UPMC Enterprises Demonstrates its Community Commitment Through Support of Pittsburgh Economy

The UPMC system is made up of unique and distinct divisions that work together to make Life Changing Medicine a reality for our patients. While we invest in our talented staff and cutting-edge technology and research, we also recognize the important goal of supporting the communities in which we — and our patients — live and work each day.

As the region’s leading health care provider, UPMC is passionate about giving back to the communities we serve. Each year, UPMC contributes nearly $2 billion to strengthen the health and well-being of our neighborhoods by:

• Committing more to charity care than any other health system in Pennsylvania.  
• Enhancing health and wellness through 3,000-plus free and subsidized programs including support for seniors, veterans’ programs, access to healthy foods, and more.  
• Sponsoring 98% of all hospital-funded research in western Pennsylvania.

UPMC Enterprises, the venture capital, commercialization, and innovation division of UPMC, is aligned with the mission and vision of the UPMC system, as it guides and inspires the work we do. From investing in startups that contribute to Pittsburgh’s growing innovation economy to volunteering with local organizations, we are committed to fostering a culture that gives back both in and outside of the office.

Investing in Pittsburgh’s Future

The UPMC Enterprises portfolio includes companies from across the nation, but we are especially proud to support companies that began in the Pittsburgh area and continue to bring economic vitality to our region through employment and local investment.   

We ensure that each of our investments and innovations support our work in next-generation health care technology and therapeutics that combat the most critical health issues today. As with each investment, we provide our companies with expertise, resources, and close collaboration far beyond capital. This unique commitment to our portfolio emphasizes our mission to make change happen in a hands-on way.

Home-grown companies including BlueSphere Bio, Astrata, and Glimmer Health exemplify how our work creates significant success for our community. Each of these companies was grounded in UPMC expertise in the Pittsburgh region, then continued to provide innovative care solutions for patients and users across the country. Each business we invest in not only has a patient impact, but a positive economic one by creating jobs and new opportunities in digital health and life sciences.

Other portfolio companies with a Pittsburgh connection in our current portfolio include Abridge, Avista Therapeutics, Generian, Globin Solutions, Helexva, Infectious Disease Connect, Novasenta, and sovaSage.

Additionally, we have helped support successful merger and acquisitions for the following Pittsburgh-area portfolio companies: AboundBio, ALung, Cernostics, Curavi Health, ImPACT Applications, Ovation RCS, Prodigo Solutions, Realyze Intelligence, Renal Solutions, and Via Oncology.

UPMC fully supports each investment and portfolio company from investment to acquisition. With the help of UPMC clinical champions and our own expert staff of investment professionals, researchers, engineers, data analysts, and business staff, we stimulate the region’s economy with new technologies and life-changing therapeutics.

Taking Time to Give Back

All departments at UPMC Enterprises are encouraged to take time for volunteerism throughout the year. We believe that the best way to support our community is to be an active participant in it.

Teams frequently participate in UPMC’s MLK Days of Service projects. Most recently teams volunteered fixing old technology at Computer Reach and doing outdoor work at the Hilltop Urban Farm.

Each year, UPMC Enterprises has a strong showing of riders and sponsors at the annual “Rush to Crush Cancer” bike ride in support of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

The UPMC Enterprises team has hosted fundraisers for a variety of organizations, including Animal Friends and the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children.

In 2024, a group from UPMC Enterprises took their health care mission right to patients in need by volunteering at the Mission of Mercy free health care clinic event in Pittsburgh. This project is an independent entity, but UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh have made significant contributions through the years, both in terms of material support and volunteers. UPMC Health Plan was a top sponsor for the event, which featured 100 dental chairs, a full audiology testing lab, digital X-ray machines, and other equipment.

From helping people with registration to guiding them through their care process, the Enterprises team supported hundreds of patients seeking vision, hearing, or dental services.

“The Mission of Mercy organizers and clinicians do amazing work to bring needed care to our community members through this event, and the UPMC Enterprises marketing team was honored to contribute in a small way,” said Sara Fest, senior director of marketing and communications, UPMC Enterprises. “We were all affected by the scale of the need and the compassion of our clinical colleagues.”

Other volunteer events have included packaging diapers for donation at the Western Pennsylvania Diaper Bank; cleaning wheelchairs at Vincentian at Schenley Gardens; planting and weeding flower beds at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy; organizing donations at the Neighborhood Resilience Project; serving food in the East End Ministries kitchen; and so much more.

Innovation Inspired by the UPMC Mission

Overall, UPMC Enterprises guides each investment, innovation, and business decision with our mission in mind: to serve our communities by providing outstanding patient care, and shape tomorrow’s health system through clinical and technological innovation, research, and education.

“The work we do here at UPMC Enterprises impacts patients’ lives in one way or the other. While some projects may take years to reach a single patient, the moment they experience or realize the benefit makes all the difference,” said Debashish Sasmal, senior manager, strategic product development.

We are proud that our employees highly value UPMC’s organization’s commitment to a mission and vision that goes beyond capital gains. The people who work here believe in making a difference by solving complex challenges that improve patient care.

“I have a strong conviction that what we do at UPMC Enterprises can be transformative for people, especially our patients, and for all the providers across our health care system,” said Rob Hartman, vice president, Translational Sciences. “I am continuously inspired and motivated by my team as we strive to deliver on our mission.”

Next Steps

• Explore the UPMC Community Commitment page to see all the ways UPMC gives back to its communities. 
• Learn more about the full UPMC Enterprises portfolio.
• Join our team to help us further our mission.

Note: UPMC has a financial interest in the following companies named in this story: Abridge, Astrata, Avista Therapeutics, BlueSphere Bio, Generian, Glimmer Health, Globin Solutions, Helexva, ID Connect, Novasenta, and sovaSage.