51社区黑料

For many, the holidays are a time of gift-giving. Contributing some of your time to volunteer can have a lasting positive impact on many people鈥檚 lives. Startup founders from and 鈥� two Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship-associated startups 鈥� are joining forces this holiday season to make a difference!  

While non-profits organizations were struggling to find volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic, 51社区黑料Mechatronic Systems Engineering doctoral student Raaj Chatterjee saw an opportunity to match people with suitable volunteer opportunities via the digital space. Thus, the idea for MeaningfulWork was born. 

鈥淲e鈥檙e helping people find innovative ways to give back, find cool nonprofits to give back to,鈥� says Chatterjee, co-founder and CEO of MeaningfulWork, 鈥渁nd we鈥檙e helping organizations find new ways to engage employees in a way that creates a sustainable work culture that鈥檚 focused around giving back.鈥� 

By December 2022, Moment Energy employees were engaged as volunteers with the Food Stash Foundation, a non-for-profit that redistributes near-expired food and ensures it gets to food-insecure families.

鈥淥ur team was very enthusiastic about volunteering and was appreciative of the opportunity to provide safe and healthy food to those who may not be able to afford it,鈥� says Sumreen Rattan, Co-founder & COO of Moment. 鈥淚t was nice to have this opportunity to mingle outside work for a good cause.鈥�

Moment Energy was also connected with youth education company , another former Venture Connection startup, through the platform. The two hosted a hackathon to brainstorm ways that a non-profit could improve its business and operations. 

MeaningfulWork has completed over fifty volunteer placements to date. As the platform continues to onboard more companies, Chatterjee鈥檚 team has a clear trajectory laid out for the future. The startup recently celebrated the launch of #JustGoodNews, a content marketing initiative that highlights real stories on the social impact that volunteers and their nonprofit partners have had in the community.

As for the company鈥檚 next steps, Chatterjee says that partnering with large enterprises to grow their volunteer programs is on the list. 鈥淲e plan on eventually expanding to the U.S. as well as globally,鈥� Chatterjee says. 鈥淲e鈥檒l continue working hard towards the vision to create the most impactful community for giving back in the world.鈥�

If you would like to give back to causes that you care about, check out the volunteering opportunities listed on . 

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The Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship is the academic and interdisciplinary hub for entrepreneurship and innovation at SFU. The Institute is creating Canada鈥檚 most comprehensive and inclusive continuum of interdisciplinary, experiential programming to develop the entrepreneurial mindset, working closely with all 51社区黑料faculties and innovation partners within one of Canada鈥檚 most supportive university ecosystems.   

Coast Capital Venture Connection is the Chang Institute鈥檚 premier incubator program, working with founders and early-stage startups within SFU鈥檚 communities.

Are you an 51社区黑料community member who would like to explore entrepreneurship?

Moment Energy and MeaningfulWork both benefited from these Chang Institute programs:

• - apply to the Sep 2023 cohort!

• - applications open every semester for this funded co-op term

• - online mentoring, year round

• - pre-incubation program/online workbook, year round

• - startup support and dedicated mentoring

• - SFU鈥檚 startup competition; applications open January 2023!