Founder Friday: Ronny Sage, Founder & CEO of ShoppingGives 🫶
Founder Friday is a content series from SuperAngel.Fund that highlights companies across our portfolio and the inspiring founders behind them.
In our 41st edition we are featuring Ronny Sage, Founder & CEO of ShoppingGives, a Certified B Corp that empowers thousands of brands to launch, scale and optimize their social impact strategies.
Before starting ShoppingGives, Founder & CEO Ronny Sage (middle above) worked at several digital marketing agencies that supported Fortune 500 brands in finding the most efficient and cost-effective ways to reach their target customers. The objective was always to motivate consumers to shop, increase their retention rate and loyalty.
With US digital advertising spend increasing dramatically over recent years (expected to reach $300 Billion in 2023), Ronny believed there was a better way for businesses to spend this money while still accomplishing their goals of acquiring customers and driving more efficient performance metrics. He believed there was an opportunity to shift marketing dollars towards the impact space, and by doing so, businesses could build deeper more authentic relationships with customers.
However, given complex regulatory, compliance and financial management required for charitable donations, the task was easier said than done.
ShoppingGives is the leading social impact commerce platform offering a turn-key solution for brands to accelerate their growth through integrated social impact.
Enter ShoppingGives which built the leading end-to-end-donation management solution to “connect cause with commerce.” Nonprofits get the ability to collect donations without lifting a finger, businesses motivate giving, build loyalty, increase conversion rates and drive bottom-line growth, and consumers can shop at brands that share their values. The platform supports donations to more than 1.8 million 501c(3) causes - with 100% going to the nonprofit.
No wonder they count brands like Steve Madden, Kenneth Cole, OLAPLEX, SAKARA, Coach and thousands more as customers - including a newly released campaign with OLIPOP! Want to learn more? Request a demo here or email me back for an introduction to Ronny.
Describe your company in 5 words or less.
Ronny: Turnkey Social Impact & Donations Platform.
What was your primary motivation for starting your business?
Ronny: Seeing how much wasted spend there was in marketing, I had very early thesis in 2012 that the future generations would be looking for values alignment with the companies they buy from. I asked myself how I could shift marketing budgets to do more good, align with customer values, and drive bottom-line. I also wanted to hang out more with my best friend… he is our Co-founder and COO. We call him “Phil The Guy” he is great.
What piece of advice would you give an entrepreneur starting a business today?
Ronny: 1. Build less, test more. 2. Find great leaders to be your “who”.
What do you love to do in your free time?
Ronny: Wood work.
What is the most interesting place you’ve visited recently and why?
Ronny: Guanacaste, Costa Rica, took family there for a month in January. Why? Because Chicago is miserable in January.
What is your favorite app or tool in your work life and in your personal life?
Ronny: ChatGPT is my new intern. List building, finding domains for prospects, writing queries, basically first place I go before asking team for support.
What do you believe is the most important skill or attribute of a successful founder?
Ronny: 1. Vulnerable 2. Transparent 3. Scrappy 4. Resilient
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