Praxis’ Post

Proton Seeks To Secure Its Privacy-Focused Future With a Nonprofit Model: Proton, the secure-minded email and productivity suite, is becoming a nonprofit foundation, but it doesn't want you to think about it in the way you think about other notable privacy and web foundations. From a report: "We believe that if we want to bring about large-scale change, Proton can't be billionaire-subsidized (like Signal), Google-subsidized (like Mozilla), government-subsidized (like Tor), donation-subsidized (like Wikipedia), or even speculation-subsidized (like the plethora of crypto "foundations")," Proton CEO Andy Yen wrote in a blog post announcing the transition. "Instead, Proton must have a profitable and healthy business at its core." The announcement comes exactly 10 years to the day after a crowdfunding campaign saw 10,000 people give more than $500,000 to launch Proton Mail. To make it happen, Yen, along with co-founder Jason Stockman and first employee Dingchao Lu, endowed the Proton Foundation with some of their shares. The Proton Foundation is now the primary shareholder of the business Proton, which Yen states will "make irrevocable our wish that Proton remains in perpetuity an organization that places people ahead of profits." Among other members of the Foundation's board is Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of HTML, HTTP, and almost everything else about the web. Of particular importance is where Proton and the Proton Foundation are located: Switzerland. As Yen noted, Swiss foundations do not have shareholders and are instead obligated to act "in accordance with the purpose for which they were established." While the for-profit entity Proton AG can still do things like offer stock options to recruits and even raise its own capital on private markets, the Foundation serves as a backstop against moving too far from Proton's founding mission, Yen wrote. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Proton Seeks To Secure Its Privacy-Focused Future With a Nonprofit Model: Proton, the secure-minded email and productivity suite, is becoming a nonprofit foundation, but it doesn't want you to think about it in the way you think about other notable privacy and web foundations. From a report: "We believe that if we want to bring about large-scale change, Proton can't be billionaire-subsidized (like Signal), Google-subsidized (like Mozilla), government-subsidized (like Tor), donation-subsidized (like Wikipedia), or even speculation-subsidized (like the plethora of crypto "foundations")," Proton CEO Andy Yen wrote in a blog post announcing the transition. "Instead, Proton must have a profitable and healthy business at its core." The announcement comes exactly 10 years to the day after a crowdfunding campaign saw 10,000 people give more than $500,000 to launch Proton Mail. To make it happen, Yen, along with co-founder Jason Stockman and first employee Dingchao Lu, endowed the Proton Foundation with some of their shares. The Proton Foundation is now the primary shareholder of the business Proton, which Yen states will "make irrevocable our wish that Proton remains in perpetuity an organization that places people ahead of profits." Among other members of the Foundation's board is Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of HTML, HTTP, and almost everything else about the web. Of particular importance is where Proton and the Proton Foundation are located: Switzerland. As Yen noted, Swiss foundations do not have shareholders and are instead obligated to act "in accordance with the purpose for which they were established." While the for-profit entity Proton AG can still do things like offer stock options to recruits and even raise its own capital on private markets, the Foundation serves as a backstop against moving too far from Proton's founding mission, Yen wrote. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Proton Seeks To Secure Its Privacy-Focused Future With a Nonprofit Model: Proton, the secure-minded email and productivity suite, is becoming a nonprofit foundation, but it doesn't want you to think about it in the way you think about other notable privacy and web foundations. From a report: "We believe that if we want to bring about large-scale change, Proton can't be billionaire-subsidized (like Signal), Google-subsidized (like Mozilla), government-subsidized (like Tor), donation-subsidized (like Wikipedia), or even speculation-subsidized (like the plethora of crypto "foundations")," Proton CEO Andy Yen wrote in a blog post announcing the transition. "Instead, Proton must have a profitable and healthy business at its core." The announcement comes exactly 10 years to the day after a crowdfunding campaign saw 10,000 people give more than $500,000 to launch Proton Mail. To make it happen, Yen, along with co-founder Jason Stockman and first employee Dingchao Lu, endowed the Proton Foundation with some of their shares. The Proton Foundation is now the primary shareholder of the business Proton, which Yen states will "make irrevocable our wish that Proton remains in perpetuity an organization that places people ahead of profits." Among other members of the Foundation's board is Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of HTML, HTTP, and almost everything else about the web. Of particular importance is where Proton and the Proton Foundation are located: Switzerland. As Yen noted, Swiss foundations do not have shareholders and are instead obligated to act "in accordance with the purpose for which they were established." While the for-profit entity Proton AG can still do things like offer stock options to recruits and even raise its own capital on private markets, the Foundation serves as a backstop against moving too far from Proton's founding mission, Yen wrote. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Have you ever had an idea you are passionate about, yet you didn't have the resources to build, develop, or launch it? Well, I have. Several times!!! So instead of sitting and hoping, I decided I wanted to create a platform where people are able to get the seed money they need to get the idea started. So I created this concept called First Seed.   Unlike crowdfunding, First Seed redefine community-driven fundraising by uniquely blending personal network connections with the power of crowdfunding technology. Traditional platforms feel impersonal and distant, First Seed enhances emotional bonds and community cohesion by facilitating anonymous contributions within trusted circles. This approach not only supports personal and professional aspirations but also strengthens relationships, ensuring that every contribution is part of a collective journey towards shared goals. Ideal for individuals seeking meaningful engagement and privacy in fundraising, First Seed transforms the act of giving into a collaborative, secure, and personal experience. Share your passionate idea in the comments. What inspired you, and what challenges did you face in bringing it to life?

Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are getting lots of attention these days in the nonprofit world. The National Philanthropic Trust’s annual report on DAFs reported that there are over $228B in DAF assets and that number continues to grow. While it sounds like a positive thing on paper that this money is being allocated towards charitable endeavors that could do a lot of good, we know that the grant payout rate is approximately 22% annually – leaving a lot of money sitting on the table. There is currently no requirement that a DAF grant its money out to a charity in a particular year – or ever – with many accounts sitting largely inactive. There are a lot of discussions happening – including in the access to capital working group I sit on for NACIE – on creating incentives or penalties for DAF dollars to be spent faster or more efficiently. But we all know these kinds of reforms take time and face obstacles as they confront change. One thing I found really interesting and inspiring was the recent whitepaper produced by fellow entrepreneur support organization MIT Solve on the topic of investing in social impact innovation. Their model for using philanthropic dollars through their DAF helps catalyze early-stage entrepreneurs, and they have produced a way to guide others with donor-advised funds to use those dollars toward impact investing. Inspiring donors to use their philanthropic dollars to both support impactful nonprofits and invest in impact-creating startups are instrumental in how we continue to drive progress in solving the world’s greatest problems. I’d be interested in hearing from others about how you see the changes around DAFs and the opportunity to use these vehicles for impact investing as a method for driving more catalytic capital to early-stage startups. And I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t also note that, as a nonprofit, Village Capital can also accept donor-advised fund allocations to help advance our mission. My DMs are open if you want to learn more! Link: https://lnkd.in/ezFVKeXs

In today’s episode, WFT podcast lead Djavaneh Bierwirth hosts Jennifer Xia Spradling (she / her), Co-Founder and Co-CEO of FreeWill, a Bain Capital-backed startup on a mission to create access to estate planning for all individuals and promote high-impact charitable giving. In this episode, Jenny discusses her journey from founding her first fintech startup to disrupting estate planning with FreeWill. Listen in as we discuss how FreeWill’s technology: supports nonprofits with planned giving programs simplifies complex donations of stocks and crypto assets provides innovative software solutions for fundraising And more… For more FinTech insights, follow us on - WFT Medium: medium.com/wharton-fintech - WFT Twitter: twitter.com/whartonfintech - WFT Instagram: https://lnkd.in/enrPdvBx - FreeWill on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gXt3gXNA - Djavaneh on LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gNH88du9 About FreeWill FreeWill is a social-good enterprise offering online tools that empower Americans to address commonly faced estate planning needs and make charitable donations in tax-advantaged ways, all for free. FreeWill also features a charitable giving platform that makes it easier for nonprofit fundraising teams to unlock transformational non-cash gifts. Through its partnerships with 1,500+ nonprofits who understand that major gifts often are part of estate plans, the company is also able to provide a comprehensive suite of estate planning and related tools to consumers free of cost. To date, FreeWill has generated nearly $10 billion in planned and real-time gifts for more than 10,000 nonprofits while helping more than 1 million consumers create wills and plan their estates. https://www.freewill.com/ About the Wharton Fintech Podcast @whartonfintech The Wharton Fintech Podcast hosted by MBA students at The Wharton School one of the US’s premier business schools, is an industry-renowned and award-winning Podcast and Blog, featuring interviews with more than 350 FinTech CEO’s and CxO’s, leading venture capitalists, thought leaders from academia, and ecosystem enablers from accelerators, regulatory bodies, and MUCH more! Give it a listen on the podcasting platform of your choice, including: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, and Amazon Music. #FinTech #Podcast #EstatePlanning #CharitableGiving #Innovation #Nonprofits

