Thrival Festival
Thrival Festival is a Pittsburgh-based annual innovation conference and live music festival produced by nonprofit Ascender, combining an Innovation Summit, immersive Thrival Interactive exhibits, and an outdoor Music Festival to convene entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and the general public, with proceeds supporting Ascender's startup community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Thrival Festival does
Thrival Festival is a Pittsburgh-based, multi-day innovation conference and live music festival produced by Ascender, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The festival operates three core product lines: the Innovation Summit (keynotes, panels, workshops, and breakout sessions on technology, entrepreneurship, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution), Thrival Interactive (immersive art, AI-inspired exhibits, and robotics demonstrations hosted at venues such as the Carnegie Museum of Art), and the Music Festival (multi-day outdoor concerts featuring national and local artists, historically held at Carrie Furnaces and Schenley Plaza). Additional offerings include a Scholarship Program that subsidizes access for students, early-stage startups, and community nonprofits, plus hospitality and venue management services.
Thrival generates revenue through a diversified stack that includes corporate sponsorships (PNC Bank as presenting sponsor, with UPMC, Comcast, BNY Mellon, Uber, Deloitte, Sheetz, and the Richard King Mellon Foundation among the supporting roster), ticketed evening keynotes (under $20) and two-day music passes (under $60), vendor and exhibitor fees, and donations routed to Ascender. Daytime innovation programming is free, lowering the barrier to participation. All proceeds flow to Ascender's 11,000 sq ft East Liberty co-working and incubator space, supporting its Start/Build community of entrepreneurs. The 2020 edition was postponed and the festival is publicly being reimagined, leaving forward operating cadence uncertain.
Thrival Festival firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Thrival Festival
- Legal name
- Thrival Festival
- Website
- https://thrivalfestival.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Thrival Festival is a Pittsburgh-based annual innovation conference and live music festival produced by nonprofit Ascender, combining an Innovation Summit, immersive Thrival Interactive exhibits, and an outdoor Music Festival to convene entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and the general public, with proceeds supporting Ascender's startup community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Thrival Festival industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Event Management Services
- NAICS
- Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (71132), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows (MPAGAFAA), Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)
Keywords
Where Thrival Festival is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Thrival Festival business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Sponsorship Revenue: Thrival Festival generates revenue through corporate sponsorships at multiple tiers. PNC Bank served as the presenting sponsor, with additional support from UPMC, Comcast, Uber, BNY Mellon, Deloitte, Sheetz, Dunkin Donuts, Schell Games, Richard King Mellon Foundation, Philips, and others. Media sponsors and hospitality sponsors also contribute.
- Ticket Sales: Revenue is generated through ticket sales for evening keynote talks and two-day concert passes. Day-time innovation programming is free to attend. Evening keynote talks are priced under $20, and a two-day concert pass is under $60.
- Vendor and Exhibitor Fees: Fees collected from vendors and exhibitors who represent their brands and sell products at the festival. Special consideration is given to startup organizations.
- Proceeds to Ascender: As a nonprofit produced by Ascender, proceeds from Thrival go to support Ascender and its 'Start/Build' community of early-stage startups and entrepreneurs. Thrival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit presented and supported by Ascender.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Free Innovation Programming |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Evening Keynote Talks |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Two-Day Music Concert Pass |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Thrival Festival product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Thrival Festival is a multi-day innovation conference and live music festival produced by nonprofit Ascender in Pittsburgh. It combines keynote talks, panel discussions, workshops, and breakout sessions on technology and entrepreneurship (Innovation Summit) with interactive art and technology exhibits (Thrival Interactive) and an outdoor live music experience featuring national and local artists. The festival explores the intersection of humans, technology, culture, and community.
Product overview
Thrival Festival is a multi-day innovation conference and live music experience produced by Ascender, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit. The festival comprises three core offerings: the Innovation Summit (conference programming with keynotes, panels, and workshops on technology and entrepreneurship), Thrival Interactive (immersive exhibits featuring art and technology demonstrations), and the Music Festival (outdoor concerts featuring national and local artists). Additional offerings include a Scholarship Program for students and startups, Hospitality/Venues services, and access to Ascender's co-working and incubator services. The festival explores the intersection of humans and technology, with themes centered on adaptation, learning, and work in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Thrival Innovation: Innovation conference component featuring speakers, panels, workshops and discussions on technology, entrepreneurship and innovation
- Thrival Music
- Thrival Interactive
Products and services
- Innovation Summit An annual innovation conference featuring keynotes, panels, workshops, and breakout sessions exploring technology, entrepreneurship, and the future of work in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The summit brings together speakers from business, tech, academia, and the arts. Daytime programming is free, and evening keynote talks are priced under $20.
