Turning bold ideas into impact
Blue Ridge Labs
Blue Ridge Labs is Robin Hood's venture studio for scaling innovations to solve the most pressing social challenges.
55
poverty-fighting ventures incubated and funded
$200M+
in capital raised
100+
Founders supported
Featured Programs
Blue Ridge Labs programs are designed to help social impact founders launch, scale, and grow their ventures.
Our Companies
Catalyst / 2014
Propel aims to strengthen the social safety net by supporting millions of low-income Americans with financial products & services that simplify access to benefits, such as SNAP.
Catalyst / 2020
Opus is a hospitality training platform designed to support frontline workers.
Catalyst / 2020
Violet is a first-of-its-kind health equity platform, making it easier for health care organizations to deliver inclusive care.
Catalyst / 2025
Axcces is a proptech platform revolutionizing the affordable housing system, streamlining and simplifying the application and lease-up process.
Founder Fellowship / 2024
Lulo puts more food on the table for families in New York by helping families who receive WIC make the most of their food benefits with an easy-to-use app.
2/8
Our Impact Areas
-
Education
A good education is one of the surest pathways to economic mobility, enabling New Yorkers to graduate high school prepared for college or living-wage careers. Suggested 220 characters max.
-
Financial Empowerment
Improving financial access ensures people, especially those in underserved communities, have the tools and services they need to manage and grow their finances.
-
Health
Access to quality healthcare is essential for building strong, resilient communities–free from chronic conditions and stress, enabling them to thrive both personally and economically.
-
Housing
As rents and cost of living rise, lack of access to stable, affordable housing is a major driver of poverty in New York City.
-
Hunger
Nourishing food is a basic need; access to affordable groceries and hot meals enables people to work, children to learn, and families to thrive.
-
Jobs
A well-paying job is a crucial building block for economic mobility. Without employment, low-income New Yorkers cannot stave off the effects of financial shocks and material hardships, or invest in their futures.
