Every founder has an idea of where they want their company to go.
They plan fundraising rounds, map out product roadmaps and imagine the day their startup reaches its biggest milestone. Every decision is made with growth in mind.
But one question often gets left out of those plans: What kind of impact do you want your success to create beyond your business?
What does success look like beyond your startup?
For many founders, philanthropy is something to think about after the acquisition or the big “you’ve made it” moment. It’s often seen as a reward for success, rather than something that can be woven into your entrepreneurial journey itself.
Success and social impact don’t have to exist in separate chapters. In fact, some of the most forward-thinking founders are choosing to build both into their vision from day one.
You don’t have to wait for an exit to plan your impact.
That’s where the Upside Foundation comes in. Upside gives founders a simple way to support the causes they care about. Through a pledge, founders commit a portion of their exit proceeds to a registered Canadian charity of their choice. Because the pledge is tied to a future exit, founders don't need to make a financial commitment today. Instead, they’re making a commitment that if their company succeeds, a portion of that success will create a meaningful impact.
Turn your future exit into something bigger.
For founders, it's an opportunity to build a company that reflects their values from the very beginning. A pledge through Upside can help attract like-minded employees, investors and partners, and connect founders to a growing community of entrepreneurs who believe business success and social impact should go hand in hand.
Make impact part of your founder journey.
To help founders put that thinking into practice, DMZ is partnering with the Upside Foundation.
By introducing our community to Upside, we’re encouraging founders to think about the legacy they want to build alongside the companies they're creating. That commitment is already taking shape across the DMZ community, with several DMZ companies already having made a pledge through Upside.
As these companies grow, so does the opportunity to turn their success into something much bigger. The best founders know that building a company is about more than reaching an exit. It’s about thinking ahead, to the people they want to impact, the causes they care about and the role they want their success to play in the world around them.
Your exit could be the beginning of something bigger. Check out the Upside Foundation and learn how you can turn future startup success into lasting impact for a cause you care about.
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