Location
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Silicon Valley Spring 2013
Applications: Mar 17, '13
Sessions: Apr 01, '13 - Jul 09, '13
Vision
Our vision is to Globalize Silicon Valley by creating and fostering local startup ecosystems in promising markets across the globe. We aim to help launch 1,000 technology companies per year in over 50 cities worldwide.
Sponsors
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is the premier legal advisor to technology and growth enterprises worldwide, as well as the investment banks and venture capital firms that finance them. Over the past four decades, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has established its reputation by having an unmatched knowledge of its clients' industries and deep and long-standing contacts throughout the technology sector. The firm's legal expertise serves clients at all stages of growth, from venture-backed start-up companies to multibillion-dollar global enterprises. The firm's clients include some of the most recognized names in the technology, retail, life sciences, venture capital, and finance sectors. The firm has offices in Austin, Palo Alto, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, and Washington, D.C.
First Republic Bank and its subsidiaries provide private banking, private business banking and the full range of wealth management services with an emphasis on exceptional relationship-based service and a solid commitment to responsiveness and action.
Ravix Group - Ravix Group Inc.provides seasoned consulting expertise to outsource the finance, human resources, and facilities functions of early-stage and middle market companies so that management can focus on their priorities to increase the value of their company.
Purplepatch Services is a strategy consulting firm offering technology firms Marketing Communications and User Experience Design solutions.
Piggybackr helps youth make a difference through crowdfunding
Grad Profiles highlight the personal and professional stories of Founder Institute Graduates from across the globe.
This profile on Piggybackr, a graduate of the Silicon Valley Founder Institute, was written by Emma Tzeng. Founded in 2011 by Andrea Lo, Piggybackr offers an online platform for youth to meet their fundraising goals.
In an age where consumerism is a norm, youth who care about causes bigger than what gifts they’ll receive at Christmas and on their birthdays deserve recognition and some extra assistance to see their passions through. Startup Piggybackr wants to help the new generation of philanthropists and activists to campaign for the causes they care about with its easy-to-use online platform.
Founded by Andrea Lo in 2011, Piggybackr was inspired by Lo’s little sister’s own desire to raise money to save the rainforest by selling bracelets when she was 11 years old. Witnessing her sister see her fundraising goals to completion while also building foundational skills in business and gaining confidence in her own abilities awakened Lo’s own passion for helping youth who want to make a tangible difference in the world.
“We want to change the face of youth fundraising and let these youth connect with more people than just the people that they might connect with offline,” Lo explains in an interview.
In a nutshell, Piggybackr is fundraising in the 21st century--powered by technology and made possible with crowdfunding. It essentially swaps age-old fundraising efforts such as the selling of low-margin, consumer goods, and streamlines it by offering training for youth in the areas of fundraising and entrepreneurship and bringing the entire fundraising process online. With Piggybackr’s platform, youth can reach out to businesses, family members, and friends anywhere in the world with just a few clicks.
To get started with Piggybackr, users band into teams, which are led by a team leader who must be at least 13 years of age and guided by an adult and parent. Anyone can register free of charge for a Piggybackr account; and the company simply charges a flat 5 percent and $0.30 transaction fee per donation.
With a roster of success stories already under its belt, Piggybackr is poised to change the way the next generation champions for worthy causes. And that’s a cause we can definitely get behind.
Learn more about Piggybackr:
