutions for critical social challenges. This year features a new two-track structure to support social entrepreneurs at different stages of development. Join us in addressing societal issues through innovative solutions.

For 2025, The BNY UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge will focus on harnessing technology to tackle urgent challenges. From preserving the environment to ensuring healthcare affordability and promoting gender equality, we encourage innovation across multiple sectors. Join us in addressing issues like education accessibility, LGBTQ+ rights, disability inclusion, housing affordability, food security, clean energy, and civic engagement through cutting-edge solutions

A HISTORY OF STRONG SUPPORT

Since its launch in 2015, The BNY UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge has allocated more than $ 3.4 million in investments, grants, and technical assistance. The 2025 cycle will continue the mission of supporting impactful technology that improves nonprofit service delivery and the lives and experiences of people in the region. UpPrize applications will be accepted until June 26th, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

LATEST UPPRIZE NEWS

congratulations to our finalists

Grand Prize Winner

$125,000

2nd Place

$100,000

3rd Place

$75,000

congratulations to our semi-finalists

Join us on October 17 to celebrate our 2024 UpPrize semi-finalists and learn who our finalists will be!

Applications are NOW OPEN for UpPrize 2024!

Congrats to our 2023 Winners!

FARM TO FLAME

Sustainability Winner

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KORION HEALTH

Racial Equity Winner

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SUSTAINIBLE

Economic Justice Winner

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TESTA SEAT

Sustainability Runner Up

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Everyone Wins!

The UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge, administered by Innovation Works and fully funded by the BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, will return for its sixth cycle to bridge the gap between the nonprofit and entrepreneurial communities and increase the number of impactful technology-based solutions targeted to critical social challenges.
For 2023, the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge will focus on technologies supporting racial equity, economic justice, and sustainability while also strengthening diversity, equity, and inclusion among entrepreneurs and businesses in southwestern Pennsylvania’s tech ecosystem.

A History of Strong Support

Since its launch in 2015, the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge has allocated more than $ 2.8 million in investments, grants, and technical assistance. The 2023 cycle will continue the mission of supporting impactful technology that improves nonprofit service delivery and the lives and experiences of people in the region. UpPrize applications will be accepted until July 10, 2023, at 11:59 p.m.

2022 RECAP

OUR 2022 WINNERS

PRECISION NEUROSCOPICS

FIRST PLACE

$150,000 AWARD

MEERKAT VILLAGE

SECOND PLACE

$100,000 AWARD

MAKE IT HOME SAFE

THIRD PLACE

$50,000 AWARD