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Tune in to seven AI-powered nonprofits changing the world right now.
I’ve spent a lot of time reading about AI breakthroughs that promise to change the world "someday." The bad news: we can’t wait. The (desperately needed) good news: we don’t have to.
At Fast Forward's Demo Day, builders shared how they’re already using today's AI to create plastic alternatives, eliminate preventable blindness, and tackle challenges that affect billions of people worldwide. Change isn't coming — it's happening right now. Meet the AI-powered nonprofits from Fast Forward's 2025 Accelerator cohort.
Bayes Impact
[Pitch]
Social workers manage staggering caseloads and rely on outdated tools, limiting their ability to support clients. Now, Bayes Impact's CaseAI is giving social workers superpowers. Their AI integrates with case management systems and frees up to ten hours a week by drafting care plans, suggesting actions, and tracking follow-ups. Co-founded by data scientist Paul Duan with Jérémie Doucy and Élodie Juan-Julia, Bayes Impact is giving social services the tech boost they need.
Collective Intelligence Project
[Pitch]
A handful of people make the most important decisions about AI, yet these decisions shape the lives of billions. The Collective Intelligence Project (CIP) ensures it’s not just the powerful who have a say. By surveying tens of thousands of global voices bi-monthly, their research informs frontier AI development, shapes national policy, and pushes for a future where AI serves everyone. Founded by Divya Siddarth, a TIME100 AI-named leader, CIP is putting collective flourishing at the center of the AI conversation.
+ Their newly launched Global Dialogues Challenge invites you to get creative — write stories, generate insights, or build tools — with their global dataset.
“Nonprofit leaders bring bold ideas and deep commitment to the work. With 70% of this year's Fast Forward Accelerator cohort using tools like AI, they’re building even more powerful, human-centered solutions to complex global challenges — and we’re proud to support these leaders as they work to solve our toughest problems.” - Natrina Gandana, Senior Manager of Philanthropy, Salesforce
Materiom
[Pitch]
Plastic creates forever waste, harming human health and the planet. While sustainable alternatives exist, they can take up to 20 years to bring to market. Materiom’s AI accelerates the discovery of bio-based materials 10x faster, helping companies swap out plastics for sustainable alternatives. Co-founded by Dr. Alysia Garmulewicz and Liz Corbin, Materiom blends cutting-edge research with a commitment to turning packaging into plant food, not pollution.
Scrutinize
[Pitch]
Judges hold immense power, but the data on their decisions is buried in long records that are hard to navigate. Scrutinize uses AI to analyze thousands of New York court rulings, surfacing patterns and performance metrics that reveal how judges actually serve the public. The clear, accessible data can then help inform judicial reappointments. Founded by Oded Oren, a former Bronx public defender, Scrutinize is bringing data to the bench so that fairness can follow.
VectorCam
[Pitch]
Half of all humans who have ever lived have died because of a mosquito-borne illness, yet malaria control still relies on analog methods in many countries. Now, VectorCam is turning smartphones into field-ready tools for malaria elimination. Their 3D-printed lightboxes attach to phones and capture high-quality images of mosquitos, then their AI identifies species in seconds instead of months. Co-founded by Marina Rincon Torroella, Dr. Soumyadipta Acharya, and Sunny Patel, VectorCam is giving frontline workers the data they need to fight malaria faster and smarter.
“It’s so energizing to hear from nonprofit leaders who understand that the true power of AI lies in its ability to elevate human potential. This technology can accelerate our progress on today’s most complex challenges, while unlocking time and opportunity for more human connection and collaborative innovation.” - Carrie Varoquiers, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Workday
Violetta
[Pitch]
70% of women in Latin America experience relationship-based violence, but few seek help. Violetta is an AI chatbot and resource library that serves as a digital confidant, offering free, culturally relevant guidance, psychoeducation, and referrals to those in need. So far, Violetta has supported over 250K users. Co-founded by Floretta Mayerson and Sara Kalach, they’re creating a safe space for people across Latin America to build healthy relationships.
Visilant
[Pitch]
One billion people live with preventable vision loss, often because access to quality eye care is out of reach. Visilant’s hardware and AI turn any smartphone into a powerful diagnostic tool, instantly identifying conditions like cataracts with 95% accuracy. Co-founded by Jordan Shuff, Dr. Kunal Parikh, and Dr. Nakul Shekhawat, Visilant’s bringing sight-saving care to rural patients — and helping patients see a clearer future.
Quick Bytes
Other Sector Stories
Yoshua Bengio, the world’s most-cited computer scientist, thinks we're speeding toward a cliff with AGI. His new nonprofit, LawZero, is developing "Scientist AI," or systems that can advance scientific discovery without the agency to act independently. The goal: reap AI's benefits for humanity without rolling the dice on systems that could escape human control.
Further proof that AI is already giving nonprofits superpowers: in a recent survey led by Fast Forward and academic researchers, 53% of AI-powered nonprofit respondents reported improvements in key impact metrics as a result of AI. That means more beneficiaries served, more communities reached, more impact achieved. The early findings are compelling — stay tuned for the full report this fall.
38% of streams and rivers weren't on any existing maps. That's a problem when you're trying to build bridges for isolated rural communities. Bridges to Prosperity used AI and satellite data to map 77M miles of previously unknown rivers and streams, tripling the world's known waterways.
Project Liberty showcased two AI-powered nonprofits tackling youth mental health from different angles. Lenny Learning helps educators create personalized mental health interventions, while Koko meets teens on social platforms to redirect harmful searches toward helpful resources. Together, they're proving AI works best when it meets people where they actually are.
APN Opportunities and Funding News
Applications are open for Fast Forward’s AI and Data Bootcamps. Come for AI, data, or both. Apply by June 30.
Google.org announced the next cohort of the Google.org Accelerator: Generative AI. Each organization will receive a share of $30M along with six months of technical training, pro bono support from Google’s AI experts, and access to Google Cloud credits.
The United Nations' International Telecommunication Union and Tech To The Rescue selected 12 finalists for the 2025 AI for Good Impact Awards.
AlleyCorp’s Nonprofit ENG(INE) is looking for the next cohort of builders. This program matches selected nonprofits with a free, dedicated AI engineering team. Apply by July 30.
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