CTIA Wireless Foundation - Innovation Powered by Catalyst

CTIA Wireless Foundation - Innovation Powered by Catalyst is sponsored by CTIA Wireless Foundation. CTIA's program supports early-stage social entrepreneurs using wireless technology to solve issues in American communities.

## You have the solution. ## That's why we created Catalyst. Catalyst is a competitive grants program for ambitious social entrepreneurs who have developed mobile-first solutions that enhance our lives and address pressing challenges in American communities.

Six or more applicants will receive financial and non-financial benefits, with Catalyst awarding over $200,000 in unrestricted grants. Powering Impact Through Wireless Innovation Catalyst fuels wireless solutions that transform how Americans live, learn, connect and heal. The Foundation is helping bring mobile-first innovations to millions.

**32 million** lives impacted by Catalyst Alumni Catalyst has awarded over **$2 million**to social entrepreneurs using wireless for good. Catalyst has supported over **30 social entrepreneurs** since 2019. Catalyst attracts and funds mobile-first solutions that take advantage of the speed, efficiency and versatility of 5G and leading-edge wireless technologies to deepen our connection to one another and make our communities stronger.

CTIA Wireless Foundation supports emerging changemakers and social impact projects that will benefit greatly from infusions of capital in their early stages of development. Catalyst Winners are bold innovators who are addressing some of our country’s biggest challenges. Who are the Catalyst Winners & Finalists?

Catalyst Finalists are creating mobile-first solutions to tackle pressing social issues. They are using wireless technology from texting to virtual reality and AI to support solutions that are transforming American communities. Catalyst supports entities, both for-profit and nonprofit, that have the potential and infrastructure in place to make a real impact.

Catalyst encourages applications from people of color, women, and/or veterans. **First place**receives an unrestricted $100,000 grant award. **Second place**receives an unrestricted $50,000 grant award.

**Third place**receives an unrestricted $25,000 grant award. ## Catalyst 2026 Finalists A daily SMS text messaging prompt to help improve youth and adult mental health. CopeNote users receive randomly timed text messages throughout the day designed to proactively interrupt negative thought patterns.

Messages include psychology facts, journaling prompts and exercises that are proven to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. A peer counseling platform via SMS and RCS text messaging to support vulnerable employees struggling in the workplace. Through text, workers can access a trained peer counselor for coaching related to navigating challenges such as unemployment or a toxic work environment.

This resource improves economic security and mental health, keeping people on paths of opportunity. An app that trains and places returning citizens with criminal records into living-wage trucking careers, creating long-term stability.

Through the FreeWorld app, returning citizens use their smartphones to recover identification documents, prepare for Commercial Driver’s License exams, access training funds, connect to vetted employers, and receive real-time coaching. An app that helps students develop reading skills through daily games and articles about their favorite sports teams.

LitZone publishes articles about the NBA, NFL and MLB, including game recaps, breaking news, sports science, sports history and more. Each article is written at three different reading levels to ensure accessibility and is accompanied by a reading comprehension quiz aligned with education standards.

An app that trains hairstylists and barbers to become certified Community Health Workers so they can screen their clients for hypertension, provide health coaching and connect clients to ongoing care. Through their mobile app, barbers and stylists enter screening data and coordinate care in real time.

From there, participants are connected to healthcare providers and supported through ongoing in-app coaching, promoting continuous engagement and accountability. An app that empowers recent college graduates to strategically reduce student loan debt by providing structured planning and guidance.

Focusing on the 6-month grace period before repayment begins, Reducify provides graduates with structured repayment plans, behavioral accountability partnerships, and principal-first payoff strategies designed to build early momentum. Up to three additional Catalyst Finalists will receive Honorable Mentions and $10,000 unrestricted grants. What else do Catalyst Awardees Receive?

We believe in the power of storytelling to capture attention and advance your mobile-first solution. The top three winners will receive a professionally produced video profiling your social enterprise and opportunities to participate in speaking engagements and share your work with audiences that include wireless industry leaders, elected officials and policymakers.

All winners and honorable mentions will also receive non-financial benefits and incentives, including pitch coaching, communications assets and an invitation to join the Catalyst alumni network. A mobile platform for mortgage readiness, connecting users to expert coaching via SMS text messaging to drive gains in financial stability, homeownership and wealth creation.

The platform connects users to on-demand expert coaching via SMS text messaging to drive gains in financial stability, homeownership and wealth creation. Coaches work with users to get mortgage-ready by focusing on budgeting, paying down debt, increasing their credit score and building savings.

A mobile platform and AI-powered SMS text message coaching system for low-income students as they complete the college application and admissions process and support their post-secondary journeys. Uprooted’s AI guidance counselor ‘Rootie’ uses SMS texting to send important reminders about deadlines, college tips and emotional support resources.

An automated medication dispenser and app for medication management, developed for seniors and caregivers. CareHome’s Graciela device is a smart pill and water dispenser for in-home pill distribution and reminders. The device pairs with a caregiver app, which tracks medication intakes, sends alerts for missed doses and ensures medication adherence.

