Emerson Collective presents our 9th annual Demo Day—a gathering of creators and builders, where live demos and conversations illuminate bold, imaginative solutions to challenges of our time. Watch entrepreneurs across our portfolio push the boundaries of innovation, from AI and healthcare to education and energy.

Emerson Collective is a company that invests in entrepreneurs and innovators driven by purpose and a sense of possibility. We are working to create a world that honors talent, expands opportunity, and ensures the conditions for human flourishing.

“Vertigo” by U2 © UNIVERSAL POLYGRAM INT. PUBLISHING, INC. ON BEHALF OF UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING INT. B.V. (ASCAP)

[From Emerson Collective's Demo Day 2025](https://www.emersoncollective.com/events/demo-day/demo-day-2025)

In conversation: Actor Robert De Niro and artist JR with Laurene Powell Jobs

In conversation: OpenAI's Sam Altman and LoveFrom's Jony Ive with Laurene Powell Jobs

Making arts education accessible to all | Damian Woetzel

Transforming how the world manages waste | Julia Reichelstein

Rebuilding trust through local journalism | Mary Margaret White

Building community through books, coffee, and conversation | DJ Johnson

Developing leadership to unlock every child’s potential | Wendy Kopp

Reinventing women’s health through patient-led innovation | Kara Egan

Powering industry with the world’s first thermal battery | Andrew Ponec

Empowering the next generation through technology and design | Marie Lou Papazian

How AI is teaching robots to navigate the real world | Ali Agha

The role of journalism in shaping freedom around the world | Anne Applebaum

Demo Day 2025 Highlights

Demo Day 2025 Full Video Thumbnail 

Emerson Collective Presents Demo Day 2025

Capacity Building Offerings

More Capacity Building Offerings

[TextBlock] The Management Center

THE MANAGEMENT CENTER (TMC)

THE MANAGEMENT CENTER

[TextBlock] TMC's courses provide frameworks and ready-to-use ...

[Divider] #ffb600

[TextBlock] FUNDING Emerson Collective will provide one of the...

[TextBlock] NEXT STEPS If you choose Option #1 (5 course regis...

[TextBlock] executive education programs

EXECUTIVE EDUCATIONS PROGRAMS

executive education programs

[TextBlock] In 2026, you may choose to attend one course from ...

[TextBlock] FUNDING We will provide funding for the tuition co...

[TextBlock] NEXT STEPS Applications are open for these program...

[FeatureCard] Management Training

Management Training

Join our mailing list and follow us on social.

[NewsletterSignUp] Home Mat Newsletter

We fund select educational courses from: The Management Center and the Harvard and Stanford executive education programs

Navigate to our course offerings for Management Training:

BeyondTheGrant_1_1-Thumbnail_ManagementTraining

[TextBlock] OFFICE HOURS WITH JENNIFER MCCREA Jennifer McCrea ...

OFFICE HOURS WITH JENNIFER MCCREA

[TextBlock] Emerson Collective is pleased to offer three advis...

[Divider] #1e482f

[TextBlock] FUNDING Emerson Collective will fund up to three (...

[TextBlock] NEXT STEPS Your Executive Directors and developmen...

[TextBlock] Online Resources from Jennifer McCrea Here are add...

Online Resources from Jennifer McCrea

[FeatureCard] Fund Development

Fund Development

We fund advising sessions with fundraising expert Jennifer McCrea

BeyondTheGrant_1_1-Thumbnail_FundDevelopment

[TextBlock] LEX MUNDI PRO BONO FOUNDATION The Lex Mundi Pro Bo...

LEX MUNDI PRO BONO FOUNDATION

[TextBlock] This organization is best positioned to provide le...

[Divider] #381e43

[TextBlock] FUNDING This is a pro bono service: No payment is ...

[TextBlock] Next Steps If you’d like to set up a project, plea...

[FeatureCard] Legal Support

Legal Support

We provide access to legal guidance from Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation

BeyondTheGrant_1_1-Thumbnail_LegalSupport

[TextBlock] the oped project

THE OPED PROJECT

[TextBlock] Write to Change the World explores the challenges ...

[Divider] #faac8b

[TextBlock] FUNDING Emerson Collective will provide funding fo...

[TextBlock] NEXT STEPS Sign up for one (1) workshop (either Wr...

[TextBlock] The Goodman Center

THE GOODMAN CENTER

[TextBlock] The Goodman Center provides several online courses...

[TextBlock] FUNDING Emerson Collective will provide funding to your organizati...

[TextBlock] NEXT STEPS

[FeatureCard] Voice & Storytelling

Voice & Storytelling

We fund writing workshops with The OpEd Project and The Goodman Center

Navigate to our course offerings for Communications & Storytelling:

BeyondTheGrant_1_1-Thumbnail_Voice_Storytelling

Communications & Storytelling

[TextBlock] With our Data & Technology offerings, we hope to empower our nonprofits partners with the technological tools and knowledge they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. 

