About

Growing impact

Spring unites founders and investors to create a better future.
Here’s a bit more about who we are, and how to reach us.

THIS IS US
Spring is a trusted leader in Canada’s impact innovation ecosystem.
We support founders building solutions to the world’s most pressing social and environmental challenges, while activating investors seeking impactful investment opportunities.
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What We Do
The foundation of our work is supporting innovators building revenue and jobs through solutions that have an intentional, measurable positive impact across industries and business models. Through training and community building, Spring equips both founders and investors with the knowledge, networks, and capital pathways needed to scale. This two-sided approach nurtures more resilient, innovative, and scalable businesses positioned to deliver long-term economic and societal impact.
THIS IS US
Our Core Values

WE GIVE A DAMN

We care deeply about our team, our community of investors and founders, and our collective ability to make measurable impact toward a more equitable and sustainable future for all.

BE ENTREPRENEURIAL

Take initiative thoughtfully, knowing when to try new things and when to repeat what’s working. Admit to our mistakes, while learning from them and celebrating our successes.

ALWAYS IMPROVING

Embrace a growth mindset. Pursue excellence by growing through the iterative learning opportunities provided by your customers’ feedback.

YOU BELONG

Create spaces that remove barriers, making people feel welcome and safe to participate. Pursue equity for all in a community where people from equity-deserving groups feel supported and empowered.

PROVE IT

Impact and financial returns are the measurable results of our purpose in action. Through everything from numerical data to compelling stories, we gather and share the outcomes of our work in a tangible, demonstrable way that empowers others to track their own impact.

THIS IS US
Proud to be a B Corp
Spring has been independently verified by B Lab, scoring 117 on the B Impact Assessment, placing us among the top-performing impact organizations globally.

This independent assessment covers governance, financial transparency, community accountability, and environmental practices.

OUR PEOPLE

Keith Ippel

Co-CEO & Founder

Caroline von Hirschberg

Co-CEO

Crystal Lo

Chief of Staff

Tina Ippel

VP of Finance and Operations

Natalie Youssef

Director of Client Success

Naomi Boon

Director of Operations

Tasha Truant

Director of Ecosystem Engagement

Tarika Vijayaraghavan

Investment Associate

Shantanu Mehta

Investment Associate

Loreen Catubay

Project Manager

Fabíola Borba

Community Relations Lead

KJ Viola

Adminstrative Lead

Helen Aareskjold

Accounting Manager (On Parental Leave)
THIS IS US

Real experience. Real results.

It takes a breadth of knowledge and experience to excel as both an impact founder and as a venture. That’s why we’ve built a network of Entrepreneurs-in-Residence, Facilitators, and Mentors who’ve walked the walk, sharing their expertise across Scale Ready and beyond.

What we do

Helping Founders

MOVE FORWARD

From fundraising to growth, we connect founders with the right knowledge, guidance, network and support to confidently take their next step.

I’m New to Raising

Build your fundraising foundation and understand what comes next.

I’m raising or getting ready

Get prepared, strengthen your approach and move your round forward.

I’m ready to scale

Work through growth challenges and build a clear path forward.

You’ve got questions.

We can help.

Fundraising can feel complicated.

Get straighforward answers to the questions founders ask us most.

What's the difference between Build, Round Prep, Round Ready, and Grow?

Scale Ready is a pathway, not a single program. Build is the entry point for founders motivated to raise but new to the fundraising world. Round Prep is for founders getting investment-ready ahead of a first or next raise. Round Ready is for founders already in market with investors or about to launch a raise. Grow is for founders with real revenue traction who are ready to scale. Wherever you’re at, there’s a level built for it.

How do I know which stage is right for me?

You don’t have to figure it out alone, and you don’t have to start at Build. Book a call and we’ll talk through your company’s stage, materials, investor experience, and growth constraints together, and point you to the right level.

Do I need to have already pitched investors to apply?

No. Build is designed for founders who haven’t pitched or applied to any fundraising program yet, and are still working toward capital-readiness.

What if my company doesn't have revenue yet?

That’s exactly who Build is for. Pre-revenue and early-revenue founders with early traction signals are welcome to start there.

I already have revenue and traction, is this still for me?

Yes, that’s Grow. It’s built for founders who already have real revenue traction and reasonable product-market fit, where growth is the goal and fundraising is secondary.

What's the difference between Round Prep and Round Ready?

Round Prep is for founders still building their materials and story ahead of a raise, getting investment-ready. Round Ready is for founders already in market with investors or about to launch, closing the round on the best possible terms.

What happens after I book a call?

We start with a real conversation, not a form. We’ll look at your company’s stage, materials, investor experience, and growth constraints, and recommend the right level for where you’re at.

What is Spring Activator?

Spring provides the tools, knowledge, network, and mentorship to accelerate and amplify the activities of purpose-driven business leaders. Our purpose is to make impact mainstream.