16 TheUpPrizeSocial InnovationChallenge BIGDATAEMPOWERS NONPROFITS A C R O S S T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S , thebestmindsfromthe nonprofitandfor-profitsectorsarecomingtogetherto pursueinnovativeandaffordablesolutionstosystemicsocial issues.InPittsburgh,forthepastyear,TheForbesFunds, asupportingorganizationofThePittsburghFoundation thatisdedicatedto increasingthemanagementcapacity of nonprofits, partnered with BNYMellon to host the UpPrize Social Innovation Challenge. Now in its third year, UpPrize helps community-based nonprofits adopt technology solutions to improve quality of life for the vulnerablepopulationstheyserve.Sinceitsinception,seven catalyzingprojectshavebeenawarded a total of $1 million in development funding through the competitiveprogram. BlastPoint,abigdataminingservicegearedtononprofits, won the$150,000grandprizelastyear. Theconceptforthecompanyemergedthreeyearsago, whenCarnegieMellonUniversityMBAstudentAlisonAlvarez pitchedanideaatauniversityworkshopforanaffordable, easy-to-usedatagatheringtool.Thatgottheattentionof TomerBorenstein,acomputerengineer,andthetwoteamed uptofoundBlastPoint,acompanythatenablesanyoneto quicklyaccess,visualizeandexportlocation-baseddataabout anyplaceintheUnitedStates.Inashorttime,theirideahas grownintoavaluableresourceforcommunitynonprofits lookingtotakeadvantageofbigdata.AlvarezandBorenstein usedtheirprizemoneytohireinternsandcontinueadvancing theirproduct,whichisundergoingtesting.Alvarezalso steppeddownfromherdayjobasaproductmanagerata datamanagementcompanytoworkonBlastPointfulltime. Alison AlvareztalksabouttheimpactUpPrizehashadon furtheringBlastPoint’smission. BlastPoint co-founder Alison Alvarez is using big data and mapping technologytohelp nonprofitspinpoint communityneeds anduseresources strategically.