Jonah Bassuk

Co-Founder and CEO

Jonah Bassuk is a nationally recognized social entrepreneur and nonprofit leader turned startup founder, blending a background in healthcare equity with a deep passion for innovation, finance, and building impactful ventures. As the Founder and CEO of Strong Heroes, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Jonah led national efforts to eliminate health disparities for children, scaling access to care through partnerships, fundraising, and systemic reform. His leadership helped redefine how children's hospitals connect with donors, optimize resources, and serve vulnerable populations.

Beyond healthcare, Jonah developed a broader entrepreneurial instinct: a fascination with how financial systems, user psychology, and digital platforms intersect to solve everyday problems. His experience running a nonprofit taught him how to build lean teams, drive mission-driven growth, and manage capital efficiently. These skills shaped his approach to launching and scaling Giftifer.

Motivated by his own frustration with gift-giving and constant requests from friends asking what to buy for their loved ones, Jonah realized there was a larger pain point hidden in plain sight. Combining his operational experience, eye for human behavior, and love for solving real-life inefficiencies, he co-founded Giftifer, a swipe-based, AI-powered gifting platform designed to make giving thoughtful, personalized, and effortless. For Jonah, the app represents more than convenience; it's about creating emotionally intelligent consumer tools powered by smart financial models and social insight.

Jonah's work and vision have been recognized nationally, including honors such as the 2023 Wunderkinds Award, NYS Senate Youth Leadership Award, U.S. Senate Certificate of Excellence, and Congressional commendations for service and innovation. He is also a published researcher in pediatric cardiology and health policy, with work featured in areas like health literacy and care accessibility.

In addition to co-founding Giftifer, Jonah has held research and analyst roles at Cornell University, Brown University, AXS Investments, and the University of Florida. He serves on the planning committee for the Cornell Center for Health Equity Seminar Series and is currently pursuing his undergraduate degree at Cornell University with a focus on public policy and a minor in business. His current work reflects a personal and professional mission: to create scalable, user-first solutions that improve lives whether in hospitals, households, or the consumer marketplace.