Help Fund PhunD: The Future of Scholar Support

Thomas Perkins is organizing this fundraiser.

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Who Am I?

Hello, my name is Thomas Perkins, Jr., and I've dedicated my career to both academia and entrepreneurial innovation. I come with 5 years of industrial experience in the biotechnology/biopharma space and 2 years as a consultant/advisor for startups, VCs, Angel Investors, as well as hedge funds. I've also spent 1.5 years as a Joint Lab Staff Scientist Engineer at University of Washington, School of Medicine, where I collaborated with Harvard Medical School alumni on expanding multiplexing technologies. Moreover, I've been running a non-profit called TapBioscience aimed at community exposure to biotechnologies and career support. All these experiences have led me to my current endeavor: PhunD.

Maxed credit cards and near-empty bank accounts, all in the spirit of keeping PhunD alive. As a solo founder, you invest in yourself first—especially when you're not born into privilege. And that's exactly what I'm doing.

The Stark Reality: Why PhunD Is Needed

The harsh reality is that scholars, the backbone of academia, grapple with stagnant salaries and strict contractual obligations, leaving them in dire financial straits. Many dedicated scholars, earning between $15,000-$30,000 (PhDs) and $40,000-$60,000 (post-docs) annually in the U.S., find themselves in the unfortunate position of choosing between pursuing their academic passions and affording basic life necessities. This untenable situation, manifesting in scholars relying on food banks or even living in their department buildings, corrodes the very foundation of academia.

What is PhunD?

PhunD (pronounced "fund") aims to be a transformative digital platform merging the best aspects of LinkedIn and GoFundMe to provide scholars with the support they need. Picture a world where scholars don't have to choose between groundbreaking research and basic life necessities. That's PhunD.

How Does It Work?

1. Real-time, Peer-to-Peer Support: Scholars create profiles showcasing their work, needs, and goals. Donors can scan a QR code to directly contribute.

2. Community and Networking: Apart from funding, scholars can find mentors, connect with peers, and create a community.

3. Transparency and Engagement: PhunD offers a window into a scholar's journey, inviting the world to engage with the academic community like never before.

[1-Minute Pitch Video] - A quick rundown of what PhunD aims to achieve.

Reviews and Momentum

The academic community is buzzing about PhunD! With 83% of engaged respondents expressing interest in contributing or creating a profile, we're excited about the reception.

What Scholars and Industry Experts Say About PhunD

"It is a fantastic idea!" - PhD at Harvard University, Post-Doc at Buck Institute for Research on Aging, now Director at OneSkin
"Interesting idea" - Bioinformatic PhD student at Georgia Institute of Technology
"I have way more thoughts on this... happy to set up some time to chat." - PhD and Post-Doc at the University of Pennsylvania, now a Post-Doc at the University of Tuebingen; Head Executive of OpenMS
"I like what you're doing with PhunD... let's see where there could be collaboration." - Team Leader for Life Science People, focusing on industry job placements
"That's Interesting! I believe a conversation can be a great opportunity for mutual growth." - PhD at MPI-CBG, Post-Doc at Stanford, Co-Founder of Akoya Biosciences, now Founder of Parhelia Biosciences
"Will keep a keen eye on PhunD’s progress!" - Chemical Biology/Proteomics PhD Student at Imperial College London
"You are doing something, which is more than 99% of the population - myself included, I commend you on that." - PhD at University of Toronto, Post-Doc at Mount Sinai Hospital, now Scientist II at Veracyte, Inc.
"Thomas is working on PhunD... He's got a super interesting story and I recommended he apply to Z Fellows" - Stanford University Bachelor student, founder of the acquired platform AdmitYogi

We're also in talks to join the prestigious Z Fellows program, gaining access to mentors from Netflix, DoorDash, Figma, and more.

Why I Need Your Help

I've put every ounce of my soul and financial resources into this. Now I need your help to make it a reality.

Funding Breakdown

- Platform Development: $100,000

- Scholar Outreach: $40,000

- Donor Recruitment: $50,000

- Administrative Costs: $30,000

- Impact Assessment: $30,000

Goals

- Develop a scalable digital PhunD platform within 12 months.

- Attract 10,000 scholars to build profiles within a year.

- Facilitate at least $1M in donations to scholars within 24 months.

Total Funding Needed: $250,000 (Currently raising $5k)

Your support is not just a donation; it's a statement that you stand with scholars. Together, let's redefine what academia can be.

Are You With Me?

Join me in this groundbreaking venture and let's make a seismic shift in how we support academia. Every contribution gets us closer to a future where scholars are free to focus on what they do best: shaping the future of our world.

For more on my background, check my [LinkedIn profile]

Thank you for considering to be a part of this transformative journey.

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PhunD is committed to transparency and inclusivity as we build this revolutionary platform for academia's unsung heroes.

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