[Divider] #ba682c

[TextBlock] TECH ASSESSMENT

TECH ASSESSMENT

Shape Break - Data & Technology

[Text Block] LIBRARY OF RECOMMENDED TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

LIBRARY OF RECOMMENDED TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

[Text Block] We hope this growing catalog will be helpful as your organization

[HtmlBlock] Emerson Collective Continued Offerings Tool Library

Shape Break - Data & Technology - Slim for Tool

[TextBlock] IT INFRASTRUCTURE: TECHSOUP

TECHSOUP

IT INFRASTRUCTURE: TECHSOUP

[TextBlock] Feel free to browse through the TechSoup catalog. ...

[TextBlock] FUNDING Emerson Collective will provide one-time funding for up to...

[TextBlock] NEXT STEPS Purchase TechSoup products up to $1,500...

[TextBlock] DATA PRIVACY & PROTECTION: OPTERY

OPTERY

DATA PRIVACY & PROTECTION: OPTERY

[TextBlock] Opetry - Funding

[TextBlock] Opetry - Next Steps

[Text Block] PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: COURSERA PLUS

COURSERA PLUS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: COURSERA PLUS

[Text Block] The platform includes best-in-class courses in data analysis and data science, IT, product management, and software engineering.

[Text Block] You may be especially interested in the following courses recommended by Emerson Collective’s Technology team

FUNDING Emerson Collective will provide funding for up to two (2) Coursera Plus annual subscriptions purchased in

NEXT STEPS Sign up for up to two (2) Coursera Plus annual subscriptions.

[TextBlock] AI Resource Library

AI RESOURCE LIBRARY

AI Resource Library

[TextBlock] OTHER PRO BONO TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

OTHER PRO BONO TECHNOLOGY TOOLS

[TextBlock] NON-PROFIT TECH COMMUNITIES

NON-PROFIT TECH COMMUNITIES

[FeatureCard] Data & Technology

Data & Technology

We fund and recommend product and services for technological transformation


Navigate to our course offerings for Data & Technology:

BeyondTheGrant_1_1-Thumbnail_Analytics_Measurement

[TextBlock] ONLINE RESOURCES

ONLINE RESOURCES

[TextBlock] Board Development, Engagement, and Governance Webi...

[FeatureCard] Board Governance

Board Governance

We provide curated resources to support board governance

Navigate to our course offerings for Board Governance:

BeyondTheGrant_1_1-Thumbnail_BoardGovernance

[TextBlock] Emerson Collective hosts webinars on topics many o...

[TextBlock] We have compiled more than learning sessions into ...

[FeatureCard] Webinars

Webinars

We provide webinar recordings focused on various topics, including technology and cybersecurity, storytelling, fundraising, and more. Most webinars include subtitles in English, French, and Spanish

BeyondTheGrant_1_1-Thumbnail_Webinar

[TextBlock] BDO FMA BDO FMA is dedicated to helping nonprofits...

BDO FMA

[TextBlock] The specialized hands-on curriculum encompasses ba...

[Divider] #ec1c24

[TextBlock] NEXT STEPS Sign up for one CNAP Essentials worksho...

FINANCIAL RESILIENCY PRIMERS

"Strategies for Cash Management"

[FeatureCard] Budgeting & Finance

Budgeting & Finance

We fund resources for foundational accounting and budgeting

Navigate to our course offerings for Budgeting & Finance:

avatar

[SectionBlock] FAQ

[FeatureCard] FAQ

BeyondTheGrant_1_1-Thumbnail_FAQ

Emerson Collective is a company that invests in entrepreneurs and innovators driven by purpose and a sense of possibility, working to create a world of abundance for future generations. Complex challenges in education and economic mobility, immigration and the environment require audacious ideas, rigorous thinking and hard work.

Stay Up to Date

[Ambient Video] Earth Day Newsletter Ambient Video

[NewsletterSignUp] Earth Day Newsletter Video

Sunshine (#fff747)

Custom

We invited our partners to share ideas for new projects at the intersection of their work and climate change. The following stories show how everyone can find ways to contribute climate solutions.

Global Settings

[Ambient Video] General Newsletter Video Asset

[NewsletterSignUp] EC Digest General Newsletter

Positive Sum Image 1

Positive Sum Image 2

Positive Sum Image 3

Positive Sum Image 4

Positive Sum Image 5

Positive Sum Image 6

Positive Sum Image 7

Positive Sum Image 8

Positive Sum Image 9

Positive Sum Image 10

Positive Sum Image 11

Positive Sum Image 12

Positive Sum Image Video Bottom

+sum Image Grid

Positive Sum no. 02

Positive Sum #2 Magazine Topper Image

Brandan "bmike" Odums is an artist and muralist based in New Orleans, celebrated for his vibrant street art that addresses themes of identity, culture, and social justice. In addition to his artistic endeavors, bmike founded Eternal Seeds, a nonprofit organization that provides resources, mentorship, and opportunities for young artists, cultivating a new generation of creative voices. He also founded Studio Be, a large-scale art space that serves as a gallery and community hub for the local arts scene in New Orleans. bmike’s art and community initiatives use creativity as a tool for dialogue and transformation.

