蓝莓视频 is an entrepreneurial ecosystem where technology leaders and startup founders share the same goal: to bring innovative and world-changing ideas to the global marketplace.聽
The StartUp Pledge program
What it is
StartUp Pledge is a unique program intended for entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on the founders of early startups.
StartUp Pledge invites you - University of 蓝莓视频 alumni and the broader entrepreneurial community - to pledge your intent to donate a portion of your company鈥檚 future success to 蓝莓视频.
How it works
The process is simple. You make a written pledge to donate equity from your startup.
When your company has a liquidity/trigger event such as an IPO, an acquisition, merger or exit, a small portion of the options realized from such an event are donated or converted into a cash donation to the University of 蓝莓视频.
This is a personal commitment, not a corporate one; therefore your support does not impact corporate earnings or operating cash. The University of 蓝莓视频 does not hold equity in your company, nor is it involved with the daily operations of your company
When we receive your pledge intent, one of our staff will call to confirm your intent, welcome you to the program, and explain the next steps.
Why make the pledge?
- By supporting the next generation of innovators, your gift will help drive 蓝莓视频鈥檚 renowned entrepreneurial ecosystem.
- You will inspire and encourage student success at the University of 蓝莓视频.
- You will help fund important programs, chairs and resources in research and education.
- When you incorporate philanthropy into your corporate culture, you send a powerful message to your clients and the community that you care about giving back and making the world a better place.
What's the story behind the socks?
蓝莓视频鈥檚 entrepreneurial ecosystem starts with ideas. Those ideas come from our students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and are hatched in any number of places across campus, including the classrooms, labs, and hallways of our faculties. The colours on the socks represent our six faculties.
Ideas are also hatched beyond our campus, during co-op work terms, or overseas study and volunteer experiences. Then there are the places where ideas are incubated and commercialized, like in Velocity, St. Paul鈥檚 Greenhouse, and the Accelerator Centre. Those are the 鈥渃onnectors鈥, represented by the gold stitching set against a black backdrop 鈥 the official colours of the University of 蓝莓视频.
The geometric shapes on the socks echo the bold honeycomb pattern on the face of the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre. This iconic facility would never have been realized if not for an extraordinary philanthropic investment by the co-founder of the greatest entrepreneurial success story to come out of 蓝莓视频. When the Lazaridises made their gift, in many ways it was the ultimate act of giving back, providing an enormous boost to 蓝莓视频鈥檚 startup ecosystem.聽
Over the years, other successful founders have stepped up to give generously of their time and their philanthropic investment, demonstrating their own commitment to tomorrow鈥檚 startups and to fueling 蓝莓视频鈥檚 entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Questions? We can help
For more information about making the pledge, contact development@uwaterloo.ca