In an economic climate that does not favor risk, UpStart Bay Area is actively encouraging it.
In fact, the organization’s explicit mission is to support innovative Jewish thinkers and entrepreneurs who have big ideas but limited knowledge of how to implement them. Already UpStart has mentored the Bay Area Learning Initiative, Wilderness Torah, Fair Trade Judaica, Mitvzah on the Rocks and G-dcast.com.
“Without UpStart, we wouldn’t be where we are today,” said Zelig Golden, co-founder of Wilderness Torah. “I’m sure we’d still be at ground zero on a lot of stuff.”
Upstart is now accepting applications for a new crop of five business pioneers, whom it will arm with the tools, resources and connections to turn ideas into reality. Applications are on the Web site and due Feb. 8.
“What we’re learning is that there is no shortage of interest in innovation and change in our community,” said Toby Rubin, CEO of the S.F.-based organization. “That puts a lot of pressure on us, to be very disciplined and focused and clear about what our mission is and what our strategies are.”
Giving individualized support is a core part of the strategy, with guidance offered in business planning, grant writing, marketing, communications, educational programming, budgeting and evaluation. None of UpStart’s participants come with business degrees or management backgrounds.
UpStart has been putting its plan to the test since March, when it began mentoring its first class, and the reviews are nothing but positive.
“Writing a business plan is a very daunting endeavor,” said Sara Bamberger, founding director of the Bay Area Learning Initiative, a pluralistic Torah study organization. “UpStart has been invaluable at helping us develop a realistic strategy for growth, and has opened up doors to potential donors and foundations.”
Each organization was at a different point when it joined UpStart, and that remains the case, Rubin said.
For instance, the most fledgling of the five, Mitzvah on the Rocks, has spent the past six months clarifying its mission and vision while establishing an advisory board.
Wilderness Torah was more developed, and with help from UpStart its creators have seen “their participation levels grown exponentially … and they are positioned to have significant grants come their way,” Rubin said.
Through UpStart, Rubin said, participating organizations enjoy a sense of community — something that can otherwise be lacking during the startup process. In fact, all of the UpStarters have requested more time with one another. In response, Rubin is arranging for monthly lunch gatherings beginning in January.
“They want more of each other,” Rubin said. “They want to have time to thrash around their problems and challenges.”
UpStarters have attended one weekend retreat and a number of daytime workshops with professionals from around the Bay Area. When needed, they have been paired with advisers and mentors.
For instance, Sarah Lefton, founder of G-dcast.com, an online series of animated Torah stories, was introduced to someone who runs an animation production company. “It’s been amazing,” Lefton said of the match. “He’s seriously been an incredibly valuable shidduch.”
In fact, there are more Bay Area professionals who want to lend UpStarters their expertise than UpStart has the capacity to handle at this point, Rubin said.
“It has confirmed what we all know about the Bay Area — that we are a creative and innovative community, which we see everywhere in the secular world and are known for it internationally out of Silicon Valley,” Rubin said. “When conditions to support innovation exist in Jewish community, it happens.”
For more information or to apply, visit www.upstartbayarea.org.