Brandan "bmike" Odums is an artist and muralist based in New Orleans, celebrated for his vibrant street art that addresses themes of identity, culture, and social justice. 

Demo Day 2024 - Video - Brandan “bmike” Odums

Reimagining opportunities for the next generation of artists | Brandan “bmike” Odums

Joanna Strober is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Midi Health, a virtual care platform for women in perimenopause and menopause. The company brings expert care, covered by insurance, to women nationwide. Prior to Midi, Joanna founded Kurbo, the first digital therapeutics program for childhood obesity, which scaled to help tens of thousands of children worldwide. Joanna spent more than 20 years in direct private equity and venture capital investing in health and consumer companies. She is the author of Getting to 50/50, a primer on how women can succeed and thrive at work and at home. In 2023, she was selected for the Forbes “50 Over 50” list of top innovators.

Joanna Strober is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Midi Health, a virtual care platform for women in perimenopause and menopause. 

Demo Day 2024 - Video - Joanna Strober

Insurance-covered care for women experiencing menopause | Joanna Strober

Nicholas Flanders is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Twelve. He has dedicated his career to uncovering and developing energy innovations to address the climate crisis. Before launching Twelve, Nicholas was the Chief Operating Officer of Levo, a venture-backed technology startup, and a business analyst at McKinsey, where he co-authored groundbreaking studies of the global energy system. In 2016, Nicholas was named an Echoing Green climate fellow and selected for the Forbes “30 Under 30” list for the energy sector. He graduated from Cornell with a BA in mathematics and he holds an MS in engineering and an MBA from Stanford University.

Nicholas Flanders is the Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Twelve. 

Nicholas Flanders

Demo Day 2024 - Video - Nicholas Flanders

The benefits of fossil fuels without the environmental costs | Nicholas Flanders

Michelle Ebanks is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Apollo, the largest African American performing arts center in the nation. She joined The Apollo in 2023 at a pivotal time, as the organization expanded by opening The Apollo Stages at The Victoria, bringing two new flexible performance spaces to Harlem. Previously, as CEO of Essence Communications, Michelle oversaw the nation’s leading media and communications company dedicated to African American women. In that role, she led Essence magazine, Essence.com, and the internationally renowned Essence Festival of Culture, one of the largest annual live music events in the world.

Michelle Ebanks is the President and Chief Executive Officer of The Apollo, the largest African American performing arts center in the nation.

Demo Day 2024 - Video - Michelle Ebanks

Harlem’s Apollo Theater: A legacy of art and opportunity | Michelle Ebanks

Patrick G. Awuah Jr. is the Founder and President of Ashesi University, a nonprofit institution in Ghana created to educate a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders in Africa. Patrick founded Ashesi in 2002 with a belief that Africa’s future will be shaped by its universities. As President, he is responsible for sustaining the University’s academic excellence and commitment to ethical conduct, innovation, and civic engagement. He has won international awards, including the MacArthur Fellowship, the McNulty Prize, and Membership of the Order of the Volta—one of Ghana’s highest awards, given to individuals who exemplify the ideal of service to the country. Patrick holds BAs in engineering and economics from Swarthmore College and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.

Patrick G. Awuah Jr. is the Founder and President of Ashesi University, a nonprofit institution in Ghana created to educate a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders in Africa. 

Demo Day 2024 - Video - Patrick Awuah

Teaching leadership, entrepreneurship, and problem solving across Africa | Patrick Awuah

Carrie Joy “CJ” Grimes is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WorkMoney, a national organization dedicated to improving people’s financial lives across America. Growing up in a working- and middle-class family from the Midwest and Appalachia, CJ was steeped in the notion that hard work creates opportunity, but found herself deeply concerned that many people were increasingly unable to afford to live good lives. As the National Organizing Director of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), she helped launch the Fight for $15 to increase the minimum wage. At WorkMoney, she helps people raise their incomes and lower their costs.


Carrie Joy “CJ” Grimes is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WorkMoney, a national organization dedicated to improving people’s financial lives across America.

Carrie Joy Grimes

Demo Day 2024 - Video - Carrie Joy Grimes

Americans find help, tools, and resources for their money | Carrie Joy Grimes

Haile Johnston is the Co-founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of The Common Market, which builds local food distribution networks that bridge the gap between rural food producers and urban consumers. Haile’s work encompasses community empowerment, economic resilience, and environmental stewardship, focusing on food systems and social justice. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, where he focused on entrepreneurial management. He has been a Kellogg Food and Community Fellow and a Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Entrepreneur, and has served on the boards of the National Farm to School Network, the Castanea Fellowship, the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, and the Growing Justice Fund.

Haile Johnston is the Co-founder and Co-Chief Executive Officer of The Common Market, which builds local food distribution networks that bridge the gap between rural food producers and urban consumers. 

Haile Johnston

Bridging the gap between rural food producers and urban consumers | Haile Johnston 

Demo Day 2024 Highlights