By Lisa Kim
We’re excited to introduce our second cohort of Breakthrough innovators! This year, we selected four teams offering innovations that advance adolescent sexual and reproductive health—and reduce teen pregnancy—in creative and impactful ways.
Our selection process included in-depth application reviews, input from youth advisors, and interviews with applicant teams. From the nearly 50 thoughtful and inspiring applications, these four teams stood out for their creativity, relevance, and potential for impact. They have designed approaches that are both innovative—from digital platforms to card games to community-based programs—and serve a range of young people. Some are building on work they began in the In/Tend and youthink incubators, while others are newer to the innovation space. Collectively, they bring expertise in clinical psychology, education, and public health.
Over the next 10 months, these teams will deepen their understanding of human-centered design and learn strategies to measure, sustain, and scale their work. We hope they’ll leave us with refined, well-tested innovations and a network of peers to support their continued growth and collaboration.
Learn about our Cohort 2 innovations
- A conversation-based card game designed for youth ages 13–21 to play with peers and/or trusted adults: The team plans to use its time in Breakthrough to build higher-fidelity prototypes, continue user testing, and explore sustainable production and distribution.
- An interactive digital platform that adapts to young adults’ emotional states in real time to provide personalized reproductive health guidance: Users can engage in supportive discussions about emotional health with trained experts and peers. During their time with Breakthrough, the team will continue refining its digital platform and exploring strategies for scaling its innovation.
- An art-based educational initiative for college students that uses interactive workshops to build body literacy skills and foster community through creativity and storytelling: Over the next 10 months, the team aims to learn and explore sustainable strategies and receive mentorship to expand its reach.
- A comprehensive, community-centered program for teens and young parents that offers education, peer mentorship, and teen-friendly doula services: During its time with Breakthrough, the team will focus on measuring the impact of its program and exploring opportunities to scale beyond its local community in Maryland.
What’s next
We can’t wait to see how these teams and innovations grow over their 10 months in the Breakthrough Accelerator! In October, we’ll kick off our first in-person lab, where our new innovators will strengthen their connections with each other and the Breakthrough team, learn more about different business models, and test key assumptions about their work. We look forward to helping them refine their innovations and amplify their impact. Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram and check back on our website for updates on their journey!
Suggested citation: Kim, L. (2025). Welcoming our second cohort of Breakthrough innovators. Breakthrough Accelerator. https://breakthrough.fund/welcoming-our-second-cohort-of-breakthrough-innovators/