New Economy Collaborative

What New Economy Collaborative does

New Economy Collaborative (NEC) is an 11-county nonprofit coalition in Southwestern Pennsylvania formed in 2022 to administer a $62.7 million Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant awarded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The collaborative coordinates regional economic and workforce development focused on building a robotics and autonomy cluster, and is governed by a board co-chaired by Farnam Jahanian (President, Carnegie Mellon University) and Stefani Pashman (CEO, Allegheny Conference on Community Development). Its membership spans 90+ organizations including community-based organizations, labor unions (United Steelworkers), educational institutions, economic development partners, and private, public, and philanthropic sector leaders, with the Allegheny Conference serving as fiscal agent.

NEC's portfolio consists of five interconnected projects delivered through lead implementing organizations: (1) SME Robotics & AI Expansion via Catalyst Connection; (2) the Robotics & AI Manufacturing Hub via ARM Institute, including consultative visits, automation assessments, and proof-of-concept testing at the Mill19 lab; (3) Expanded Pathways to New Economy Careers via Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission for regional workforce upskilling; (4) the Robotics & AI Startup Factory via Innovation Works, operating Create, Accelerate, and Scale programs; and (5) Expanded Pathways to Entrepreneurship via InnovatePGH, comprising the TMACE technical assistance program and the 9-month Pathways Fellowship at the CMU Robotics Institute for BIPOC and women entrepreneurs. Reported 2024 impact includes 219 small businesses served (41% minority-owned, 34% women-owned) and 385+ hours of technical assistance, with targets of 750+ companies and 14,500 workers contributing to a projected $575M regional GDP impact.

NEC is a grant-funded nonprofit, not a commercial entity. Its revenue model is a single $62.7M federal grant distributed across the five lead organizations, with no product pricing, subscription revenue, or service fees. Programs are delivered at no cost to beneficiaries across SMEs, robotics startups, workers/job seekers, and BIPOC and women entrepreneurs in the 11-county region.

Name

New Economy Collaborative

Legal name

New Economy Collaborative

Website

https://neweconomycollab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

New Economy Collaborative is a nonprofit 11-county coalition in Southwestern Pennsylvania administering a $62.7M federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant to build a regional robotics and autonomy cluster through SME adoption, workforce upskilling, startup commercialization, and inclusive entrepreneurship programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Economic Development

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Employer-Led Workforce Partnerships & Sector Strategies (EDAAAOAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN), Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO)

Keywords

• Regional economic development
• Robotics adoption support
• Workforce upskilling programs
• Startup acceleration services
• Small business technical assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant: Federal grant funding of $62.7 million awarded through the U.S. Economic Development Administration's American Rescue Plan program to build the region's robotics and autonomy cluster. The grant funds five transformational projects focused on adoption, upskilling, infrastructure, and commercialization. This is a public grant program, not commercial revenue generation.
2. Federal Grant Distribution: NEC distributes grant funds to lead organizations and subrecipients across five projects: Project 1 ($4.8M to Catalyst Connection), Project 2 ($14.2M to ARM Institute), Project 3 ($24.8M to Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission), Project 4 ($12M to Innovation Works), and Project 5 ($6.9M to InnovatePGH).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

New Economy Collaborative (NEC) coordinates regional economic and workforce development across 11 counties in Southwestern Pennsylvania through five grant-funded programs targeting robotics adoption, workforce upskilling, startup commercialization, and entrepreneurship support. The collaborative administers a $62.7M Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant distributed through five lead organizations (Catalyst Connection, ARM Institute, Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Innovation Works, and InnovatePGH), delivering services such as automation assessments, training programs, startup accelerators, and fellowships at no cost to beneficiaries.

Product overview

The New Economy Collaborative is an 11-county coalition focused on building a robotics and autonomy cluster in Southwestern Pennsylvania through a $62.7 million Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant. The portfolio consists of five interconnected programs: (1) Robotics & AI Expansion for Small & Medium Enterprises, led by Catalyst Connection, focused on SME adoption; (2) Robotics & AI Manufacturing Hub, led by ARM Institute, providing automation assessments and six regional Innovation Accelerators; (3) Expanded Pathways to New Economy Careers, led by Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, for workforce upskilling; (4) Robotics & AI Startup Factory, led by Innovation Works, offering Create/Accelerate/Scale programs for commercialization; and (5) Expanded Pathways to Entrepreneurship, led by InnovatePGH, supporting diverse entrepreneurs through TMACE and Pathways Fellowship. The collaborative represents 90+ organizations including community groups, educational institutions, unions, and private sector partners working together to transform the region through robotics and autonomy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Robotics & AI Expansion for Small & Medium Enterprises (Project 1) Adoption-focused initiative led by Catalyst Connection that helps small and medium-sized enterprises in Southwestern Pennsylvania adopt robotics and AI technologies through partnerships with academic institutions, industry leaders, and technology hubs.
• Robotics & AI Manufacturing Hub (Project 2) Manufacturing hub led by the ARM Institute that strengthens manufacturing through consultative visits, automation assessments, and proofs-of-concept, alongside six regional Innovation Accelerators including makerspaces and entrepreneurial labs.
• Expanded Pathways to New Economy Careers (Project 3) Upskilling initiative led by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission focused on establishing a coordinated regional training system serving robotics technology developers and adopters, offering various training options outside traditional four-year and advanced degrees.
• Robotics & AI Startup Factory / The Robotics Factory (Project 4) Commercialization program run by Innovation Works that boosts robotics innovation through three programs: Create (organizes summits connecting startups with industry leaders), Accelerate (supports early-stage companies through mentorship and funding), and Scale (provides resources for growth-stage companies including prototyping and manufacturing partnerships).
• Expanded Pathways to Entrepreneurship (Project 5) Entrepreneurship support program led by InnovatePGH that includes TMACE (Training and Market Access for Entrepreneurs) providing technical assistance to BIPOC, women-owned, veteran-owned, and rural small businesses, and the Pathways Fellowship offering a 9-month program at the Robotics Institute for BIPOC and women entrepreneurs.

