Scaling Nonprofits that are Making a Difference: Fast Forward’s Demo Day 2023

Photo: FastForward

Read our feature on Fast Forward’s work with co-founder and Executive Director Shannon Farley, here.

For the last decade, Fast Forward has committed to scaling tech nonprofits that are building solutions that promote social good. This year’s cohort features leaders who all have personally experienced the problems they’re solving: from Indonesian forests to Indian villages to American classrooms, their solutions have enormous reach. Endless Network supports Fast Forward’s Startup Accelerator, which connects early-stage tech nonprofits with the funding, mentorship, and connections needed to scale.

Each year, the founders come together to celebrate their impact at Demo Day, pitching their ideas, sharing their growth, and looking to the future. Check out the tenth Demo Day here, and read on for a sneak peek at some of the organizations.

Photo: FastForward

Karya

Most dataset generation work goes to urban communities or countries where workers are exploited with low wages and long hours. Seeing a need for an ethical Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) company and the high concentration of people needing work in India, Karya works to leverage the rise of mobile phones to empower more workers. It empowers rural Indians to train AI models through data annotation tasks. Karya is worker-first: its datasets are worker-owned, it pays workers 20x the Indian minimum wage, and tasks don’t require connectivity.

Solar Freeze

In much of the developing world, farmers’ postharvest losses are as high as 80%; cold‐storage solutions that can preserve yields are virtually non‐existent due to the high cost of equipment and spotty electricity. Because fresh produce can perish in a matter of days under ambient temperatures, temperature control alone can extend the shelf life by weeks or even months.

Solar Freeze helps smallholder farmers preserve food and increase income. It builds – and rents out – solar-powered refrigerators, like an Airbnb for vegetables. Plus, it leverages SMS to text farmers with up-to-the-minute market information so they can get the best price for their crop.

Photo: FastForward

Road to Uni

The college admissions process is complicated and confusing, especially for first-generation, low-income high school students, who sometimes lack access to guidance and support. The solution: Road to Uni, which democratizes college admissions support. Its chatbot guides students through each stage of the application process, from where to apply to how to apply, giving more students greater academic and economic opportunities. With Road to Uni, every student will have access to a college counselor.

Restor

The destruction of nature is a key contributor to climate change. Restoration is an antidote. It’s simple: actions like planting more trees remove carbon from the atmosphere. But to unlock the power of restoration, we must act together. Restor created a digital hub that empowers local communities across the globe. It connects restoration activists with resources like land-use data, advice on who to work with, and visibility to get the work funded.

Read more about all of the organizations that are making a difference around the world.