Fostering the next generation of innovators, leaders, and researchers shaping technology to achieve positive societal outcomes.

Our Vision

The societal and economic impacts of digital technology are only becoming more powerful, and with it, a growing desire among students, researchers, and practitioners to intentionally shape technology to serve public needs.

The Public Interest Technology (PiTech) Initiative at Cornell Tech is addressing this demand by offering curated educational and engagement opportunities that apply technological expertise in service of public needs and incorporate public objectives explicitly into the pursuit of technological innovation.

We are activating a community of technologists, researchers, and practitioners dedicated to societal challenges who will shape technology toward positive societal outcomes.

Philanthropic Partners

PiTech is made possible by a generous gift from the Siegel Family Endowment, along with support provided by The Atlantic Philanthropies and a collection of other donors committed to our mission of advancing technology for a better world. We are enormously grateful to our philanthropic partners, who have played a critical role in making our work and impact a reality.

Meet the Team

  • Deborah Estrin

    ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR IMPACT

    Deborah Estrin is a Professor of Computer Science at Cornell Tech in New York City where she holds The Robert V. Tishman Founder's Chair, serves as the Associate Dean for Impact, and is an Affiliate Faculty at Weill Cornell Medicine.

  • Malgosia Rejniak

    PITECH DIRECTOR

    Malgosia is focused on building and scaling educational and engagement opportunities for Cornell Tech students which apply technological expertise in service of public needs and forming partnerships with public sector and non-profit organizations in NYC and beyond.

  • Lyel Resner

    HEAD OF PITECH STUDIO

    Lyel is currently Visiting Faculty and the Head of the Public Interest Technology Studio at Cornell Tech, where he co-leads the Startups & Society Initiative (SSI) — a nonprofit research project backed by Ford, OSF, and Omidyar to support founders and investors with responsible innovation practices.

  • Matt Stempeck

    PITECH TECHNOLOGIST-IN-RESIDENCE

    Founder of the Civic Tech Field Guide, the world’s largest collection of tech projects for the public good, as featured in Democracy Technologies magazine and GovTech Magazine’s ICYMI podcast.

  • Johanna Delgado

    SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

  • Marcelo Paiva

    PITECH STUDENT ASSOCIATE

  • Swarnima Gupta

    PITECH STUDENT ASSOCIATE

Who We Work With

Our NYC-based partner organizations draw from government, civil society, and the nonprofit sector, spanning many critical subject matter domains, including: 

  • Public health: health care provision and accessibility

  • Social justice: food insecurity, criminal justice reform, and economic inequality

  • Trustworthy media ecosystems: combatting racism, hate speech, and misinformation

  • Public services: public service provision, housing, transportation, and civic engagement

  • Environment: sustainability and conservation 

Host organizations

Join our Team

The PiTech Initiative is activating a community of technologists, researchers, and practitioners dedicated to societal challenges. As we grow, we are building a team committed to meaningful impact and centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Reach out to pitech-info@tech.cornell.edu if you’re interested in joining us.