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Catalyst ConnectioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2022Lead organization for Project 1: Small & Medium Enterprises Robotics Adoption ($4.8M). Provides robotics expansion support to SMEs in the region, achieving milestones in advanced manufacturing, digital automation, and workforce development through partnerships with academic institutions, industry leaders, and technology hubs.
• Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute (ARM Institute)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2022Lead organization for Project 2: Robotics Manufacturing Hub ($14.2M). Operates the RMH providing consultative visits, automation assessments, and proofs-of-concept. Houses testing facilities at Mill19 lab with PushCorp equipment.
• Southwestern Pennsylvania CommissioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2022Lead organization for Project 3: Expanded Pathways to New Economy Careers ($24.8M). Focuses on establishing a highly coordinated regional upskilling system serving robotics technology developers and adopters.
• Innovation WorkscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2022Lead organization for Project 4: Robotics Startup Factory ($12M). Runs The Robotics Factory with Create, Accelerate, and Scale programs supporting robotics innovation from concept to scale.
• InnovatePGHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2022Lead organization for Project 5: Expanded Pathways to Entrepreneurship ($6.9M). Provides 9-month Pathways Fellowship at the Robotics Institute for BIPOC and women entrepreneurs, and operates TMACE technical assistance program.
• Carnegie Mellon UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Board of Director organization and key educational partner. Co-chaired by President Farnam Jahanian. Provides world-class research and development, hosts Pathways Fellowship program at the Robotics Institute.
• Allegheny Conference on Community DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Board of Director organization led by CEO Stefani Pashman (Board co-chair). Serves as fiscal agent with contact email [email protected] and phone (412) 281-1890.
• Regional Industrial Development CorporationmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2022Board member and Project 2 subrecipient. Supports regional economic development and manufacturing initiatives.
• Pittsburgh Robotics NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Project subrecipient and ecosystem partner. Organizations poised to advance regional equity through proven models in the robotics cluster.
• Community College of Allegheny CountymajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2022Project 2 subrecipient. Provides workforce training and educational resources for upskilling in robotics and advanced manufacturing.
• United SteelworkerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022Board member representing labor unions. Ensures workforce perspectives and labor interests are integrated into regional economic development strategy.
• Riverside Center for InnovationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member and Project 5 subrecipient. Supports entrepreneurial development in the region.
• Women in Tech PGHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject 5 subrecipient. Focused on supporting women entrepreneurs in Pittsburgh's technology ecosystem.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Metro: National policy research organization focused on metropolitan economic competitiveness and inclusive growth. Comparable as a thought leader in regional economic development strategy that informs how coalitions like NEC position their cluster-development approach.
• EDA Regional Technology Hubs Program: U.S. Economic Development Administration's flagship regional technology cluster designation program that succeeded and overlaps with the Build Back Better Regional Challenge. Comparable as the federal programmatic framework under which NEC operates and could seek successor designation.

Emerging players

• Heartland Robotics Cluster: One of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge awardees focused on robotics and automation in a different U.S. region. Comparable as a federally-funded regional robotics cluster with similar adoption, workforce, and commercialization goals, providing a useful peer benchmark for cluster strategy.

Direct peers

• InnovatePGH: Pittsburgh-based innovation hub and lead organization for NEC's Project 5 (Pathways Fellowship and TMACE, $6.9M). Comparable as a regional innovation and entrepreneurship support organization with overlap in serving underrepresented founders and tech-entrepreneurship programming.
• Innovation Works: Pittsburgh-based startup accelerator and lead organization for NEC's Project 4 (Robotics Startup Factory, $12M). Directly comparable as a regional technology startup accelerator with overlap in robotics commercialization and early-stage company support.
• Catalyst Connection: Southwestern Pennsylvania-based manufacturing consulting nonprofit and lead organization for NEC's Project 1 (SME Robotics Adoption, $4.8M). Directly comparable as a regional manufacturing adoption and technical assistance provider serving small and medium manufacturers.
• Pittsburgh Robotics Network: Regional robotics ecosystem organization based in Pittsburgh, focused on connecting and growing the local robotics cluster. Directly comparable to NEC as a Pittsburgh-based robotics cluster convener with overlapping member organizations and a shared mission to advance Southwestern Pennsylvania's robotics leadership.
• Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission: Regional planning and economic development agency for the 10-county Southwestern Pennsylvania region; lead organization for NEC's Project 3 ($24.8M workforce upskilling). Directly comparable as a regional development organization operating workforce and economic programs in the same geography.
• Allegheny Conference on Community Development: Regional economic development organization serving the Pittsburgh region; serves as NEC's fiscal agent and is co-chaired by its CEO Stefani Pashman. Directly comparable as a Southwestern Pennsylvania economic development convener with similar scope and stakeholder base.
• Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing Institute (ARM Institute): Federally-funded Manufacturing Innovation Institute focused on advancing robotics in U.S. manufacturing. A lead NEC partner operating the Robotics Manufacturing Hub (Project 2, $14.2M), with directly comparable scope in robotics adoption, workforce development, and SME engagement.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nec_pa
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neweconomycollaborative
• Instagraminstagram.com/nec_pa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about New Economy Collaborative