Prototype PGH

Our mission is to build gender and racial equity in tech and entrepreneurship by providing affordable access to high tech tools and equipment, offering workshops that center the experiences of women and underestimated communities, and cultivating a professional support network. Prototype PGH was founded by E.Louise Larson and Erin Gatz in January 2... 017 with grant support from the Sprout Fund. Over the course of the year, we engaged over 500 participants in our free workshops and events. We also partnered with the Mayors Office on Inclusive Innovation Week, hosted a residency for students from the Ontario College of Art and Design, participated in the AS220 artist residency in Rhode Island, presented at the annual Google design conference, and participated in the Full Circle nonprofit accelerator through Social Venture Partners. In 2018 we received a grant from Google to engage 1,000 participants in free workshops, incubate 5 emerging organizations, and hire a part-time staff person. We also received a grant from the BNY Mellon Foundation to engage and compensate 100 women of color as educators and participants in technology and entrepreneurial workshops. During our first two years of operations, we were fiscally sponsored by New Sun Rising and we benefitted immensely from their Grow Residency program. In April 2019 we became an official 501(c)(3) non profit organization and launched a second location in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh Manufacturing Assistance Center (Pitt MAC) in Homewood. We also received a grant from Opportunity Fund to support the growth of our incubator. In the summer of 2019, we presented our work at the Nation of Makers Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee as well as the Annual Hackers & Designers Summer Academy in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In 2020 and beyond we are continuing to grow our incubator, host workshops at our original location in Oakland as well as the Pitt MAC in Homewood, and foster partnerships across Pittsburgh. We wouldnt be able to do what we do without ...Read More