A mobile platform for patient engagement, using AI-enhanced SMS text messaging to increase positive health outcomes for low-income populations. Through text messages, CareMessage increases access to the healthcare system, improves clinical outcomes, and addresses social drivers of health. "Wireless technology is the access point between users without access to Wi-Fi or computers and their qualified financial coaches.

Rooted puts a financial coach in every user’s pocket." "Wireless technology ensures equitable, on-demand access to college and career guidance, meeting students where they are -on their phones." Tiffany Green Uprooted Academy "The Graciela is the first countertop medication and water dispensing system designed with 5G connectivity and real-time caregiver alerts."

"Text messaging is an equalizer of access for low-income populations nationwide who can benefit from the power of connections to their healthcare system to be able to improve their own outcomes." Cecilia Corral CareMessage ## Powering Impact Through Wireless Innovation Catalyst fuels wireless solutions that transform how Americans live, learn, connect and heal. The Foundation is helping bring mobile-first innovations to millions.

Frequently Asked Questions **A:**Phase 1 Applications are open until February 24, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET. **A:**All interested organizations that meet the Catalyst eligibility requirements may respond to the call for submissions by completing the Phase 1 application via theCatalyst Portal no later than February 24, 2026 at 11:59pm ET.

**A:**The Phase 1 application will include a succinct description of the solution and how wireless technology is advancing it; the founder’s story/inspiration for creating the solution; populations and geographic locations the organization serves; and a general overview of the organization including a profile of leadership.

The Phase 2 application will include the organization’s strategic goals and vision; current and potential impact of the solution; a deeper understanding of populations served; the innovative nature of the solution; the effect a Catalyst award will have on the organization and top-level financial information.

**A:**CTIA Wireless Foundation will review Phase 1 submissions, evaluate the appropriateness for charitable grant support, and invite selected applicants, the Finalists, to proceed to Phase 2 by March 17, 2026. Finalists will participate in a question-and-answer session with the Foundation Team in late March. This virtual meeting is an opportunity for the Foundation to learn more about your work and for you to ask questions.

All Finalists who submit a complete Phase 2 application by the deadline will receive a grant from the Foundation. Phase 2 applications must be submitted via theCatalyst Portalno later than April 7th, 2026, at 11:59pm ET. **A:**All Finalists will receive an**unrestricted grant award**in the following amounts: * The top three Winners will receive **a professionally produced****2-minute video** profiling your social enterprise.

* Honorable Mention: $10,000; The Foundation will award up to three Honorable Mentions totaling $30,000 **A:**In addition, awardees will receive: * Speaking opportunities to share your wireless solution with wireless industry leaders, elected officials, policymakers and more. * Media training with an industry expert in May 2026. Winners and Honorable Mentions: * Organizational vignette posted on CTIA Wireless Foundation’s website.

* Financial support to participate in Catalyst in-person events. * Chance to grow your community through our network of Catalyst Alumni and wireless industry leaders. **A:** Yes, our application system uses character counts (spaces included).

If you are mocking up your answers in Microsoft Word, invisible characters will be added when formatting and these will carry over and count towards the character count limit in the system. You may want to use a plain text editor instead of Word when mocking up your answers. If you would like a visual representation of what each character limit looks like, please go to the Blind Text Generator website.

**A:**In order to be considered, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements: * Applicants must be registered and operate in the United States and/or the United States Territories.

* Applicants must assume one of the following legal statuses: * Nonprofit organization; * For-profit organization with a demonstrated commitment to social good; or, * Applicants must complete and submit the application form by the submission deadlines. The Foundation will not consider late or incomplete submissions. * Applicants cannot be past or current CTIA members at any point in the application and awards process.

* Applicants cannot be past Catalyst Winners. Past Catalyst Honorable Mention recipients may apply. * Individuals are not eligible to apply.

**A:** We have a preference for mobile-first solutions that are powered by 5G and leading edge wireless technologies, including Virtual Reality (VR)/Augmented Reality (AR)/Extended Reality (ER), IoT and sensor technologies, Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) and big data analysis. **A:**A mobile-first solution would not exist without wireless connectivity or connection to a wireless network.

Wireless connectivity must be integral to the way your solution generates positive social impact. To look at past winners, visit ourCatalyst Alumnipage. To learn more about the wireless industry, scroll throughThe Wireless Industry: An American Success Story.

* Social entrepreneurs using wireless technology to solve a pressing issue in American communities. The applicant’s solution must be mobile-first. * Social enterprises in early-stage development; solution is beyond ideation stage and has a proof of concept.

* Founders who have personal experience with the issue their mobile-first solution addresses. * Innovators who are addressing some of our country’s challenges that often impactmarginalizedpopulationsthe * Entities, both for-profit and nonprofit, that have the potential and infrastructure in place to make a real * Applicants who have experience working through business incubators, accelerators, or mentorship programs.

* We encourage applications from people of color, women, and/or veterans.