How is your business helping to solve the health, social, or economic challenges created by COVID19?
Charities and community organizations are experiencing decreasing cash philanthropy and increasing community needs as a result of COVID impacts. The widening gap between available resources and cash is not going to be filled with cash donations alone -new resources are required now - in-kind donations of services, time, and goods are the only way to meet ongoing and increasing needs like food, support services, professional services, and other day to day needs of people relying on charities and community organizations to serve them. There is no easy way to manage or co-ordinate in-kind giving today. Our platform makes it possible for any charity and community organization to ask for in-kind support, receive it, manage the administration of it, and verify the receipt - like a wedding registry. With so many people and businesses looking to help and give in-kind support now, our platform allows them to quickly find out who they can donate to based on what they have and what needs exist. So, if a food company wants to donate food, they know exactly who needs the food they have. If a volunteer lawyer or doctor wants to give free services, they know exactly who needs their help and can connect and go give. All pledges are verified when received and give every donor and recipient data and a ledger of the impact achieved together - the aggregate data improves situational insights for the whole community, including aid funders in a way never possible before and urgently important.
Does your business contribute most to recovery, response, or resilience?
Resilience - we're improving the broader infrastructure for responding to pandemic outbreaks.,Recovery - we're positioned to support in the recovery of those directly affected.,Response - we're responding directly to issues caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 outbreak.
What is the stage of your product development?
I have a market ready product/service. I have sold to customers.
What strengths does your team bring? Include skills and personal experience with the problem.
All of our team members have encountered the unreasonable difficulty to find ways to help beyond giving cash. The difficulty and time spent trying to figure out how to help, who needs what types of help, and how to connect with organizations that need the resources available for donation is a frustration many people, young professionals, and businesses understand all too well. Knowing the importance of being able to meet needs in real time for communities in need, the team set out to learn from local and global community members how it could improve status quo. As a highly experienced technology and philanthropic team, we know our skills are far more valuable than our bank accounts but unlocking non-traditional resources for philanthropic purposes is a challenge without systems and processes in place to facilitate these activities for donors and donees. Our CEO has founded multiple non-profits and knows the problem from a variety of perspectives. She is a highly-skilled international technology and IP lawyer. She speaks globally on impact and has led Canada's social innovation and technology ecosystem. The CFO is a longtime global banker and certified risk manager. The CTO is a global data analytics and architecture expert who has led global projects with BAE and Accenture. The lead developer has 30+ years of platform and mobile app building expertise. The head of communications has 15+ years of publishing industry experience, including in the philanthropic and cause sectors.
What countries do you operate in?
Canada, US. Expanding to India, Switzerland and Africa.
Is your company headquartered in a US "Opportunity Zone"?
No