Robin Hood’s Innovation Lab Names Final Participants to Make up the 10th Cohort of Impact Ventures for its Catalyst Program

Robin Hood, the largest local poverty-fighting philanthropy in New York City, announced today that its in-house venture studio, Blue Ridge Labs, has selected six startups from four states to participate in the 10th cohort of the Catalyst accelerator program. The focused 5-month program will launch in February 2026, continuing its mission to support early-stage social impact ventures addressing economic mobility in urban communities.

The selected ventures are:

• Bruce AI (NJ) – An AI-powered legal assistant that helps small and mid-sized litigation firms expand capacity by automating discovery, drafting, transcription, billing, and document management directly through email. https://askbrucenow.com/

• GoSprout (FL) – An all-in-one platform that enables schools, employers, and workforce organizations to design, manage, and scale compliant work-based learning and apprenticeship programs. https://gosprout.app/

• Groupr (FL) – A social commerce platform that lowers grocery costs for SNAP households by enabling group buying and free delivery in high-density, low-income communities. https://www.groupr.co/

• Keyway (CA) – A housing technology platform that modernizes voucher programs by streamlining placement, compliance, and payments for tenants, landlords, and public housing authorities. https://www.keyway.ai/

• Roxxem (CA) – An AI-driven language learning platform that transforms music and viral media into personalized English-learning experiences for students and classrooms. https://www.roxxem.com/

• Thimble.io (NY) – A hands-on STEM education platform that combines reusable hardware kits, software, and curriculum to create technology career pathways for youth in under-resourced schools. https://thimble.io/

These six companies were selected from a competitive pool of more than 340 applicants from 18 states. Catalyst welcomes applicants nationwide whose solutions serve New York City. Robin Hood selected these six startups for their technology solutions that expand economic opportunity in education, financial access, health, housing, hunger, and jobs. 

“For a decade, Robin Hood has proven that when you combine capital, community insight, and focused support, you can build ventures that create pathways to economic mobility. These six companies, selected for the 10th Cohort of the Catalyst Accelerator Program, are the future of the safety net in the fight against poverty,” said Sergio Marrero, managing director of Blue Ridge Labs @ Robin Hood.  “Each participant in this year’s Catalyst cohort will be working on technology-driven solutions grounded in the needs of the communities they serve. We’re not just backing startups; we’re investing in sustainable models with the potential to reach millions and attract the resources needed to drive lasting change.”  

Program Structure and Investment

Every startup selected for this Catalyst cohort receives a $100,000 investment in exchange for a 5.5% stake in the venture. Participants will also receive tailored coaching in finance, product, sales, marketing, and engineering, and will gain access to Robin Hood’s Design Insight Group—a community of 5,000 New Yorkers with lived experience in poverty to help inform and hone participants’ solutions.

Track Record of Success

Over the last decade, Catalyst alumni have achieved significant milestones, including Echoing Green Fellowships, participation in Y Combinator, venture capital funding rounds, and major philanthropic grants. Alumni companies have been featured in prominent publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Fast Company.

The program’s impact extends beyond individual company success: Catalyst alumni have collectively raised over $200 million and partnered with 300 Robin Hood grantees.

About Robin Hood:

We are NYC’s largest local poverty-fighting philanthropy and since 1988, we have invested nearly $3 billion to elevate and fuel New Yorkers’ permanent escapes from poverty. In 2024, through $129.5 million in grantmaking with 285 community partners, we created pathways to opportunities out of poverty through our strategic partnerships on child care, child poverty, jobs, living wages, and more. We are scaling impact at a population level for the 2 million New Yorkers living in poverty. At Robin Hood, we believe your starting point in life should not define where you end up. To learn more about our work and impact, follow us on X @RobinHoodNYC or go to robinhood.org.

Media Contact

Kevin Thompson, Managing Director of Communications, Robin Hood, press@robinhood.org