Tinbox

Tinbox operated as a mobile-first platform in the charitable giving sector, originating from Paris, France. The company was founded by Adrien Gulimineau, who served as CEO, and David Linderman. Their venture aimed to bridge the gap between social media engagement, often termed 'clicktivism', and tangible financial support for non-profits.

The core of Tinbox's business was a mobile application that facilitated corporate-sponsored micro-donations. The service allowed users to select a charity and, with a simple tap, trigger a real monetary donation, such as $1, which was paid by a corporate partner rather than the user. This model was designed to serve two main client types: corporations seeking to enhance their philanthropic image and non-profit organizations needing new fundraising channels. Revenue was generated by charging brands for their sponsorship placement within the app, effectively converting their marketing budgets into charitable contributions.

A significant milestone for the company was its Bay Area launch in April 2016, where it partnered with financial services firm Charles Schwab. This initiative sponsored $50,000 in $1 donations to the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco, funding a youth leadership program. The platform's value proposition was to offer a frictionless way for individuals to make a difference while providing companies with a novel corporate social responsibility tool. Despite securing an initial angel investment of $100,000 in August 2014 and participating in accelerator programs, the company ceased operations as of October 2018.

Keywords: charitable giving app, corporate social responsibility, micro-donations, corporate philanthropy, fundraising platform, non-profit technology, sponsored donations, mobile giving, clicktivism solution, Adrien Gulimineau, David Linderman, Charles Schwab partnership, social impact startup, cause marketing, donor engagement, out of business, formerly incubator backed