- Thrival Interactive An annual interactive exhibit and showcase featuring immersive art, AI-inspired exhibits, robotics demonstrations, and new media installations. Held at venues such as the Carnegie Museum of Art.
- Music Festival A multi-day outdoor live music experience featuring national and local musical artists. Held at venues including Carrie Furnaces (a historic blast furnace site) and Schenley Plaza. Two-day concert passes are priced under $60.
- Scholarship Program A program providing free or subsidized Innovation Summit tickets to students, early-stage startups, and community nonprofits, funded by corporate and individual donations. Scholarship sponsors have included PNC Bank, BNY Mellon, and Deloitte.
- Hospitality and Venues Festival venue management and hospitality offerings including partnerships with local hotels, restaurants, and venues including the Oaklander Hotel, The Porch at Schenley, Carnegie Museum of Art, and Pittsburgh Parks.
Quantifiable outcome
- 800% growth since founding in 2013
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Thrival Festival
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Thrival Festival technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Thrival Festival partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- NewCocoreNewCo, a San Francisco-based media and event company founded by WIRED veterans John Battelle and Stacey Foreman, partnered with Thrival Innovation in 2017. The partnership draws national and international thought leaders to Pittsburgh for Thrival Innovation and brings a 'NewCo vibe' to the festival. NewCo identifies and connects mission-driven companies large and small.
- Live Nation EntertainmentcoreLive Nation Entertainment, comprising Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Live Nation Advertising & Sponsorship, and Artist Nation Management, partnered with Thrival in 2017 for venue operations, talent buying, and marketing efforts for the music festival portion. This partnership allowed Ascender's core team to invest more energy in scaling Thrival Innovation while Live Nation added national reach to the music festival.
- AscendercoreThrival is presented and produced by Ascender, a Pittsburgh-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on increasing the number and success rate of entrepreneurs in the Pittsburgh Region. Ascender provides the organizational home, staff (including Dan Law as Director), and co-working/incubator space. Proceeds from Thrival support Ascender's Start/Build community.
- PNC BankflagshipPNC Bank served as the presenting sponsor for Thrival 2019, the highest tier of sponsorship. As presenting sponsor, PNC Bank's logo was featured prominently and the festival was presented by PNC Bank.
- UPMCcoreUPMC was listed as a supporting sponsor of Thrival 2019. UPMC Enterprises also hosted programs at its facilities for Thrival Innovation.
- BNY MelloncoreBNY Mellon was a supporting sponsor of Thrival 2019. Representatives Hans Brown (Global Head of Innovation) and Aaron Todd (Core Digitization Leader) served as featured speakers.
- ComcastcoreComcast was listed as a supporting sponsor of Thrival 2019, with Noopur Davis (EVP, Chief Product and Information Security Office) serving as a featured speaker.
- UbercoreUber was a supporting sponsor of Thrival 2019. Uber's Advanced Technology Group (ATG) operates in Pittsburgh and the company has a significant presence in the city's tech ecosystem.
- DeloittecoreDeloitte was listed as a supporting sponsor of Thrival 2019 and as a scholarship sponsor, funding Innovation Summit tickets for students and early-stage organizations.
- Carnegie Mellon UniversitycoreCMU was listed as a 2019 partner of Thrival. The university is a key anchor institution in Pittsburgh's innovation ecosystem, with CMU's School of Computer Science and College of Engineering being major draws. CMU researchers and faculty participate in Thrival panels and programming.
- University of Pittsburgh Innovation InstitutecoreThe University of Pittsburgh's Innovation Institute was a partner of Thrival 2019, contributing to the innovation programming and connecting the academic community with the festival.
- SheetzminorSheetz was listed as a supporting sponsor of Thrival 2019.
- Pittsburgh Innovation DistrictcoreThe Pittsburgh Innovation District was a 2019 partner of Thrival. The Innovation District, centered in Oakland, is at the core of Pittsburgh's research, talent, technology, and entrepreneurial ecosystem where the festival takes place.
- Innovation WorkscoreInnovation Works was a 2019 partner of Thrival. As a key player in Pittsburgh's startup support ecosystem, Innovation Works connects startups with resources and programs.
- Carnegie Museum of ArtcoreThe Carnegie Museum of Art hosted Thrival Interactive in 2019 from 7:00 to 11:00 PM. The museum also hosted the 2017 Thrival Innovation Marque Event featuring immersive art and AI-inspired exhibits.
