Startup Nation Unitedmavens and Zynga step up for employees and the broader public
Startup Nation United
mavens and Zynga step up for employees and the broader public
Leading with empathy, Zynga and mavens have developed several initiatives to ensure the mental well-being of their employees and the long-term well-being of the victims directly affected by the ongoing war
The list of companies rising to the occasion for their teammates and broader environments in our country is endless. Today we spotlight mavens, a data technology company, and its acquirer, mega mobile publisher Zynga. Both mavens and Zynga have put focus, resources, and time into programs for the health and safety of their employees as well as those victims directly impacted by the ongoing war with Hamas.
Zynga and mavens’ story, told by their Creative Director Alon Mitelpunkt, is part of Startup Nation United, a series showcasing how individuals and organizations in the tech industry have united under a common vision to do their part during the ongoing war. The podcast is produced and moderated by Michael Matias and Yaffa Abadi, in collaboration with CTech, as a spin-off of the popular podcast series “20 Minutes Leaders”, also published in collaboration with CTech.
For the past two months, since the shock of the October 7th atrocities, the Zynga team has spent no time sitting around. One of their primary contributions is a fund initiated by Zynga which raised around $300,000 for initiatives in need. The majority of these funds have been dedicated to those left orphans from the Hamas attack, and the families of these victims. Addressing this focus, Alon explains, “We understood that there are people whose lives have been impacted, not for the next month or two, but for their entire future, we are trying to provide not only for the immediate needs but for the long term needs of those affected.”
While the bulk of their funds were going to long-term support, they were also providing for basic and immediate needs in the weeks following the massacre. Needs that many could have overlooked like suitcases for those families displaced, food packaging, supplies for soldiers, etc.
Zynga and mavens have impacted the direct victims with their initiatives, but they have also put a tremendous focus on ensuring the safety and well-being of their teammates, with a particular focus on the mental health of their employees.
Their approach is one of understanding and empathy when it comes to the contributions of their team, as Alon explains, “We all want to contribute, but it's also very, very natural for a person to feel that he or she is not up for it at the moment. And there are also those in our team who have been very directly impacted by the events of October 7th. So we make sure that, while everyone has the space and ability to contribute, there is zero pressure and everyone is encouraged to do things at their own pace.”
Beyond adopting this important approach, they also have established efforts to proactively address the mental health of employees and the broader community. One such initiative created by Sharon Assa, a senior producer at mavens, is a volunteer trauma therapy program offering immediate and prolonged assistance to hundreds of individuals affected by October 7’s devastating pogrom.
Their other initiative called Ezra has more of an R&D approach. It serves as a chatbot where anyone can enter and express their needs or their offerings, be it getting groceries delivered or a therapist who wants to offer their services. Dozens of people have connected through Ezra and have either received assistance or been able to help others.
In addition to the internal and external initiatives of mavens and Zynga over these past few months, Alon comments on the spirit of togetherness and support cultivated by their team. “We feel more connected to the place we work for and the people we work with than ever. Getting out of the house and meeting one another whether it’s in the office or outside, have broadened our company interactions and brought us closer.”
This deep sense of togetherness, support, and of action displayed by the people at Maven and Zynga is yet another powerful thread to our tapestry of resilience that makes up our high-tech industry and our nation.
About:
Yaffa Abadi is the founder and CEO of Abadi Brands, a boutique consultancy specializing in personal branding and thought leadership for investors.
Michael Matias, Forbes 30 Under 30, is the CEO of Clarity, a startup that preserves trust in digital media by fighting deepfakes, and an active angel investor in the AI and Cyber domain.