https://lnkd.in/eeq76Mkd Help Close the Data Equity Gap The Ask: We’re seeking $20,000 to bridge the “Data Equity Gap” for minority-owned businesses, startups, and nonprofits in New York City. Your support will: ● Empower businesses with accurate data to make informed decisions. ● Foster economic stability and growth in underserved communities. ● Enable Davila Applied Anthropological Research DAAR, LLC to provide affordable research and analysis to those who need it most. Instead of seeking traditional equity-based investments, we’re turning to crowdfunding, recognizing its potential to propel our venture while preserving our autonomy. We believe deeply in the transformative power of community-backed initiatives, having witnessed the success of other businesses on this platform. By introducing our business and mission to potential supporters, we hope to garner support that not only fuels our enterprise but also underscores our commitment as an independent, disabled minority-owned entity in NYC. Why DAAR? Minority-owned businesses often lack access to accurate and affordable data, leading to costly mistakes. DAAR, founded by Miguel Angel Davila, an applied anthropologist with a passion for urban research, aims to fill this gap. We don’t just collect data; we analyze and demonstrate its application, ensuring businesses thrive. Impact of Your Donation: By backing DAAR, donors become catalysts for economic growth and prosperity, empowering one business after another. With access to vital, yet affordable information, our clients can elevate their services, achieve greater success, expand their teams, and reinvest in their local communities, amplifying the positive impact exponentially. The Story: Miguel Angel Davila’s journey to founding DAAR is one of resilience, passion, and a deep-rooted desire to uplift communities. Before winning business pitch competitions and launching DAAR, DAAR was born out of Miguel’s realization that many minority-owned businesses were navigating their industries blindfolded, without the right data to guide them. He saw firsthand how businesses, much like individuals, could be left behind without the right resources. He knew the pain of being overlooked, of having potential but lacking the tools to realize it. And so, DAAR became his tool of empowerment, a beacon for businesses lost in the vast sea of misinformation. But DAAR is more than just a business; it’s a reflection of Miguel’s life journey. It’s about giving back to the community, understanding the intricate tapestry of human practices, and ensuring that businesses, especially those owned by minorities and persons with disabilities, are seen, heard, and equipped to succeed. Every piece of data analyzed, every recommendation given, carries with it Miguel’s personal touch, his understanding of the human story behind numbers.

🚀 Top Fundraising Trends to Watch in 2024! 🚀 The fundraising landscape is rapidly evolving, and staying ahead of the curve is essential for success. Here are some of the most exciting trends making waves this year: - Digital Wallets and Cashless Giving: Integrating digital wallets into donation forms is now crucial, reducing donation form abandonment and increasing average gift sizes (Donorbox). - Generative AI in Fundraising: AI tools are transforming fundraising by generating content and campaign ideas, though it's vital to customize AI-generated materials for authenticity (Charity Digital). - Peer-to-Peer Fundraising: Creative peer-driven campaigns are extending beyond traditional events, helping to build a major gift pipeline and acquire new donors (Nonprofit Tech for Good). - Shifting Focus from Major Social Media Platforms: With declining user engagement on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, nonprofits are exploring new revenue streams and emerging platforms (Charity Digital). - Recurring Giving and Subscription Models: Promoting recurring donations to mimic subscription spending habits fosters better donor engagement and retention (Nonprofit Tech for Good). - Growth in Crowdfunding Platforms: Platforms like GoFundMe and Kickstarter continue to facilitate global campaigns, offering sophisticated tools for campaign management (MarketSplash) (Charity Digital). - Cryptocurrency Donations: More nonprofits are accepting cryptocurrency donations, tapping into the growing popularity and acceptance of digital assets (MarketSplash). - Sustainability and ESG Initiatives: Emphasizing environmental and social governance issues in fundraising strategies attracts environmentally and socially conscious donors (Donorbox) (Charity Digital). - Virtual and Hybrid Events: Virtual and hybrid events remain popular, allowing nonprofits to reach wider audiences and reduce costs (Donorbox) (MarketSplash). - Mobile Giving and SMS Donations: Mobile giving, including SMS donations, offers a quick and easy way for supporters to contribute, especially during live events and emergencies (Charity Digital). - Corporate Partnerships and Matching Gifts: Companies are increasingly matching employee donations and sponsoring events, boosting fundraising efforts significantly (MarketSplash) (Charity Digital). - Data-Driven Fundraising: Leveraging data analytics helps nonprofits understand donor behavior, personalize engagement, and optimize campaigns for better results (Donorbox) (Charity Digital). Stay informed and adapt to these trends to maximize your fundraising potential and engage your donors more effectively. Let's make 2024 a year of growth and impact! 💪🌟 #Fundraising #Investors #AI #Sustainability #Crowdfunding #CorporatePartnerships #VirtualEvents #MobileGiving #DataDriven #Investing #Startups

Harlem Capital is raising a $150 million fund Harlem Capital is raising a $150 cardinal fund, according to documents filed with the SEC.  If raised, this caller fund, the firm’s third, would beryllium its largest to date. In 2021, Harlem Capital raised an oversubscribed $134 million, overmuch much than the $40 million it raised for its inaugural money successful 2019.   The steadfast was founded successful 2015 with the extremity of backing divers founders. Its 2nd money focused connected early-stage post-product companies from each sectors but with a peculiar absorption connected user and endeavor tech. The steadfast presently has $174 cardinal successful assets nether management, according to Pitchbook, and has made much than 80 investments since its inception, with 12 exits. Investments see Propense.ai, the fintech Poolit, and the e-commerce level Gander.   Harlem Capital did not instantly respond to our petition for comment. Harlem Capital besides focused connected raising from divers constricted partners for its 2nd fund, and it’s harmless to presume that ngo volition proceed arsenic the steadfast stays existent to its ngo of supporting the adjacent procreation of divers founders. It should besides beryllium noted that Harlem Capital’s oversubscribed Fund 2 came aft the vigor of Black Lives Matter erstwhile the manufacture declared itself committed to supporting historically marginalized groups and flooded wealth into those communities. Harlem Capital’s 3rd money seeks to rise wealth successful a precise antithetic environment, wherever the backlash to diverseness and inclusion has taken basal successful industries crossed America.  The palmy raising of this $150 cardinal money volition beryllium not lone a amusement of occurrence for Harlem Capital and its founders but besides a testament to the industry’s appetite for inactive believing successful and backing talented, underrepresented communities. https://ift.tt/x7LqBhg

Fundraising the Paul Graham Way: advice from the founder of YC on raising capital 💰 As founders, we all know fundraising sucks. So I reread all of Paul Graham's essays on fundraising to see what he recommended. One thing that stood out was: "Be in fundraising mode or not." When you're raising money, you need to be all in, which means you also cannot waste time. In this Founders in the Cloud post, I extracted his essays into 24 key principles, plus a few minor tweaks to reflect today's startup landscape. https://lnkd.in/eU3ZMurY What's your top fundraising advice? Please share your experiences and let's learn from each other! #startups #fundraising #venturecapital #FoundersintheCloud