JUDGING RUBRIC

Evaluation Beyond Traditional Metrics

Companies will not be evaluated based on business maturity, including factors like how much money has been raised, revenue generated or number of employees.

Relevance

How does this product or service benefit the social needs of communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania?

Scalability

What is the plan for scaling this product/service?

Value Proposition

What value does this product offer to potential customers?

Feasibility

How will this product/service sustain itself, i.e., revenue/funding stream?

Market Differentiation

How is this product/service different from other products on the market?

Customer Acquisition

How will the product/service reach more customers/clients?

Financial Support

How does the team intend to raise the capital needed in order to roll out product/service?

Team and Leadership

Team can articulate both business and social impact cases for their solution and the team has the ability to execute on the business plan.

APPLICATION CRITERIA

You must be 18 years old or older

The submitting nonprofit, business, or individual must be based in one of these counties in Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, or Westmoreland. The startup's impact must also be in one of these counties

Must ensure that their participation does not violate their employer’s policies or procedures or any other third-party rights or obligations (e.g. non-competition agreements)

The applicant company leaders or individual and their immediate family members must not be employed by or affiliated with BNY Mellon, Innovation Works, or any of their/our parent and affiliate companies

Have not received funding of $50,000 or more in previous UpPrize cycles

JUDGING RUBRIC

Evaluation Beyond Traditional Metrics

Relevance

Scalability

Value Proposition

Feasibility

Market Differentiation

Customer Acquisition

Financial Support

Team and Leadership

2024 JUDGES

Kate Dewey

Senior Advisor
‍Dentons Cohen & Grigsby

Melanie Marie Boyer

Executive Director
‍Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Leigh Solomon-Pugliano

President & CEO
‍Equity Impact Center

Aurora Sherard

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Sustainability
‍University of Pittsburgh

Eliada Griffin-El

Director
‍Massey Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Rockwell School of Business)Professor of Management (Management)

Alyssa Pistininzi

Community Operations Manager
The Corner at Penn State New Kensignton

Gal Inbar

Executive Director
‍412x972 Pittsburgh Israel Innovation

OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN UPDATED

Applications are NOW OPEN for UpPrize 2024!

APPLICATION CRITERIA

You must be 18 years old or older

The submitting nonprofit, business, or individual must be based in one of these counties in Pennsylvania: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, or Westmoreland. The startup's impact must also be in one of these counties

Must ensure that their participation does not violate their employer’s policies or procedures or any other third-party rights or obligations (e.g. non-competition agreements)

The applicant company leaders or individual and their immediate family members must not be employed by or affiliated with BNY Mellon, Innovation Works, or any of their/our parent and affiliate companies

Have not received funding of $50,000 or more in previous UpPrize cycles

JUDGING RUBRIC

Evaluation Beyond Traditional Metrics

Relevance

Scalability

Value Proposition

Feasibility

Market Differentiation

Customer Acquisition

Financial Support

Team and Leadership

2024 JUDGES

Kate Dewey

Senior Advisor‍Dentons Cohen & Grigsby

Melanie Marie Boyer

Executive Director‍Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Leigh Solomon-Pugliano

President & CEO‍Equity Impact Center

Aurora Sherard

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Sustainability‍University of Pittsburgh

Eliada Griffin-El

Director‍Massey Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Rockwell School of Business)Professor of Management (Management)

Alyssa Pistininzi

Community Operations ManagerThe Corner at Penn State New Kensignton

Gal Inbar

Executive Director‍412x972 Pittsburgh Israel Innovation

OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN UPDATED

Applications are NOW OPEN for UpPrize 2024!

Senior Advisor
‍Dentons Cohen & Grigsby

Executive Director
‍Pittsburgh Metropolitan Area
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

President & CEO
‍Equity Impact Center

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Sustainability
‍University of Pittsburgh

Director
‍Massey Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Rockwell School of Business)Professor of Management (Management)

Community Operations Manager
The Corner at Penn State New Kensignton

Executive Director
‍412x972 Pittsburgh Israel Innovation