PS43 Foundation
PS43 Foundation is a Toronto-based non-profit founded by NBA player Pascal Siakam that delivers STEAM education, digital safety training, and mentorship to underserved youth in Canada, the United States, Cameroon, and Grenada through programs like Data Dunkers, Unbreakable, and the Siakam Ed Tech Engine accelerator.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What PS43 Foundation does
PS43 Foundation is a Canadian-registered non-profit (with a parallel US 501(c)(3) entity) founded in 2021 by NBA player Pascal Siakam to deliver STEAM-focused education, life-skills training, and mentorship to underserved youth. The foundation is named after Siakam's jersey number 43 and is inspired by his late father Tchamo Siakam's commitment to education. Its core programs are Data Dunkers (a basketball-and-data-science curriculum for grades 5-12 using NBA/WNBA statistics with Python and Jupyter Notebooks, delivered with Dell, Callysto, and Digital Moment), Skills Academie (an annual three-day basketball and life-skills event in Douala, Cameroon), Unbreakable (a global cyber-learning program launched November 2024 with Cyber Nations and powered by Protexxa's AI identity-protection platform), and the Siakam Ed Tech Engine (a 12-week virtual EdTech startup accelerator co-founded with DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2025). A prior program, Coding for Champions (April 2021, with Penny Appeal Canada), reached 350+ students across five GTA schools with an 85% completion rate.
The foundation operates a hybrid community-led GTM model that leverages Siakam's celebrity platform, school-board partnerships (Toronto Catholic District School Board), corporate CSR relationships (Nike, Dell, Visa, Equinix Foundation), and a PS43 All-Stars volunteer network. Revenue is sourced from individual donations (via website and Every.org), corporate and foundation grants, matched scholarship contributions (e.g., River Philip Foundation's CAD $100K match for the UNB scholarship), and merchandise sales ($30-$65 SKUs). Capital deployment to date includes a CAD $100K donation to Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital (2021), a CAD $200K Pascal Siakam Scholarship fund at UNB (2023), 400 Chromebooks distributed via Human-I-T/Visa, and CAD $50K in EdTech Engine grant prizes per cohort. Operations span Canada, the United States (Indianapolis via Junior Achievement of Central Indiana), Cameroon, and Grenada, supported by a board of five and an advisory board of six.
PS43 Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PS43 Foundation
- Legal name
- The PS43 Foundation Canada
- Website
- https://ps43foundation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- PS43 Foundation is a Toronto-based non-profit founded by NBA player Pascal Siakam that delivers STEAM education, digital safety training, and mentorship to underserved youth in Canada, the United States, Cameroon, and Grenada through programs like Data Dunkers, Unbreakable, and the Siakam Ed Tech Engine accelerator.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PS43 Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Education and Nonprofit Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Volunteer Program Funding, Scholarships & Fundraising Support (EDAIAGAO)
Keywords
Where PS43 Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
PS43 Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream from individual donors, corporate sponsors, and foundation grants. Accepts donations through website with options for various contribution amounts.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including shirts, sweaters, hats, and sweatpants through the PS43 Foundation Shop. All proceeds support foundation programs.
- Grants and Scholarship Funding: Establishes scholarship programs (e.g., Pascal Siakam Scholarship at UNB) funded through partnerships with other foundations and corporate donors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Education is Freedom Shirt |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Empower Shirt |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Fire Shirt |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Empower Sweater |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Fire Sweater |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | PS43 Hat |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | PS43 Sweatpants |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
PS43 Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PS43 Foundation is a not-for-profit that empowers children through STEAM-focused education, life skills, and mentorship via programs such as Data Dunkers (basketball-based data science), Unbreakable (cybersecurity), Skills Academie (basketball and life skills in Cameroon), and the Siakam Ed Tech Engine (EdTech startup accelerator). It funds its work through donations, corporate grants, scholarships, and branded merchandise sales, and delivers programs through school, community, and corporate partnerships across North America, Cameroon, and Grenada.
