What if venture capital drove the pursuit for good?
We invite private investors to support our mission and gain access to new ideas and business models with world-changing potential. Qualified investment partners can support the AI for Good Foundation’s mission, co-invest in our ventures, and benefit from deep integration into the SDG solution space.
Contact:
Cory Alpert:
What We Offer:
Direct access to all spin-offs and ip licensing opportunities
AI ethics reviews and audits for all portfolio companies ($2,500 value each)
Seat on the AI for Good Executive Committee
Speaker slots, marketing, and outreach at the AI for Good Summit
Preferential tax treatment for capital contributions
SDG Catalyst 2022 has finished Nov 3
Our Partners
Countdown to next year's Catalyst
The only way to seriously take on the enormous challenges before us is by developing and scaling economically viable solutions that bring value to the enterprises and the people they serve.
The SDG Catalyst lies at the nexus of open innovation and scalable social impact.
Our flagship accelerator program gives you access to a thriving ecosystem of mentors, industry leaders, like-minded founders, and investors.
On collaboration with the Future Brain Trust, the accelerator covers everything from technical guidance to business development and strategic marketing, packed with curated workshops, seminars, and tightly focused modules on topics including AI and social impact frameworks.
The goal is to generate a virtuous cycle of technological innovations, where AI & ML products can be developed to serve the most urgent challenges while being profitable and scalable.
Where ethical tech for SDG impact is built
Where values for an equitable and empathetic future are grown
Our Curriculum Contributors
Guest Lecturers
Andrea Redaelli
Koda Wang
Richard Benjamins
Alex Leader
Michael Langguth
Anastassia Lauterbach
SDG Mentors
Maria Luciana Axente
Lotte Ansgaard
Flaviu Cipcigan
Daniel Koehler
Elya Hasson
Kevin Quinlan
Kriti Sharma
Josef Baker-Brunnbauer
Moojan Asgardi
Amadeo Gaigl
Abiola Oyebanjo
Michelle de Cordova
Debayan Chandra
Elizabeth Bowling
Alex Leader
Info Session
Themes for
SDG Catalyst 2022
Adapting to a Zero-Waste Footprint
- Renewables, grids, and transitioning
- Measurement and action
- Risk mitigation and adaptation
- Carbon sinks
Putting People First
- Universal access to health & wellness
- Universal access to good quality education
- Universal access to food & shelter
Managing the planet's resources
- Sustainable global supply chains
- Water and sanitation
- Species diversity, ecosystem management
- Synergistic urban environments
Forging strong, peaceful, and just societies
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Global governance, information & strong institutions
- Safe from harm(happy & fulfilled societies)
Through this program
Learn SDG-Centric Operations
Understand the 6 stages of business growth in relation to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Procurement, Supply Chain, Development, Bringing to Market, and Governance.
Actualize Community Impact
Learn to collaborate with local, national, and transnational community stakeholders. Understand the key metrics in measuring social and environmental impact.
Gain Building
Inspiration
Learn from master builders in innovation, supply chain and more. Dialogue with artists-entrepreneurs, who have honed their craft.
Receive
Funding
Opportunity to present to the AI for Good Community and for VC funding.
Who are we seeking
The Selection Criteria
01
Disruptive & Ethical Application of AI or Tech
02
Purpose & Motivation of Founders
03
Early to Seed Stage Ventures
04
Scalability & Impact Potential on SDGs
What does AI for Good
bring to this huddle
Ecosystem
A supportive tribe of change-makers including innovators, technologists, entrepreneurs, and researchers, as well as a driven community of fellow founders.
Mentorship
Some of the sharpest minds from the AI community join your journey as mentors, guiding and honing your creative vision and scaling the impact of your venture.
Resources
Guest lectures, modules, activities, and best practices are provided on how to amplify your ideas in line with the most sustainable and ethical AI innovations.
Investment
The final cohort gets the opportunity to pitch their ideas to an eminent panel of impact-aligned investors and institutional partners, propelling your ventures to the next level.
The
SDG Catalyst Approach
Here we are accelerating purpose-driven startups to launch scalable businesses that accelerate the world’s pursuit of SDGs.
- Partner in the journey from new startups to tangible, on-ground impact.
- Foster open innovation principles to accelerate the development of impact focussed AI-ML products.
- Focus on models, strategies, and scaling approaches that accelerate progress towards the UN’s 17 SDGs.
- Seek growth beyond just financial results and shareholder value, and towards long-term sustainable progress.
FAQs
We’re looking for teams that have at least started on a solution prototype. It doesn’t have to be anything big or fancy, but we would like to see some progress in validating your solution and your ability to communicate its value clearly.
No. However, to be eligible for any funding opportunities and 3rd party services/offers a legal entity will be necessary.
No, we do not ask startups to sign an NDA. We do not ask applicants to share information of a confidential nature. If your startup is not ready to answer all aspects of our application then we ask that you consider applying at a future time.
Participating in the SDG Catalyst does not guarantee funding. A small number of program finalists may be offered funding through our Angel and Venture Capital community. The specific terms will vary. SDG Catalyst and the AI for Good Foundation offer the program at no cost to selected startups, and do not take an equity position in selected startups as a result of participation in the program.
We are looking for solutions that are technology-enabled, and companies that are interested in building businesses that understand and commit to accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals through all aspects of their operations. If that sounds like one of your goals, then this program is for you.
We plan to start the program in September 2022. We’ll be sending an update to applicants about the exact dates.
Yes, this program is about supporting teams who want to scale their SDG impact while using advanced technologies in a socially responsible manner. If you want your company to be fully SDG aligned, then this program is for you.
We’re looking for startups that have shown some kind of progress, rather than simply at the idea stage. In the future, we’d like to extend the program to those with great ideas with SDG impact.
A startup can apply once for each batch.
Yes, this program can easily complement the work of other accelerators. Since we’re focused on supporting startups that are geared towards solutions to the SDGs, this could be another value-add for your accelerator program.
We’re looking for solutions that leverage the power of technology to address the challenges highlighted by the UN’s SDGs. It doesn’t matter what kind of technology you leverage, but we’d like technology to be a significant aspect of the solution.
There will be approximately 10 hours a week of content, including networking, lectures, and assignments, throughout the 6-week program. We are also asking participants to help and support their batch peers during the program.
Yes, we want this program to be available to startups around the world. Therefore we’ve made it easy to participate remotely.
We’ll invite selected startups to participate in a showcase for partnered venture capital firms for potential funding. Selection criteria include progress towards the startups’ solutions, potential SDG impact, and demonstrated commitment and participation throughout the 6-week program.
This is a no-equity program.
All startups who participate in the program will be showcased to our community of investors. Thereafter investors will contact startups they’re interested in about potential investment.
