How Wireless Innovation Is Solving America’s Biggest Challenges

By Holly Baxter

In classrooms across the country, underprivileged students whose schools can’t afford to take them on field trips are taking virtual-reality tours of the Smithsonian, while others are learning social skills and building their vocabulary through an app focused on hip-hop. Older adults struggling to manage complex medication schedules now have access to a connected device that automatically dispenses their pills and alerts their caregivers when doses are missed. People who may be the first in their families to apply for a mortgage are being taught financial literacy through their phones — and veterans at risk of suicide are being helped through an app that provides targeted mental health support. These are just a handful of examples of how wireless technology is transforming lives, delivering solutions to some of America’s most pressing challenges.

Healium is an immersive experience that uses VR and AR to provide tools for stress management.

(C) 2017 BETHANY KRUSKA PHOTOGRAPHY

Supporting this transformation is CTIA Wireless Foundation, which runs the Catalyst program that empowers social entrepreneurs to harness wireless innovation for the public good. Since its inception, Catalyst has awarded over $1 million in unrestricted grants to more than 30 social entrepreneurs, helping scale solutions that now reach over 30 million Americans. By investing in wireless-driven ideas, the foundation ensures that ingenuity meets impact.

The Catalyst Philosophy

Catalyst seeks founders who have personally experienced the problem they are solving. “If you have lived experience with an issue, you’re seeing it from different angles than someone else would,” says executive director Dori Kreiger, “and so you’re really attuned to those issues and more likely to develop a stronger solution.”

But Catalyst doesn’t support just any kind of tech innovation. Kreiger emphasizes the importance of supporting innovative solutions to pervasive problems that are built wireless-first. “You see that exemplified in our past winners, their use of virtual reality or SMS texting or an app — wireless is their delivery mechanism of social good.” Designing solutions that can scale quickly and reach the people who need them most is a priority.

When a proposed solution does fit the bill, a key part of Catalyst’s approach is providing unrestricted grants, allowing founders to allocate resources where they’re most needed.

“We believe that the Catalyst founders know how best to allocate the capital we’re investing, so we didn’t want to put restrictions on our grants,” Kreiger notes. “We are pleased that the awards are being used to help scale their solutions.”

This fundamental trust in the founders Catalyst chooses is well-rewarded and allows people on the front lines to pivot if necessary. Beyond financial support, winners also gain access to alumni networking, mentorship and even opportunities to meet members of Congress and FCC leadership, building connections that extend far beyond the initial award.

One of Catalyst’s signature offerings is its storytelling support. Through professionally produced videos, winners can showcase their work in ways that often surpass their own marketing budgets. “So many of our winners use their video to secure more funding, tell their story and get more publicity,” Kreiger says.

Considering that nearly every American carries a cellphone, the potential to scale the innovations backed by Catalyst is immense. As Ajit Pai, president and CEO of CTIA and president of CTIA Wireless Foundation, puts it, the foundation is having “a tremendous impact, as are the social entrepreneurs who we support,” because it “taps into the fundamental American trait of ingenuity.”

“The Catalyst awardees reflect the exact same ethos that the wireless companies who have innovated in America have had over the past several decades,” Pai adds. “We see problems out there in society, we invest, we innovate and we ultimately deliver for the American consumers. And that reflects very well the social entrepreneurship we see from the Catalyst awardees.”

Central to the Catalyst philosophy is ensuring awards support the greatest impact. Its four areas of focus are:

Education

Catalyst powers education innovation through mobile-first solutions that transform classrooms and increase academic engagement. Examples include a tutoring tool that provides students with round-the-clock academic assistance, and another that provides AI-powered text guidance and emotional support throughout the college application process. By equipping teachers and learners with these tools, Catalyst alumni have reached over four million students, giving them access to opportunities they might never have had otherwise.

Health And Wellness

Catalyst advances wireless-powered health and wellness solutions, connecting patients in underserved areas to the care they need. Remote consultations are now possible via a telehealth interface for patients in rural areas without nearby specialists; likewise, wearable sensors that monitor chronic conditions and instantly alert caregivers have been integrated with patients’ smartphones. Such innovations are improving outcomes for millions of Americans: Indeed, Catalyst-backed founders in this space have already impacted more than 20 million lives, shaping the future of mobile-first health care.

Veterans’ Services

For the military community, Catalyst champions technologies that connect veterans, service members and their families to mental health support and stress management. Wireless-enabled platforms now allow veterans to reach peer mentors, crisis support or mindfulness tools directly from their phones, helping reduce isolation and strengthen community bonds. Catalyst-supported entrepreneurs have improved the lives of over 400,000 veterans and service members, demonstrating the power of mobile-first solutions in addressing mental health challenges.

Community And Economic Development

Catalyst accelerates wireless-powered tools that enhance communities and expand access to critical resources. As one powerful example, a mobile platform that helps people prepare for homeownership and build long-term financial security through mortgage readiness coaching was a top Catalyst awardee because of its potential to broaden opportunity and empower people nationwide to build their own generational wealth.

Looking Ahead

The scale of Catalyst’s impact continues to grow. The program has received over 800 applications from 46 states, with annual submissions increasing 647% since its launch.

For Kreiger, the future is bright, and her admiration for the founders involved with Catalyst only grows year by year.

“It’s really incredible to see these innovators who leave other full-time jobs or full means of employment to start something from scratch,” she says. “It’s incredibly bold, and I admire the guts that these people have to found a startup and to tackle really hard issues and to create a solution to address them. And it’s an honor, really, to play a role in their organizational development as they scale their solution.”

Applications for the seventh year are now live, and the program only continues to grow. “We’re looking at new ways of supporting our Catalyst winners and new ways of interacting with partners,” Kreiger adds. “With wireless, the possibilities are truly endless.”