Pivotal Ventures, founded by Melinda French Gates, accelerates social progress in the United States by removing barriers that hold people back. The company focuses on expanding opportunity and accelerating equality through innovative ideas and proven solutions.

Pivotal Ventures

Founded by Melinda French Gates, Pivotal Ventures accelerates social progress in the United States by removing barriers that hold people back.

Pivotal Ventures expands opportunity and accelerates equality in the United States through high-impact investments, partnerships, and advocacy. We focus on areas where social progress has stalled—and where we can have the biggest impact.

Like Melinda, we’re clear-eyed about the stubborn problems our country faces. But we also see those problems as potential turning­­ points in our nation’s story. Our impatience with the status quo is fueled by an optimism that progress is always possible—especially when we seize the moment together.

We do not review or return unsolicited requests for funding or other types of support. 

For media inquiries, please reach out to media@pivotalventures.org 

“I’m much less worried about robots dominating the world than humans making mistakes.” That’s how AI pioneer Fei-Fei Li thinks about #AI. And it’s why she wants more people of diverse backgrounds involved in its development.

Learn how our partners AI4ALL (co-founded by Dr. Li), Break Through Tech (founded by Judith Spitz), The Algorithmic Justice League (founded by Dr. Joy Buolamwini), and Computing Research Association(led by Tracy Camp) are fostering the more diverse tech sector that the world needs.

Read more: https://lnkd.in/gmrPUHax

“Never doubt yourself…You are smart enough, you are strong enough, and you deserve to be where you are.” We love this advice from Izeth Torres Reyes, a computer science student whose involvement with our partner, Break Through Tech, helped accelerate her journey in tech.

Read her inspiring story—including why she’s so passionate about getting more women in STEM:

It’s getting harder for students to major in computer science. Why? Skyrocketing interest in the field.
 
Overcrowded classrooms, limited faculty, and financial constraints means many universities are limiting the number of computer science majors. But that could have troubling equity implications, says our partner Carla E. Brodley, the Dean at the Center for Inclusive Computing at Northeastern University.
 
⬇️ Learn more—including how some universities are taking a different approach. 
 

Have you ever heard of the term the “coded gaze”? Coined by Dr. Joy Buolamwini, a computer scientist and the founder of our partner The Algorithmic Justice League, it refers to the way people’s preferences and prejudices can shape technology, like artificial intelligence.

Dr. Buolamwini recently spoke with Tonya Mosley on NPR’s Fresh Air about the implications of the coded gaze—and how it can reinforce dangerous biases in AI. Listen to the episode to learn about Dr. Buolamwini’s powerful efforts to promote AI that’s “for the people and by the people, not just the privileged few.” 

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was a trailblazer at every step—a young cowgirl in the Arizona desert who grew up to become the first woman on the Supreme Court. She embodied public service and leaves behind an extraordinary legacy.

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