How Canopy Maps to the SDGs—And Why It Matters for First-Time Founders

At Canopy, we believe first-time founders are the world’s most under-leveraged force for good.

When someone takes the leap to start a business—especially from an underrepresented background—they’re doing more than launching a venture. They’re opening up new pathways for themselves, their families, and the communities they care about. That’s why we exist. Our mission is simple but powerful: to utilise entrepreneurship as a tool for social mobility.

Whether you’re starting out in Lisbon, London, Boston, Bangalore or Singapore, Canopy is your startup home. We support founders through our global Canopy Membership, virtual ideation and incubation programs, and monthly Demo Nights. Our belief is clear: when founders build with purpose, the results can be transformative—not just commercially, but socially and globally.

That’s why we map our work directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—a shared global blueprint for peace, prosperity, and progress.

Here’s how Canopy’s work aligns with the SDGs—and why it matters to you as a first-time founder.

Goal 4: Quality Education

We make startup education accessible, actionable, and human. Our ideation and incubation programs are rooted in reflective practice, coaching, and community-based learning. You don’t need an MBA to build your MVP. You need honest feedback, practical frameworks, and a safe space to grow. We deliver just that—for founders at the start of their journey.

Goal 5: Gender Equality

We build space where women and non-binary founders are heard, backed, and celebrated. From speaker lineups to pitch panels, we intentionally elevate underrepresented voices. Because gender shouldn’t determine who gets funding—or even who gets to be in the room. We’re building a new normal where leadership is inclusive by design.

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

We believe the best entrepreneurship is rooted in lived experience. The most impactful startups often start with founders solving problems they’ve personally faced. First, they fix it for themselves. Then, they help others who look like them. Then, they expand to serve others who share that need.

This is where the magic happens.

Underrepresented founders are the gateway to underserved communities—and an entire dimension of economic growth that’s too often overlooked. At Canopy, we support these founders to build ventures that are both profitable and purposeful. With the right support, these ideas become engines of decent work and long-term economic value.

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

You don’t need a 10-year roadmap to innovate—you need a tested MVP and real users. We help first-time founders build the foundations of products, platforms, and services that matter. Through lean startup principles, user story mapping, and continuous testing, Canopy supports innovation that’s designed to last.

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities

The barriers to entrepreneurship are real—lack of capital, access, mentorship, or networks. Canopy is breaking them down. Our programs are virtual-first, low-cost, and open to founders from all walks of life. Whether you're a solo founder in Lisbon or a migrant innovator in London, we’ve built a space where you can belong, be heard, and build.

We believe entrepreneurship should be a tool of mobility, not privilege.

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Startup ecosystems are key to vibrant cities. Through Demo Nights, coffee meetups, and founder circles, we create the conditions for local innovation to flourish. Our members are reimagining how we live, move, connect, and care for each other. Canopy helps cities become smarter—not just through tech, but through community.

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Many of our founders are building ethically from day one. From upcycled fashion to low-carbon logistics, Canopy startups challenge mainstream consumption. We support founders who value transparency, sustainability, and conscious growth. Doing good and doing well aren’t opposites—they’re aligned.

Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Collaboration is in our DNA. We work with universities, angel groups, incubators, investors, local governments, and grassroots networks to open doors for founders. Radical generosity—sharing knowledge, making intros, cheering others on—is how we grow.

We’re More Than a Startup Community—We’re a Launchpad for Change

Being a first-time founder is brave. It’s messy, uncertain, and often lonely. But it’s also deeply powerful. You are creating something from nothing, and that takes guts.

At Canopy, we’re here to support you as you build—with heart, clarity, and purpose.

Ready to take your idea seriously?

Join the Canopy Ideation or Incubation Program today and become part of a global community using entrepreneurship as a force for good. Your journey starts here. Let’s build what the world needs next.

Start by checking out the programs we offer https://www.canopy.community/store