Products that Change Lives
Who We Serve
People with limited resources who need some product to work, learn, or live a better life
Allied nonprofits and NGOs who need affordable, accessible products for their missions
Partner organizations who have products and projects that we can promote
What We Do
Uplift490 collaborates globally to discover, document, design, develop, and distribute life-changing products for billions. See our Projects below...
Join us
Make a difference with us as a Supporter, Ally, Partner, Sponsor, or Patron!
Our Projects
Each of our projects are designed to work together to find, collect, and catalog products that can profoundly change the lives of billions of people. And if a product is needed that doesn't exist or is too expensive or otherwise unaccessable, we help make it a reality through our pro bono mentors, education providers, hands-on learning events, and microfunding.
Cat490
A dynamic digital catalog, a collection of products, machines, tools, plans, and methods. It's updated by the people, communities, and organizations offering appropriate products.
Design490
A blind pool or community fund that can apply small funds throughout the product development process. Our partners here are microbanks and micro finance organizations promoting Cat490.
The Give Bank
DesignJams, meetups, maker spaces provide increasingly-critical in-person, human interaction. We support monthly and quarterly events and look to partner with maker spaces and fab labs.
Events490
future: Fund490
Designers, makers, scientists, and other professionals pledge pro bono hours to work on product design and development as well as mentor those who want to learn.
Providing design principles and resources to entrepreneurial product designers. We seek to collaborate with design-centric teaching organizations, universities, and labs around the world.
Examples of the kind of products needed and that we're working on.
Some of Our Allies
A nonprofit in El Salvador guiding women entrepreneurs who need tools and machines.
A tree-planting enterprise in Kenya that needs shovels and gardening tools.
A group in Nepal building schools and multiple facilities so kids can learn in a better environment.
An organization doing projects in Peru that needs machines, tools, and mentors.
About Us
Uplift490™ is a California public benefit corporation committed to improving the lives of low-income, high-need people worldwide with products of all kinds. Through product development, design education, and pro bono design services, we aim to empower people, uplift communities, and create positive change.
Our IRS 501c3 status has been granted. Your donations are fully tax-deductible.
Contact Us
Questions or inquiries? Please reach out to us!
info@uplift490.com