If you’re an entrepreneur with a passion for fighting poverty and a track record of getting things done, Catalyst could be the right program for you. We’re looking for pre-seed tech based companies focused on creating scalable solutions in six areas: education, financial access, health, housing, hunger, and jobs. Your venture—whether nonprofit or for-profit—should have a strong connection to NYC. While you don’t need to be based here, your work should make a real impact on low-income New Yorkers. Our five-month program takes place in person (two days a week) in NYC.

The best candidates for Catalyst are teams that have already launched an MVP, a small-scale version of their product, and are ready to grow. These early versions don’t need to be polished—they can be built using simple tools like Google Docs, Typeform, or Zapier and might only have been tested by a small group of people. What’s important is that real people have used your product, and you’ve learned enough to validate the need, refine your approach, and understand what needs to change to scale.

Our founders come from diverse backgrounds—some are seasoned entrepreneurs, while others are new to the startup world but deeply committed to making a difference. Whether they’re engineers, product managers, policy experts, or community leaders, they all share the same goal: building tech that tackles poverty. If you're ready to create lasting change, we want to hear from you.

Over the course of five months, as part of a small cohort of founders, we’ll help you accelerate your product development and get it into the hands of customers for feedback and validation. In parallel, we’ll work with you to identify the other resources you’ll need to be successful over the long-term – things like funding, team members, and partners.

Our team specializes in creating and supporting early-stage social tech ventures (both for-profit and nonprofit). Alums of our Catalyst program have been named Echoing Green Fellows, participated in Y Combinator, raised rounds from prominent venture capitalists, received funding from major philanthropic institutions, and been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company. Most importantly, our alumni help millions of Americans every day. Please visit our FAQ for more answers on common questions.