UpStart

Specialties

UpStart is a social venture and innovation consulting firm. We partner with entrepreneurs, start-​ups and established organizations to redesign the experience and expression of modern Jewish life.

History

Established in 2006.

UpStart was launched as a pilot project of the San Francisco Bureau of Jewish Education (BJE). In July 2008 UpStart Bay Area was incorporated as a California nonprofit corporation with a mission «to inspire and advance innovative ideas that contribute to the continued growth and vitality of Jewish life.»

Since becoming an independent organization, we have developed our programs and become one of the leading voices in the Jewish social entrepreneurship movement. Using the most current design theories to architect change, we combine entrepreneurial principles and practices with Jewish texts and learning methodologies to create a roadmap for the delivery of meaningful and compelling Jewish experiences.

Meet the Business Owner

Toby R.

Business Owner

Toby Rubin is founder and CEO of UpStart, an organization dedicated to advancing innovative ideas for Jewish life through accelerating projects of Jewish social entrepreneurs, consulting to established organizations looking to innovate, and building networks that connect change makers to ideas, people and resources needed to design 21^st century Jewish life.

Toby was previously an attorney who used the law to benefit students with disabilities in education matters. Her life lens changed through the Wexner Heritage Fellowship. Since 2002 she has been involved in bringing new ideas into established Jewish organizations as well as incubating the ideas of Jewish social entrepreneurs. Her work at the Bureau of Jewish Education SF culminated in her service as interim executive director. Toby has served in executive lay leadership roles in seven local and national Jewish organizations.