Breakout Builders: Innovation for the Public Good
90 National Leaders. 30 Local Catalysts. One city building a new model for innovation.
September 9th - 12th 2026
Breakout Builders is a three-day, cross-sector experience that explores the intersection of technology, community, and innovation for the public good, taking place this September 9th - 12th in Pittsburgh.
Through city-wide site visits, hands-on working sessions, and intimate dinners, attendees get rare access to Pittsburgh’s most innovative spaces and people — and leave with insights and relationships that actually go somewhere.
Why Pittsburgh?
Once the steel capital of the world, Pittsburgh is now a proving ground for what’s next.
Home to global platforms like Duolingo, shaping the future of learning.
Carnegie Mellon University is a leader in robotics, immersive technology, and advanced manufacturing.
Hazelwood Green is a 178-acre former steel mill turned into an innovation district, with community-driven, equitable development at its core.
Here, legacy industry, cutting-edge research, and local innovation come together to test new models that other cities can learn from.
OUR PARTNERS
FOCUS AREAS
01
AI-powered tools and platforms to expand access, literacy, and opportunity across underserved communities
02
Civic technology and open data to strengthen transparency, trust, and public participation
03
Learning and workforce development through emerging technologies to build equitable pathways to economic mobility
04
Tech startup ecosystems rooted in community need, driving inclusive innovation and locally-led growth
What to Expect
❋ Curated & Mission-driven
Breakout Builders brings together a curated, cross-sector community united by a shared commitment to shaping the future. Every participant is selected for their ability to build, fund, or lead. We create rooms where conversations spark change.
❋ Immersive & Action-oriented
We blend ideation sessions, city-based exploration, storytelling, and skills-based workshops, accelerating real projects and fostering lasting connections with other builders.
❋ Expert Facilitation
Led by industry experts, community leaders, and experienced guides who know how to hold space, encourage participation, and keep things moving with purpose.
❋ Open & Intersdisciplinary
Breakout is a platform for collaboration across organizations, sectors, and communities. We surface and support projects that can grow, connecting grassroots builders with national funders, and local leaders with new partners.
What a Day Could Feel LikeSneak Peek
Small group sessions at the Andy Warhol Museum, before the doors open to the public.
Check-InBehind-the-scenes access to Pittsburgh’s innovation economy, including early-stage founders at Innovation Works.
Time inside CMU’s Entertainment Technology Center, and discussions with leaders shaping responsible AI.
Group ActivityIDEO.org working session focused on rethinking food systems alongside local leaders and national funders.
Creative WorkshopHalf-day immersion at Hazelwood Green, with 6 hands-on tracks in AI, advanced manufacturing, community wealth, and future learning.
Choose Your Own Adventure Hosted dinners across the city with the people building Pittsburgh from the inside out.
DinnerFrequently Asked Questions
“Where entrepreneurs and leaders create change. This conference was less conference and more a meeting of the minds that empowered you to be the change you want to see in the world.”
— Forbes