Product overview
PS43 Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that empowers children through STEAM-focused education, life skills, and mentorship. The foundation operates a portfolio of educational programs: Data Dunkers teaches data science through basketball statistics; Skills Academie provides basketball training and life skills in Cameroon; Unbreakable delivers cybersecurity education; and Siakam Ed Tech Engine is a startup accelerator supporting EdTech innovation. The foundation also previously ran Coding for Champions, a web development program. All programs are guided by the principle 'DREAM BIG' and focus on breaking the digital divide for underserved youth.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Data Dunkers: Basketball and data science learning experience for students in grades 5-12, teaching foundational data science skills through NBA and WNBA statistics.
- Skills Academie
- Unbreakable
- Siakam Ed Tech Engine
- Coding for Champions
Products and services
- Data Dunkers
- Skills Academie
- Unbreakable
- Siakam Ed Tech Engine
- Coding for Champions
- PS43 Foundation Branded Merchandise
- Pascal Siakam Scholarship at UNB
Quantifiable outcome
- 350+ students enrolled and 85% completion rate in Coding for Champions program
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use PS43 Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
PS43 Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature2 records
PS43 Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan UniversityflagshipCo-founded Siakam Ed Tech Engine 12-week virtual accelerator for EdTech startups. DMZ provides mentorship, resources, network access, and real-world testing opportunities with school boards. Program offers $50,000 in grant prizes at Demo Day.
- Junior Achievement of Central IndianacorePartnership to inspire big dreamers in Indiana. JA of Central Indiana and PS43 Foundation collaborating on youth empowerment programs in the Indianapolis area.
- Cyber Nations FoundationflagshipCo-founded Unbreakable global cyber-learning program with PS43 Foundation. Cyber Nations advocates for cyber literacy as a human right and aims to democratize access to cybersecurity training worldwide.
- ProtexxacoreTechnology partner for Unbreakable program providing AI-powered cybersecurity platform. Protexxa's technology enables live webinars, identity protection tools, and personal data monitoring for youth participants.
- Their OpportunitycorePartnership for Alexandra Park basketball court renovation in Toronto. Their Opportunity coordinated youth activities and community engagement for the court reopening event alongside Pascal Siakam and John Tavares.
- John Tavares FoundationcoreJoint initiative with PS43 Foundation and John Tavares Foundation for Alexandra Park basketball court renovation. Both foundations contributed to revitalizing community sports facilities.
- TridelcorePrimary funder of Alexandra Park basketball court renovation. Tridel funded the court restoration with support from their network of trades and suppliers.
- Toronto Community Housing CorporationcorePartner in Alexandra Park community revitalization. TCHC partnered with Tridel and foundations to rebuild aging housing and enhance community amenities including basketball courts.
- University of New Brunswick McKenna InstituteflagshipCreated $200,000 Pascal Siakam Scholarship fund for Cameroonian students in technology programs at UNB. Partnership honors Pascal's father Tchamo Siakam and supports students in Bachelor of Computer Science, BSc Computer Science, and BSc Software Engineering programs.
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation HospitalflagshipPS43 Foundation donated $100,000 to support pediatric disability education and awareness. Partnership advances foundation's vision of empowering children through education. Holland Bloorview serves children with disabilities, medical complexity, illness and injury.
- Dell TechnologiescorePartner for Data Dunkers program. Dell supports the basketball and data science learning experience that teaches students foundational data science skills through NBA/WNBA statistics.
- CallystocorePartner for Data Dunkers program providing data science education through basketball statistics. Callysto supports the curriculum development for grades 5-12 students.
- Digital MomentcorePartner for Data Dunkers program supporting data literacy education for youth through basketball-themed curriculum.
- NikecoreBrand partner supporting PS43 Foundation's youth empowerment mission. Nike logo appears on foundation's partners page.
- Indiana PacerscorePascal Siakam's current NBA team. Foundation continues operations from Toronto despite Pascal's team change. Indiana Pacers logo appears on partners page.
- National Basketball Players AssociationcoreNBPA partnership supporting foundation's youth programs and athlete-driven philanthropy initiatives.
- Toronto Catholic District School BoardcoreEducational partner for program delivery. TCDSB logo appears on foundation's partners page indicating collaboration on youth education initiatives.
- The Click PhotographyminorCamera for Kids initiative - photography team donated time and talent to capture moments with youth, inspiring them to keep dreaming and reaching for goals.
- Human-I-TcoreDigital Empowerment Program partner focused on providing technology access and digital literacy to underserved communities in North America. Program distributed 400 Chromebooks in Toronto.