- Allegheny Conference on Community DevelopmentcoreThe Allegheny Conference on Community Development was a 2019 partner of Thrival, contributing to regional economic development and community engagement.
- Google PittsburghcoreGoogle Pittsburgh was a host site for Thrival Innovation 2017 programming, reflecting Pittsburgh's growing reputation as a tech hub and Google's significant presence in the city.
- Kelly-Strayhorn TheatercoreThe Kelly-Strayhorn Theater was a host site for Thrival Innovation 2017 and 2018 programming. It is a historic East End venue known for supporting arts and innovation.
- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical GardenscorePhipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens hosted the LIFE.CODE Summit as part of Thrival 2018's Humans X Tech programming.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Thrival Festival competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SXSW: SXSW in Austin is the prototypical multi-track festival combining technology/conference programming with live music, film, and culture — the closest structural analogue to Thrival's innovation-plus-music-plus-interactive model.
- Aspen Ideas Festival: The Aspen Ideas Festival combines thought-leadership panels on technology and society with cultural programming in a single multi-day event; its interdisciplinary, idea-driven format maps closely onto Thrival's Fourth-Industrial-Revolution positioning.
- Tribeca Festival: Tribeca has expanded from a film festival into a multi-vertical cultural festival with music, talks, and immersive experiences — analogous to Thrival's evolution from a block party into an innovation + music + interactive program.
- TechCrunch Disrupt: TechCrunch Disrupt is a flagship startup conference where sponsors, founders, and investors convene around keynotes and showcases — directly comparable to Thrival's early-stage founder and sponsor focus.
- Web Summit: Web Summit operates large-scale tech conferences across multiple cities (Lisbon, Rio, Toronto) that pair keynote and panel programming with networking — directly comparable to Thrival's Innovation Summit format and corporate-sponsor model.
- Collision Conference: Collision, Web Summit's North American event in Toronto, is a tech conference combining mainstage keynotes, workshops, and ancillary cultural programming — a direct comparator for Thrival's innovation-focused tracks.
- Slush: Slush runs a Helsinki-based startup founder conference with high-profile speakers, sponsor activations, and side programming — a comparable startup-ecosystem festival supported by Ascender-style community organizations.
- Fast Company Innovation Festival: Fast Company's annual Innovation Festival packages keynote panels, workshops, and citywide experiences into a multi-day ticketed event, mirroring Thrival's daytime free / evening ticketed hybrid and its focus on entrepreneurship.
Broad incumbents
- Dreamforce: Dreamforce is Salesforce's flagship annual conference combining enterprise keynotes, partner exhibits, and community programming; it is a scaled incumbent whose sponsor and attendee model overlaps with Thrival's enterprise-track ambitions.
- Consumer Electronics Show (CES): CES is the largest consumer-technology trade show globally, operated by the Consumer Technology Association; it is a much broader incumbent but competes for the same tier of enterprise sponsors and exhibitor dollars Thrival pursues.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Thrival Festival social profiles
Digital presenceThrival Festival financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Thrival Festival leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Thrival Festival funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Thrival Festival M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Thrival Festival
What does Thrival Festival do?
Thrival Festival is a multi-day innovation conference and live music festival produced by nonprofit Ascender in Pittsburgh. It combines keynote talks, panel discussions, workshops, and breakout sessions on technology and entrepreneurship (Innovation Summit) with interactive art and technology exhibits (Thrival Interactive) and an outdoor live music experience featuring national and local artists. The festival explores the intersection of humans, technology, culture, and community.
Is Thrival Festival a public or private company?
Thrival Festival is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Thrival Festival founded?
Thrival Festival was founded in 2013. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Thrival Festival based?
Thrival Festival is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Thrival Festival make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Sponsorship Revenue is the primary driver. The others are ticket Sales, vendor and Exhibitor Fees and proceeds to Ascender.
Who are Thrival Festival's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SXSW, Aspen Ideas Festival, Tribeca Festival, TechCrunch Disrupt, Web Summit, Collision Conference, Slush and Fast Company Innovation Festival. Broad incumbents are Dreamforce and Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Does Thrival Festival have an API?
No public API is recorded for Thrival Festival.
What industry is Thrival Festival in?
Thrival Festival's product category is Event Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAFAO, Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs, with a secondary code of MPAGAFAA, General Consumer Expos & Trade Shows. Its NAICS code is 71132 and its SIC code is 7990.