Jared Chung

I had the pleasure of attending the 2025 ASU+GSV Summit. Much of what I saw showcased or heard evangelized started from a place of capability, not need: VCs beware. However, it was a great experience through the lens of a concept car show. There is a lot of potential, but solutions must be cohesive. They must align with the P0 of teachers' jobs to be done.

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Can two non-technical founders really build an AI tool? Honestly, we weren't sure either. (And are we even non-technical anymore? That's a conversation for another post. 😄) But Fahim and I have spent years in community management and the membership space. The one thing has remained consistent across every organisation we've worked with, big or small. Leaders are drowning in membership data, but starving for insight. We've sat with those leaders. We've seen the frustration first-hand. The hours lost to manual reporting. The decisions made on gut feel because the data was too hard to interrogate. The missed signals that only became obvious in hindsight. That experience which has been built through our work at Ugenie and before it working with our religious community gave us something most people building in this space don't have: a deep, grounded understanding of the actual problem. And it turns out, knowing the problem intimately is the most important ingredient. So we built something to solve it! Our AI-powered membership analysis tool is the first step in a bigger vision. But even at this early stage, it's already delivering powerful insights that membership leaders simply couldn't access before! It's surfacing patterns, flagging risks, and turning raw data into real decision making power. This is what happens when domain expertise meets the right technology. And we didn't limit it to Ugenie.io. So if you run a What's App group for your community or membership, DM me! #AI #MembershipStrategy #CommunityManagement #Innovation #Ugenie #NonTechnicalFounders

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When you mentor founders, you are not just helping build companies. You are influencing the kind of leaders the next decade will produce. Over the years, I have worked with student founders across fourteen universities, from Southern California to India. The ideas were different. The environments were different. The challenges were different. Yet one pattern showed up again and again. Most early founders do not lack funding advice. They lack founder formation. Enduring companies are not built by decks, frameworks, or spreadsheets alone. They are built by people with the ability to think clearly under pressure, question assumptions, and stay anchored to their values when shortcuts are tempting. Curiosity is not just interest. It is the discipline to ask better questions, even when the answers are uncomfortable. Resilience is not optimism. It is the willingness to rebuild when the first plan fails, because it almost always does. Ethics is not a talking point. It is the quiet structure that holds trust together long after momentum fades. I have watched twenty-one-year-old founders stay up late not to refine a pitch, but to make their product more honest. Those moments matter. They show what mentorship truly shapes. Not direction, but judgment. Not outcomes, but decision-making. We often talk about building the next generation of startups. What we need just as urgently is the next generation of founders. Leaders who are thoughtful, steady in their purpose, and disciplined enough to outlast noise, hype, and trends. That is the real multiplier in any ecosystem. What qualities do you believe will define strong leadership in the decade ahead? #mentorship #students #founders

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Most nonprofits are currently using AI to improve backend operations and efficiency, particularly in areas like fundraising and communications—which are both critical to their success. As AI continues to evolve, we believe nonprofits can help lead its responsible and ethical use, not by chasing scale at all costs, but by prioritizing mission alignment. At Crisis Text Line, we use AI to strengthen crisis response training for our volunteers, in-house data analytics, and behind-the-scenes operations without removing people from the most critical moments of care. For instance, our AI tools can quickly identify incoming messages for indicators of severe distress or imminent harm, flagging these conversations and moving them to the front of the queue. This ensures that the texters most in need receive help as quickly as possible, much like triage in an emergency room. By integrating AI in this way, we can work faster and more efficiently, while keeping the human connection. #AIinWork #responsibleAI #humantohumanconnection #MentalHealthMatters

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The nonprofit sector is the 3rd largest in the US economy. Bigger than the financial sector. Yet we rarely talk about it like that. When we hear “nonprofit,” most of us think Red Cross or the IRC. But there are millions of small, grassroots organizations around the world doing life-changing work. And here’s the thing: The sector is innovative AF. But not enough people are building for nonprofits. There are incredible tech for good builders out there. Many aren’t VC-backed. You won’t see them on TechCrunch. But they’re solving real problems for real communities. We need more of that. More builders focused on the folks who are doing the hard work. More tools built for the needs and realities of nonprofit orgs. And more funds flowing to the sector. #TechForGood #AIForGood

