Salesforce Joins Forces with the Canadian Startup Ecosystem

[Pledge 1]

SALESFORCE WORLD TOUR TORONTO—May 14, 2015—Salesforce, the Customer Success Platform and world’s #1 CRM company, today announced it is joining forces with the Canadian startup ecosystem. Salesforce also announced a new partnership with Communitech, an innovation centre that provides mentorship, training and resources to help high potential startups scale into profitable technology companies.

Additionally, Salesforce announced the launch of the Salesforce for Startups program in Canada, giving technology entrepreneurs the resources needed to successfully build and grow their businesses. Salesforce for Startups is working with Pledge 1%, a movement committed to changing the world through inspiring early-stage corporate philanthropy, to encourage Canadian startups to pledge one per cent of equity, product and employee time to their communities—a goal that Salesforce committed to when it was founded. All of these announcements were made today as part of the Salesforce World Tour Toronto event, the company’s largest annual event in Canada.

Comments on the News

• “We’re thrilled to join forces with the Canadian tech startup ecosystem to accelerate innovation,” said Ludovic Ulrich, director startup relations, Salesforce. “The tech startup sector is a critical part of the Canadian economy and we’re proud to provide the technology, tools and expertise entrepreneurs need to take their businesses into the future.”
• “Salesforce is an ideal partner for Communitech and the Rev program,” said Iain Klugman, CEO, Communitech. “With their industry leading technology and expertise, Salesforce can provide the mentorship, training and resources that will help our companies scale quickly.”
• “Many early-stage companies want to make civic engagement part of their business, but it can be challenging for them to establish a framework,” said Suzanne DiBianca, president, Salesforce Foundation. “In partnership with Canada’s Upside Foundation, we’re helping private Canadian companies build an integrated philanthropy model early on that will have a significant social impact on Canadian communities today and into the future.”

Salesforce and Communitech Fuel Technology Entrepreneurship in Canada

Communitech helps tech companies start, grow and succeed. Salesforce is partnering with Communitech to support its Rev program, which is a first of its kind sales accelerator that enables high-potential startups to scale revenue growth quickly. Salesforce will provide training, mentorship and resources to Rev companies, and will also work closely with Communitech to support the growth of the broader local startup ecosystem.

Salesforce for Startups to Accelerate Growth of the Canadian Startup Ecosystem

Salesforce for Startups is a new program in Canada designed to give tech entrepreneurs direct access to the Salesforce technology and resources they need to successfully build and grow their business. Salesforce for Startups connects early-stage tech entrepreneurs with a unique community of Salesforce customers, partners, executives, subject-matter experts and other successful entrepreneurs. The three core elements of the program are:

• Build: As part of the program, startups will have access to the Salesforce1 Platform, enabling them to quickly build any kind of app at scale.
• Grow: Salesforce for Startups provides access to curated content and tools to help startups delight customers and grow.
• Give Back: Startups are encouraged to integrate philanthropy into the fabric of their company from the very beginning.

Canadian Companies of All Sizes Join the Pledge 1% Program

Since 1999, Salesforce has delivered $85 million in grants, 920,000 employee volunteer hours and has powered 25,000 non-profits with free or discounted Salesforce technology with the 1-1- 1 model of integrated corporate philanthropy. To enable other companies to adopt this philanthropic model, the Salesforce Foundation has co-founded the Pledge 1% program. With the help of local Canadian non-profit Upside Foundation, a new platform that facilitates earlystage, high-growth companies to support local charitable efforts by donating stock options or warrants, over 30 companies have already made the pledge to donate one per cent of their time, equity or product to make an impact on the Canadian community. Companies include Candid, Organimi, Switch Video, Empty Cubicle, Funnelcake, Hubba, MeetVibe and Mindstack.

About Salesforce World Tour Toronto

Salesforce World Tour Toronto is Salesforce’s premier event in Canada. The global roadshow brings Salesforce experts, partners and customers together to demonstrate how companies can leverage the Salesforce Customer Success Platform to connect all of their apps, devices and customer data in today’s cloud, social, mobile and data science world. With keynotes from Salesforce executives that showcase cutting-edge technology, specialized breakout sessions, live demos and inspiring customer stories, attendees will learn how companies of all sizes and industries sell, service, market, engage, analyse data and develop apps.

Connect with Salesforce

• Follow @Salesforce on Twitter and join the conversation
• Follow Salesforce Canada on its blog
• Follow @salesforcestart on Twitter for all the latest on Salesforce for Startups
• Take the pledge today, visit www.pledge1percent.org

About Communitech

Communitech is a member-driven innovation center in Waterloo Region, supporting a tech cluster of nearly 1,000 companies employing 30,000 people. Communitech supports tech companies at all stages of their growth and development – from startups to rapidly growing mid size companies and large global players. A member of the Ontario Network of Excellence, which is funded by the Ontario Government, Communitech supports companies in commercializing innovation and technology, with the goal of creating a greater number of successful global businesses. For more information: www.communitech.ca.

About Salesforce

Salesforce, the Customer Success Platform and world’s #1 CRM, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com.

Originally posted: May 15th, 2015