About Trust Up

Mission, Vision, Origins & Team
Learn more
Our Mission

To help you tap into the wealth of resources your community has to offer.

Our Vision

We envision a world where resources flow freely within communities, fueled by the redistribution of untapped abundance—tools, knowledge, materials, and support—already present within our reach.

Trust Up strives to foster a future where reliance on money diminishes, and collaboration becomes the cornerstone of human connection and progress, replacing competition with shared purpose and collective growth.

Origin Story
Trust Up emerged from the collaborative efforts of "Kingston Resilience" during the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially conceived by the Currency and Exchange committee, the organization aimed to facilitate a necessary economic shift in Kingston, NY, enabling the community to better harness its resources during times of crisis. Rob was brought on board to spearhead efforts towards fostering greater equity in resource access.
A key issue surfaced following a year-long pilot program launched in partnership with O+ Festival, focused on community engagement and listening sessions: despite abundant resources, many remained inaccessible to local residents. In response, Trust Up was established in 2022 as a Low Profit Limited Liability Company (L3C). Since then, the organization has initiated resource circulation initiatives with local partners, aiming to enhance accessibility and support within the Kingston community.
Trust Up’s success is a testament to the incredible talent and dedication of a diverse team of Kingston residents and remote collaborators. The team has brought a wide range of skills to the table, from app development and game design to electrical and mechanical engineering, 3D modeling and experience design. Each member contributes their expertise and passion, helping us create innovative solutions that meet the community’s needs. Our team has worked tirelessly to bring Trust Up to life and ensure its continued growth. Together, we’ve built a supportive, collaborative environment that empowers us to push boundaries and make a meaningful impact.

Meet Our Team

People building Trust Up
Rob Jameson
Executive Director
Dhaval Mesavaniya
Lead Developer
Kai Winger
Game Manager
Chris Schapdick
Experience Manager
Harshad Italiya
Electronic Engineer
Vimal Sutariya
Light + Circuit Engineer
Bikram Kumar Singh
Game Developer
Venk Krishnamurthy
Game Designer
Prem Kanasani
Mechanical Engineer
Jennifer Bichara
Content Expert
Karen Ruiz
Data Visualization Designer
Iryna Lappo
Visualization Specalist

Meet Our Advisors

People Counciling Trust Up
Dr. Michael Marks
Board Member
Roo Shamim
Board Member
Randall Jacobs
Board Member

Behind the scenes

Go beyond the platform to discover the passionate team, creative minds, and innovative processes that make Trust Up possible.
Trust Up tools, especially hardware goes through lots of tests. One of the most fun is the first install day, where a prototype is put someplace public, ideally with no instructions for people that will encounter it.
Always learning...
The Commons inspires us... where things are owned and supported collectively with no profit motive. They are here for everyones benefit.

Here's a photo of a "moon trail box" which is a commons for menstrual product and knowledge exchange, supported freely.
...Fostering a Collaborative Culture
Trust Up office is an open multi-use space that features a variety of re-configurable hacking, meeting, building, experimenting furniture.

Here, we solder custom electronics to smart lights.
...the Sciend + art....
Trust Up has been testing out matches for events using real time data from our kiosks.

Here's a photo from a recent job matching event with Ulster County Office of Employment and Training where 6 kiosks and 4 smart tvs created a custom matching tool for participants.
....matching in real time

Join TrustUp

Unlock access to a world of resources, knowledge, and connections that empower you and your community.
Trust Up
The Alternatives