At Ascender, our heartbeat is the vibrant community of Pittsburgh entrepreneurs, and their passion fuels our mission. Together with our devoted staff, partners, and mentors, we’ve cultivated a space for innovation where ideas not only take root but flourish into tangible success stories. This collaborative ecosystem thrives on diverse perspectives, turning challenges into opportunities and aspirations into achievements.
As we continue to soar ahead, our commitment remains unwavering—to empower, elevate, and amplify the entrepreneurial spirit intrinsic to local founders and the flourishing businesses they cultivate.
Here’s a look back at Ascender’s impact in 2023.
startup founders and small business owners gained new business skills through our workshops
startup founders and small business owners reached new heights through our workshops
in grants awarded to local trailblazers, creative makers, and tech innovators to achieve their next milestone
in cash grants awarded to local trailblazers, creative makers, and tech innovators
in business coaching and professional services provided to Pittsburgh entrepreneurs
in business coaching and professional services provided to Pittsburgh entrepreneurs
industries represented at our collaborative entrepreneur hub in East Liberty
industries represented at our collaborative entrepreneur hub in East Liberty
INVEST IN EACH OTHERA collaborative community gives before it gets. In 2023, we brought together over 750 entrepreneurs to share ideas, build innovative products, and grow together.
We believe in the transformative power of collaboration and community, and our 2023 Impact is a testament to the strength that emerges when we invest in each other. This past year, we welcomed a staggering 750 attendees to our diverse array of community and member programs, fostering connections that transcend boundaries. Our commitment to knowledge-sharing and networking materialized in over 50 workshops, networking events, and social gatherings, providing invaluable opportunities for growth to both our community and entrepreneurship hub members.
Partnerships lie at the heart of Ascender’s success, and in 2023, we proudly worked with 75 individuals and organizations to co-develop and co-deliver impactful community programs. Recognizing the power of diverse perspectives, we intentionally curate our programs with a wide array of presenters, experts, coaches, and pitch advisors. In our commitment to breaking down barriers and amplifying underrepresented voices, we are proud to share that in 2023, 73% of our partners identify as individuals from systematically underestimated populations.
The initiation of in-person quarterly Small Business Office Hours in collaboration with The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to provide technical support for anyone interested in URA funding, as well as our renewed partnership with Chloe Capital for the Invest in Women x Pittsburgh initiative to fund Pittsburgh women-owned businesses in 2024, reflects our dedication to empowering startups and small businesses and meet them where they are with the assistance they need.
As we continue to evolve the organization, we remain founder-focused and welcome feedback to help us refine our work. It’s a source of pride for us to report that 90% of workshop attendees and program participants recommend Ascender to other entrepreneurs, underscoring the positive impact we consistently strive to contribute to Pittsburgh’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
DREAM BIGExplore what is possible. In 2023, we recognized that turning potential into reality takes funds, so we proudly granted over $70,000 in mini-grants to local business owners.
Jocelyn Avila, co-owner of Clark Morelia, first crossed paths with Ascender in 2020 through the Next Leap Program, a multi-week program for creative business owners delivered in partnership with Bridgeway Capital’s Creative Business Accelerator. Co-founded with her partner Rob, Clark Morelia specializes in handmade leather goods, passionately crafted in their Pittsburgh studio.
Creating a leather belt or tote bag takes time and attention—just like growing a sustainable business. Our relationships with founders extend beyond a program’s conclusion as we constantly look for new ways to support them along their journeys. One of these new initiatives was the launch of two mini-grant programs in 2023 to support local Black-owned and Latinx-owned businesses.
Our ongoing relationship with Clark Morelia—like being a featured vendor at our 2022 Locally Yours PGH Pop-Up Market—prompted Jocelyn to apply for our Latinx Mini-Grant in 2023, ultimately snagging a $2,000 boost for the business.
The impact? Real. They used it to upgrade the flooring in their new retail spot in Swissvale, which is slated to open doors in 2024.
Beyond the dollars, it’s a story of practical empowerment, linking dreams to tangible progress. The $70,000 in cash grants we awarded this year isn’t about making grand gestures; it’s about enabling local entrepreneurs like Jocelyn to make solid strides toward building their dream businesses.
STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCELeverage the tools we provide and add your own value. In 2023, local founders received more than $150,000 in business services—through 1:1 coaching, curated resources, and marketing exposure—to build their dream businesses.
Our business curriculum meets founders where they are, and our trainings are tailored specifically to meet the needs of our entrepreneurs. As a result, we’re blown away each year by the quality of businesses that choose to put in the work and opt to be part of our Incubator. The yearlong program fosters the growth of 11 tech, tech-enabled, and Main Street businesses, providing them with essential tools for launching, building, and sustaining thriving enterprises.
This year, 55% of our Incubator companies are founded or co-founded by women, and 57% of founders identify as BIPOC. These numbers underscore how Ascender is committed to creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that is equitable and representative of our communities.
Among the outstanding entrepreneurs in this year’s program is Jaehee Cho, the founder of Dancers Connect. This summer, Jaehee and his team at Dancers Connect launched Danceapply.com, a platform connecting ballet dancers to ballet schools and auditions. Within less than six months of the launch, the startup signed on five dance organizations, including prestigious ballet organizations like Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Boston Ballet School, and Orlando Ballet. Ending 2023 on a high note, they secured a partnership with The Joffrey Ballet, one of the largest ballet schools in the nation.
Noteful, founded by Becky Billock, is another shining example. The Noteful app revolutionizes music education, offering daily practice in note reading and ear training. Faced with competition from a major ed-tech company, Ascender stepped in to accelerate Noteful’s public launch. Through user testing, support crafting a launch strategy, and personalized marketing support, Noteful released the platform ahead of schedule and is gaining ground in the music-learning app space.
As we look back on the game-changing stories of entrepreneurs like Jaehee and Becky, who are building their dream businesses, it hits home that chasing excellence isn’t just a box to check. It’s a continuous pursuit fueled by passion, resilience, and the support of the Ascender community.
EMBODY INCLUSION & RESPECTBuild a culture that celebrates others. In 2023, dozens of companies representing 35 industries continued to build sustainable businesses from our entrepreneurship hub in East Liberty.
From product demos to peer support groups, our members created a collaborative community in 2023. The companies that thrived? They didn’t just dip their toes—they dove deep into our network, fostering connections that fueled their success. Our members rocked the year, and we can’t help but brag a little about their spectacular wins:
Revitalize Energy, part of the Incubator Class of 2021, successfully launched its energizing eye drops after three years of product refinement and hard work. Kyle Guinness, the founder of Revitalize, is now back at Ascender as a member and is growing the startup with his business partner—a connection he made through our Bootcamp/Incubator program.
Nosakhere El-Griffin, co-founder of The Young Dreamers’ Bookstore, will never forget where he was when he learned his mobile bookstore secured one of only six awards in the Pittsburgh Pirates Going to Bat for Small Business Contest. He was at Ascender! Out of 103 contenders, Young Dreamers’ stood out, thanks to their unwavering community focus.
Our alumni and member companies also showed up and showed out at this year’s UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge. Farm to Flame (2021 Incubator), Sustainible (2022 Incubator), and Korion Health (2023 Incubator) emerged as the top three winners, collectively securing $300,000 in funding. Further underscoring their success, Farm to Flame finalized a $4.4 million combined heat and power purchase agreement with a Vermont furniture company, while Korion Health received a $50,000 grant from the American Heart Association’s EmPowered to Serve program.
And we took home some awards, too. In 2023, Ascender was named a top coworking space by Pittsburgh City Paper and XchangePgh. These wins are only a fraction of the awesomeness and impact our members consistently bring.
A PLACE WHERE DREAMS TAKE FLIGHTOur mission is to create a community where every founder can thrive, regardless of their background or experience.
We’re committed to serving all entrepreneurs, especially those who have been systematically underestimated, by leveling the playing field. With your support, we’re able to continue programming that fosters resilience and creates a stronger, more diverse region.
Your support will help us directly support founders like Jocelyn, Becky, and Nosakhere, with the tools, mentorship, coaching, and community they need to reach the next level.
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