Turning Hard Work & Grit Into Measurable Wins

Ascender’s 2021–2022 Incubator

At Ascender, we value hard work and the creation of promising companies that make a meaningful impact on our region’s economy and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Raising more than $1.8M in investments and revenue, our 2021–2022 Incubator cohort of nine Pittsburgh-based early-stage companies exceeded all goals. In just 12 months, these startup founders demonstrated that ideas can transform into revenue-generating businesses through collaboration, ingenuity, and a solution-focused mindset.

“This cohort was full of bold ideas. They showed that determination, grit, and creativity were essential to accomplish big milestones in the year-long incubator program. After one year of learning with Ascender, this cohort is walking away with new skills, capital, connections, and the confidence to take their business to the next level,” said Annia Aleman, Ascender’s Innovation Director.

The 2021–2022 cohort was Ascender’s most diverse to date in terms of industry, stage, and founder’s background; 64% of founders identify as BIPOC, and 82% of the companies are founded or co-founded by a woman. The selected startups also represented a wide variety of industries, from fashion to AI and social enterprises to hardware.

“In 2021, we came back strong. This cohort [2021–2022] is our best cohort yet, although the founders may not feel like it. With success comes even higher expectations and stakes,” commented Tammy Szijarto, Ascender’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence. “Hence, we are here to help our founders realize their full potential. There is one common theme we observe. Founders who consistently meet with us, put in the work, and leverage experts are the most successful ones.”

Turning hard work into wins

Together, Ascender’s 2021–2022 Incubator cohort accomplished:

• Raising more than $1.8M in investments and revenue, including $40,000 in micro-grants from Ascender.
• Reaching revenue generation by 70% of participating companies.
• Initiating 20+ partnerships with organizations that include the City of Pittsburgh, PA Department of Agriculture, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Axiom Corporation, and Bridgeway Capital.
• Being featured in more than 15 articles by local and national publications like the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and Technical.ly; and receiving multiple awards from organizations like the Black Girl Ventures, Fearless Fund, Future Insights Network, and The Tory Burch Foundation.
• Adding 5 employees and onboarding more than 30 interns to their growing teams.
• Completing 5 beta tests to turn ideas into fully-launched products and services.

Committed to growing our region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem?

All graduating companies from the 2021–2022 Incubator cohort are market-ready and eager to grow. It is time for you to get ahead, connect, and implement bold solutions. Reach out to the companies directly or contact our Ascender team to learn more and find ways to partner with these impressive entrepreneurs.

2021–2022 Incubator Companies

• de-bias assesses & measures risk created by organizational bias & inequities. The platform uses adaptable software to anonymously record experiences, bottom-up, & analyze organizational data. Learn more about its founder, Amber Thompson.
• Hardly is a career development platform that helps early-stage professionals answer the big career questions and encourages them to reach their goals. Learn more about its co-founder, Allison Braund-Harris.
• IMIHI Designs is a custom clothing company whose goal is to make each customer feel special by providing them with made-to-order clothing. Learn more about its founder, Alexis Lenae.
• Kloopify is a sustainability platform that provides organizations with the data, analytics, and transparency into their supply chain’s environmental footprint. The platform helps procurement organizations integrate sustainability into every purchasing decision. Learn more about its founder, Daniela Osio.
• Mamalux makes game-changing leakproof sleepwear for breastfeeding moms. Ditch the bra and sleep in comfort. Learn more about its founder, Lindsay Stuart.
• re:Bloom connects skilled volunteers with small businesses and nonprofits to help them enhance their overall technical infrastructure and build simple, clean, and easy-to-maintain websites. Learn more about its founder, Abbey Mui.
• Selling Later puts time and transparency back into the murky world of real estate by connecting future home sellers and buyers directly, up to a year before a house hits the market. Learn more about its founder, Wendy Gilch.
• Sustainible helps entrepreneurs determine how they can improve or implement their business model. The platform provides customized evaluations and suggested refinement strategies to increase the rate of success. Learn more about its co-founder, Talpha Harris.
• The Woven Kente supports vendors & artisans that have strong ethical, social, and environmental values by curating a collection of small-batch products for the African American millennial market. Learn more about its founder, Baiyinah Brookins.

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From fledgling tech companies, healthcare innovators, and nonprofits to makers, creators, services and shops, Ascender is for Pittsburgh’s entrepreneurs. We help businesses of all types in the Pittsburgh region start and build a business through education and connectivity. See how Ascender can help you.