PS43 Foundation

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.

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

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

• Youth education programs
• STEAM curriculum
• Digital literacy training
• Nonprofit mentorship
• Life skills education

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including shirts, sweaters, hats, and sweatpants through the PS43 Foundation Shop. All proceeds support foundation programs.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• DMZ at Toronto Metropolitan UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Co-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 IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 May 2025Partnership to inspire big dreamers in Indiana. JA of Central Indiana and PS43 Foundation collaborating on youth empowerment programs in the Indianapolis area.
• Cyber Nations FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2024Co-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 or Integration · 20 November 2024Technology 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 OpportunitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2023Partnership 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 FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2023Joint initiative with PS43 Foundation and John Tavares Foundation for Alexandra Park basketball court renovation. Both foundations contributed to revitalizing community sports facilities.
• TridelcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 19 September 2023Primary funder of Alexandra Park basketball court renovation. Tridel funded the court restoration with support from their network of trades and suppliers.
• Toronto Community Housing CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2023Partner 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 InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2023Created $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 HospitalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 September 2021PS43 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 TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Data Dunkers program. Dell supports the basketball and data science learning experience that teaches students foundational data science skills through NBA/WNBA statistics.
• CallystocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Data Dunkers program providing data science education through basketball statistics. Callysto supports the curriculum development for grades 5-12 students.
• Digital MomentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Data Dunkers program supporting data literacy education for youth through basketball-themed curriculum.
• NikecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partner supporting PS43 Foundation's youth empowerment mission. Nike logo appears on foundation's partners page.
• Indiana PacerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPascal 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 AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNBPA partnership supporting foundation's youth programs and athlete-driven philanthropy initiatives.
• Toronto Catholic District School BoardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEducational partner for program delivery. TCDSB logo appears on foundation's partners page indicating collaboration on youth education initiatives.
• The Click PhotographyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamera 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-TcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Empowerment Program partner focused on providing technology access and digital literacy to underserved communities in North America. Program distributed 400 Chromebooks in Toronto.
• The FirehoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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 PlaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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 FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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 CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ps43-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/ps43foundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about PS43 Foundation