Pre-Seed AI & Technology Funders

Ashoka is one of the world’s leading organizations supporting social entrepreneurs. Founded in 1980, Ashoka pioneered the concept of social entrepreneurship and has built a global network of changemakers working to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through its flagship Ashoka Fellows program, the organization identifies and supports high-impact entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and a powerful global network. Ashoka’s broader mission is to create a world where everyone is a changemaker, embedding social innovation across education, business, and civil society.

Avaana Capital is an India-based venture capital firm investing in climate and sustainability solutions across sectors such as energy, mobility, agriculture, and industrial systems. The firm backs early-stage founders building scalable technologies that address climate change while driving economic growth. Co-founded by Anjali Bansal, Avaana combines deep operational expertise with a strong network across government, corporates, and global investors. The firm focuses on enabling the transition to a low-carbon economy through innovation and technology.

Cerulean Ventures is a $10 million pre-seed venture capital firm that backs founders building asset-light, rapid scaling software companies focused on climate solutions. They specifically target companies applying AI to build exponential solutions for nature and climate change. Their mission is to bring climate solutions to market quickly while fighting greenwashing and moving the climate economy beyond the green premium. Unlike traditional climate investors who focus on niche markets with green premiums or first-of-a-kind moonshots with decades-long timelines, Cerulean takes a different approach by identifying systemic leverage points where proprietary data, compute, AI scaling, and fintech solutions can rapidly scale. Cerulean matters in the ecosystem because they focus on transforming large economic sectors that have been resistant to digital transformation, including mining, niche manufacturing, soft tropical commodities, pharma supply chains, and emerging markets of natural capital and biodiversity. They position themselves as addressing the gap in climate investing by targeting systemic change rather than status quo business model disruptions.

Climate Collective is a leading innovation network that specializes in putting digital technologies to work for climate and nature at scale. They focus on connecting AI and digital tools with environmental impact, running innovation programs and building AI fluency across climate and nature nonprofits. The organization operates by connecting innovators, nonprofits, and global leaders to turn technology into lasting climate and nature impact. They accomplish this through running innovation programs, building AI fluency across climate and nature organizations, and convening sustainability leaders and technologists to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing. Climate Collective plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by bridging the gap between technology innovation and environmental impact. Their flagship AI Explorers Summit brings together 100 leaders annually and is co-hosted by major organizations like Conservation International, UNDP, and TechChange, demonstrating their significant influence in shaping how AI is responsibly deployed for climate and nature solutions.

Fast Forward is a nonprofit accelerator focused on supporting tech nonprofits building scalable technology solutions for social and environmental impact. Since 2014, the organization has helped mission-driven founders grow technology platforms addressing challenges across education, healthcare, climate, economic opportunity, civic engagement, and digital inclusion. Through accelerator programs, funding, mentorship, strategic partnerships, and ecosystem support, Fast Forward empowers nonprofits using technology and AI to improve lives at scale.

Moonshot Platform is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leadership accelerator and global community supporting young changemakers closest to the world’s most urgent challenges. Through its two-year Moonshot Journey, the organization provides grants, mentorship, scholarships, capacity building, peer community, and access to global networks that help emerging leaders scale social and environmental impact. Founded by Yemi A.D., Moonshot Platform supports young innovators building projects, nonprofits, startups, and community initiatives across climate, education, health, economic opportunity, technology, and social justice. Its programs include the Moonshot Awards, Moonshot Camp, Moonshot Summit, Impact Labs, and mentor pathways.

Pay it Forward Ventures (PIF) builds better lives for billions by investing in source-solving rather than symptom-solving. They fund and found ventures that create new paradigms across financial technology, health, energy, and digital infrastructure — and donate 20% of GP profits to philanthropy because they believe in paying it forward.

Praxis is a global venture-building ecosystem supporting entrepreneurs, nonprofits, investors, and culture makers motivated by faith to address major social and cultural challenges. Through accelerators, fellowships, mentorship, and community-building programs, Praxis helps founders build “redemptive ventures” focused on renewal, restoration, and long-term societal impact. The organization supports both for-profit and nonprofit ventures across sectors including education, healthcare, technology, community development, social innovation, and ethical entrepreneurship.

The Rockefeller Foundation is one of the world’s largest and most influential philanthropic organizations, focused on advancing human well-being through large-scale investments in energy access, food systems, health, economic opportunity, climate resilience, and emerging technologies. Founded in 1913, the foundation partners with governments, nonprofits, corporations, and local communities to tackle systemic global challenges through innovative finance, data, and technology-driven solutions. The foundation is known for making ambitious “big bets” aimed at improving the lives of hundreds of millions of people worldwide, particularly in underserved and economically vulnerable communities.

The UNICEF Venture Fund is UNICEF’s innovation investment vehicle that provides equity-free funding and support to early-stage frontier technology startups in emerging markets. The fund invests in open source solutions that have the potential to improve outcomes for children and young people globally. Focused on technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, climate technology, digital public infrastructure, data systems, and emerging technologies, the fund backs entrepreneurs building scalable solutions in countries where UNICEF operates. Beyond funding, portfolio companies receive mentorship, technical assistance, and access to UNICEF’s global network of partners, experts, and country offices. A core differentiator of the UNICEF Venture Fund is its commitment to open source technology and Digital Public Goods, ensuring that innovations can be adapted, reused, and scaled to benefit communities worldwide. Since launching, the fund has supported startups across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and other emerging technology ecosystems.