Tech-Powered Nonprofits in San Francisco Committed to Positive Change
Top Socially-Minded Tech Startups in San Francisco Making a Difference
San Francisco, known for its thriving tech scene, is also home to a number of startups that are making a significant impact on various social and environmental issues. Here are some of the top socially-minded tech startups in the city:
Aurora Solar (founded in 2013) develops software for the solar energy industry, enabling green energy companies to design and estimate solar projects remotely. Their software has powered over 2 million solar projects worldwide, thus supporting the growth of clean energy globally.
Benchling (founded in 2012) offers a platform that accelerates R&D in life sciences, helping companies develop new healthcare solutions more efficiently. It is widely used by biotech firms like Pfizer and Gilead to streamline research and development.
Remix (founded in 2014) provides a platform for cities to plan better public transportation and multimodal street designs. They work with over 325 cities worldwide to improve urban transit infrastructure and accessibility.
Outset (founded in 2022) uses AI to build interview tools that help researchers quickly gather human feedback to understand customer needs better. The company emphasizes human-centric AI that supports product improvement and inclusion.
Other notable companies with social responsibility efforts based in San Francisco include:
- Bullhorn, which focuses on recruitment software and commits equity, employee time, and profits toward local communities via philanthropy and volunteer efforts.
- Pluralsight, which accelerates tech workforce skills and connects nonprofits with hiring enterprises, providing significant financial grants and product donations.
- Justworks, which builds HR software for small businesses and supports underrepresented founders through grants and partnerships, also managing environmental impact by repurposing electronics.
- Instacart, which leverages technology for grocery ordering/delivery and initiatives that increase access to nutritious food, including programs buying fresh produce for underserved communities.
While many other AI companies operate in San Francisco, such as Krazimo and instinctools, their direct social impact focus is less highlighted in available data.
These startups collectively address environmental sustainability, healthcare innovation, urban infrastructure, workforce development, and food access, exemplifying a broad spectrum of socially-minded tech innovation thriving in San Francisco. Notable examples include GoodRx, which helps patients lower their prescription costs and take more control over receiving the medication they need, and Kiva.org, which runs a global marketplace platform for crowd-funded micro-loans. Another interesting startup is Revivn, a social enterprise dedicated to repurposing used technology for empowerment and social good, and Virta Health, which has developed a clinically-proven treatment to reverse type 2 diabetes without surgery or medications.
In addition, there are startups like Watsi, which builds technology to finance universal healthcare by crowdfunding surgeries and providing coverage for primary care, and Calm app, which supports mental health by offering meditations and relaxation techniques. Coursera partners with schools and universities to provide online educational materials and classes, offering everything from certifications through master's degrees.
Lastly, Zume aims to create a smarter and more sustainable food system using real-time food consumption data and predictive analytics, and Grove Collaborative delivers healthy and sustainable home essentials. Samasource is dedicated to delivering secure, high-quality training data and validation for tech teams driving humanity forward, and Grove Collaborative delivers healthy and sustainable home essentials.
[1] Source: TechCrunch[2] Source: Forbes[4] Source: San Francisco Business Times[5] Source: The Information
- The solar energy industry benefits from Aurora Solar's remote design and estimation software, which has contributed to over 2 million solar projects globally, promoting clean energy.
- In the realm of life sciences, Benchling's platform streamlines research and development for healthcare solutions, helping biotech companies like Pfizer and Gilead.
- Remix assists cities worldwide in improving public transportation and street designs, making a significant impact on urban infrastructure and accessibility.
