History

The Sooch Foundation, established in 2003, seeks to make a positive and permanent change in the lives of economically disadvantaged people in Austin through increased educational opportunities. Nav Sooch, founder and president of the Board of Directors, has been instrumental in its vision and leadership. Dave Welland has also been vital to the Foundation's impact. He has served as a board member since its inception and has helped guide its trajectory at every stage.

Nav was born in Punjab, India, and relocated to Detroit, Michigan, at the age of ten. There, he attended Detroit public schools and pursued higher education at the University of Michigan before completing his graduate studies at Stanford University.

Dave grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and moved to Austin after earning a bachelor’s degree at MIT. By 1983, he had joined a young semiconductor company, Crystal Semiconductor. Nav joined Crystal in 1985, and in 1996 they – along with Jeff Scott – founded Silicon Laboratories, a leading semiconductor company still headquartered in Austin.

Both men credit much of their personal success to the educational opportunities they received and strongly believe that education is a transformative force in helping individuals achieve self-sufficiency. This has been the heart of the Foundation’s mission and giving strategy for more than 20 years.

Rooted in the same city as Silicon Laboratories, the Sooch Foundation focuses its funding on programs serving Central Texas communities. In the past, it also supported initiatives in India as a tribute to Nav’s heritage.

Over the past 22 years, the foundation has committed more than $13 million to over 100 local organizations, including Breakthrough Central Texas, Capital Idea, LifeWorks, Foundation Communities, and the Texas Empowerment Academy. Additionally, the Sooch Foundation has played a pivotal role in collective impact initiatives, such as the Austin Opportunity Youth Collective.