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Had a great time at DC Startup & Tech Week (Formerly DC Startup Week) moderating a panel with Scott Christensen (Chesapeake Bay Seed Capital Fund (CBSCF) , Faith Davis (Exelon) and Bill McNulty (NextEra Energy Investments), convened by the great C'pher Gresham. Here's a quick recap: 1) The panelists were phenomenal - a mixture of corporate, state and foundation-backed VC's all focusing on climate. They're actively funding companies across a range of sectors - e.g. nature-based solutions, energy + AI, water, etc. Point being, we were lucky to have experts with such broad purviews. 2) The current climate could be pushing at least some climate VC's to focus on software and move away from hardware, at least temporarily. This type of capital may indeed just be better suited for software companies at this juncture. It also reflects the fact that certain segments of the climate-tech market are just more mature than others - e.g. software performs best once the hardware and the business case around it are solid, then it becomes and optimization and efficiency game. 3) Founders need to target "must-solve" climate problems from the investor lens. In other words, yes there's a sea of climate challenges where startups can be additive. However, in this environment, few of these areas are attracting meaningful capital. There's nothing wrong with tackling problem areas that are under-invested, we need this in spades. However, for those trying to get capital in the door, realize the constraints that come with targeting problems that investors just aren't prioritizing. 4) Look to funders overseas. The EU, where so much climate finance, policy and general expertise has come from, could be playing a much more important role. I'd also argue that Gulf countries like KSA and UAE are going to be critical here too, not to mention China, of course. 5) We need mentoring and coaching to be at an all-time high. With so much uncertainty, networks/communities where both founders and investors can learn from/lean on each other have never been more important. The panel/audience was a nice microcosm of the types of support networks we need to be actively building. Big thanks again to C'pher, Faith, Scott and Bill, as well as the whole DC Startup + Tech Week team. Til next year!

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Excited to be heading to the AI Impact Summit 2026! As someone deeply invested in scaling social impact through education and governance reform at Catalytic Corps, I’m particularly eager to dive into discussions on AI’s role in building and empowering frontline forces in the social sector. Social challenges-like foundational literacy gaps, agricultural supply chain inefficiencies, and rural service delivery-are complex, yet AI is proving transformative. From tools like Chimple and ConveGenius personalizing K-12 learning for millions in India, to SwiftChat enabling real-time farmer advisories on seed authentication, and AI-driven platforms optimizing NGO field worker workflows (e.g., predictive analytics for SEL program targeting), we’re seeing pilots scale with measurable impact: improved FLN outcomes by 20-30% in state-wide interventions and faster public-private partnerships. What’s emerging next? Which AI solutions are being tested to upskill frontline workers, predict intervention needs, or bridge urban-rural divides? Keen to learn from innovators at the summit-drop your insights or must-attend sessions below! #AIImpactSummit2026 #AIForSocialGood #FrontlineForce #EdTech #SystemsChange #SocialImpact

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Nonprofit Leaders: OpenAI opened applications for a $50M "People-First AI Fund." $50 million in unrestricted grants is available to support orgs exploring how AI can expand opportunity, strengthen communities, and build public understanding. You don’t need to be using AI yet. They’re funding: - AI literacy & community education - Community-led innovation using AI - Fair & inclusive economic opportunity The application is simple. The deadline is October 8. https://lnkd.in/eMrDxVbW

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Reflecting on the 10th anniversary of founding Speak Agent back in February, one thing I've been struck by is how the bar keeps rising for K-12 edtech startups. Every year there are more and more requirements (technical, legal, regulatory, academic, etc.) just to even be considered for purchase. My latest podcast episode explores some of the most common requirements and a few thoughts on how startup founders can cope. I think this might be insightful for education leaders who regularly interact with edtech providers, too. (In May, I plan to flip the script and look at this from the K-12 buyer's perspective as well.) https://lnkd.in/eD9mwD63