- The FirehoodcorePartnership for annual Firehood Summit hosting 100 girls ages 9-13. PS43 Foundation supports The Firehood's mission to increase women's participation in technology.
- Right To PlaycorePartnership for youth programming including ENAGB Indigenous Youth Agency event. Right To Play is a global organization using sports and play to educate and protect children.
- The Kickback FoundationcorePartnership for Mathletes program - six-week math education initiative for students aged 13-16 using sports lens. Addresses biases in standardized testing affecting marginalized students.
- Penny Appeal CanadacorePartner for Coding for Champions edtech computational skills online workshop providing students in Greater Toronto Area with coding and programming education.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PS43 Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Basketball Without Borders (NBA): NBA-run global development program combining basketball instruction with education and life-skills modules for youth worldwide. Closely comparable to Skills Academie in Cameroon and to PS43's overall basketball-plus-education delivery model.
- Why Not You Foundation: Russell Wilson and Ciara's foundation focused on youth education, health, and poverty alleviation. Comparable model — celebrity-led personal foundation targeting children's education and life-skills outcomes, with corporate partner activations.
- Right To Play: Global nonprofit using sport and play to educate and protect children. PS43 explicitly partners with Right To Play for Indigenous youth programming and Siakam was honored at its 2019 Heroes Gala, making it both a peer in mission and an active operating partner.
- Chris Paul Family Foundation: NBA point guard Chris Paul's foundation funding education, youth, and community programs. Directly comparable as an active NBA player's personal 501(c)(3) running youth education and life-skills programming.
- Kevin Durant Charity Foundation: NBA star Kevin Durant's foundation supporting at-risk youth through educational, social, and athletic programs. Comparable as an active-player-led foundation funding youth enrichment with a strong educational focus.
- Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation: Founded and fronted by NBA star Stephen Curry, this foundation funds youth education, nutrition, and physical activity programs. It is the closest structural analog to PS43 — an active NBA player's personal foundation using sport as the lens for educational outcomes for underserved youth.
Others
- Dell Technologies Education Initiatives: Active corporate partner on PS43's Data Dunkers program. Comparable as a corporate education-funder enabling STEM/STEAM access, and an adjacent potential partner/funder for similar athlete-led foundations.
- DMZ (Toronto Metropolitan University): Operating partner for PS43's Siakam Ed Tech Engine accelerator. Comparable as an EdTech accelerator / startup catalyst; relevant peer for understanding the venture-style program PS43 has launched.
- Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation: Recipient of PS43's $100K donation and a collaborator on the Guinness-record cape event. Comparable as a children's health and disability-focused foundation; relevant as a grantee/peer in pediatric education philanthropy.
Broad incumbents
- LeBron James Family Foundation: One of the largest athlete-led education foundations in the world, operating the I PROMISE School and extensive college-access programming. Comparable in mission (NBA-athlete-led education philanthropy) but materially larger in scale, endowment, and program depth.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PS43 Foundation social profiles
Digital presencePS43 Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PS43 Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
PS43 Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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PS43 Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PS43 Foundation
What does PS43 Foundation do?
PS43 Foundation is a not-for-profit that empowers children through STEAM-focused education, life skills, and mentorship via programs such as Data Dunkers (basketball-based data science), Unbreakable (cybersecurity), Skills Academie (basketball and life skills in Cameroon), and the Siakam Ed Tech Engine (EdTech startup accelerator). It funds its work through donations, corporate grants, scholarships, and branded merchandise sales, and delivers programs through school, community, and corporate partnerships across North America, Cameroon, and Grenada.
Is PS43 Foundation a public or private company?
PS43 Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was PS43 Foundation founded?
PS43 Foundation was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is PS43 Foundation based?
PS43 Foundation is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does PS43 Foundation make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are merchandise Sales and grants and Scholarship Funding.
Who are PS43 Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Basketball Without Borders (NBA), Why Not You Foundation, Right To Play, Chris Paul Family Foundation, Kevin Durant Charity Foundation and Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation. Others are Dell Technologies Education Initiatives, DMZ (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation. LeBron James Family Foundation is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does PS43 Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for PS43 Foundation.
What industry is PS43 Foundation in?
PS43 Foundation's product category is Youth Education and Nonprofit Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of MPAKALAJ, Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs). Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8200.