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I just read the Tech Soup report on AI in nonprofits. Three key insights align closely with what we're seeing in our Humentum member discussions. There is work to do, folks! 1️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝗮𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 Only 7% of nonprofits have successfully adopted AI to address operations and mission delivery challenges. Yet 85% express high interest in tools like generative AI and predictive analytics. This gap represents a massive opportunity in our current funding landscape. While everyone's talking about the funding crisis, forward-leaning NGO leaders are quietly experimenting with radically different approaches to sustainability. AI should be part of that experimentation. ❗ What we're missing: Moving from curiosity to implementation requires structured approaches and strategic investment—exactly when many organizations are cutting back. 2️⃣ 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗼𝘄 Only 10% of nonprofit professionals worry about AI replacing their jobs. This seems unrealistically optimistic given AI's potential to streamline grant management, financial operations, HR processes, and MEAL functions. ❗ The reality check: Most of us see ourselves as someone still learning in our career, which makes us think we are immune to the risk of broader systemic change, but we also need to honestly assess how AI might reshape our roles and skill requirements. 3️⃣ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 Organizations with budgets over $1M adopt AI tools at twice the rate of smaller nonprofits. This mirrors the broader capacity gaps we see across our sector. ❗ The missed opportunity: Smaller organizations could use AI to leapfrog larger nonprofits and punch above their weight—exactly what many need to do in this transformed funding environment. ➡️ 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙒𝙚'𝙧𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙢 These findings mirror our member roundtable discussions this month. High curiosity, scattered experimentation, but limited strategic implementation. We're hearing about AI for grant writing, translation, and meeting notes, but few comprehensive approaches to operational transformation. 🧭 We're also working out loud on this challenge. As we develop our own AI strategy, we're exploring questions like: How will AI impact our consulting methodology? What new service offerings should we develop? How do we help members navigate this transition thoughtfully? 💬 How are you moving from AI curiosity to strategic implementation? What's holding your organization back from more comprehensive adoption? Are we being realistic about how AI might reshape nonprofit work? The sector that thrives in the post-big-aid era will be the one that harnesses technology strategically while staying true to mission. We're still figuring this out together. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gjz34Q_H

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Unlocking AI's Potential for Those with Learning Differences The Stanford Accelerator for Learning's groundbreaking white paper "AI + Learning Differences: Designing a Future with No Boundaries" offers a roadmap that provides critical new insights and recommendations that can help AbilityPath further support and empower individuals with developmental disabilities throughout their lives. Stanford Accelerator Findings That Matter for Our Work: The research emphasizes that AI's most significant impact comes through co-design with lived experiences; this is a core tenet of person-centered programs, which AbilityPath champions. Solutions must be built with robust and genuine community involvement. The study found that frontline users often embrace technology faster than managers, suggesting community members and participants are ready to lead AI adoption. Use Cases for AbilityPath Programs and Other Service Providers: IEP Support: For our youth programs, AI-powered tools can revolutionize IEP support by automating documentation, suggesting evidence-based interventions, and providing real-time progress monitoring. The paper highlights how AI can help families navigate complex special education processes—a natural extension of our advocacy work. Employment Programs: Our adult employment programs can leverage AI's workforce preparation capabilities. The research shows AI tools can break down job tasks into manageable steps, provide personalized onboarding, and match individuals' strengths with employer needs—leading to meaningful career opportunities. The Social-Emotional Connection: Perhaps most importantly, the paper validates the benefits of taking a holistic approach. AI tools supporting social-emotional well-being—like thoughtful use of therapeutic chatbots to complement mental health services while ensuring human connection remains central. A Path Forward: The research's PIVOT+C framework (Privacy, Investment, Variability, Opportunity, Time, Co-design) provides a practical blueprint. It suggests starting small—piloting AI tools in specific programs while maintaining person-centered values. As AbilityPath continues to explore AI integration to support our teams and programs, we're ensuring it amplifies the voices and choices of the individuals we serve. The future is about using AI to empower the folks we serve to achieve greater independence, more meaningful employment, and life satisfaction. #AbilityPath #StanfordLearningAccelerator #IDD #Inclusion #SpecialEducation #Empowerment

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Promise Venture Studio just opened two funding tracks for early childhood founders. The Build Award: $200K + 12 months of programming for 6 early-stage organizations led by proximate leaders expanding community impact. The Imagine Award: $20K + 6-month pilot support for 10 changemakers testing transformative ideas in early childhood. Build Award closes April 12. Imagine Award opens July. This matters because early childhood remains chronically underfunded—and proximate leadership drives the most durable solutions. If you're building in this space or know someone who is: https://lnkd.in/euKGca6Z

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