When Susana Nunes started attending environmental events in Nantes, France, she worked for a government agency and was passionate about protecting the planet. At these events, she would meet her future business partners for the French financial startup, We Do Good. Their mission is to enable investments into sustainable projects that have a positive impact using royalties.
Six years later, that startup, We Do Good, has raised over $7 million (€6 million) for 85 sustainable businesses, brought together almost 6,000 investors, and is a certified B-Corp.
Companies are groups of people who want to get things done. Connecting with people who want to solve the same problems is a powerful way of creating businesses, especially when you want to do things differently.
Networking Based On Values
Susana was volunteering for organizations working on reducing waste, DIY, and social entrepreneurship. She wanted to make sure that in her free time, she supported projects linked with her values. Several times a week, she kept bumping into the same people, including Jean-David Bar, who was already working on We Do Good at the time.
Jean-David knew that a good team was essential to making the company a success, and he was looking in the right places. Through networks, events, projects, and word of mouth, he met his future cofounders Susana Nunes, Emilien Schneider, and Adrien Dehelly.
For Susana, it quickly became apparent she had a lot in common with Jean-David. When he shared the idea of We Do Good, she was motivated by his vision of a more ethical and transparent financial model—something which she says is still at the heart of their work and their business ambitions today.
Networking with people who share the same interests and values as you is powerful. Working on voluntary projects together is an even better way to see how you solve problems together and work as a team. The people you surround yourself with shape your path, so curate your network thoughtfully.
Be Part Of The Conversation
An underestimated element of networking goes beyond meeting people but also exchanging ideas. Jean-David wasn’t afraid to share his idea and vision when he started, even though it wasn’t complete.
The We Do Good cofounders have also worked on blogs and articles, and Jean-David has given presentations and recorded videos.
Share your thoughts on a topic on social media, blogs, videos, and conversations. It will help you develop your opinion as well as connect with others. Don’t be put off by not having a clear idea or final opinion, be part of a global conversation. Great business ideas are never made in a vacuum.
Focus On The Problem
A talk by Stanislas Dupré clarified the problem Jean-David wanted to solve: the role of financial investment in environmental damage. For every action you do to reduce your environmental impact, the carbon footprint of your savings is probably wiping out your efforts.
A recent study from Oxfam France of the six biggest banks in France shows that their carbon footprint is almost eight times the greenhouse gases of the whole of France. If these banks continue to invest customer’s money as they currently do, that will lead to a temperature increase of 4 degrees Celcius by 2100, which is 2.5 degrees Celcius more than the objective fixed in the Paris agreement.
As a team, the We Do Good cofounders took on the problem head-on. They knew they wanted to invest in sustainable projects and develop a simple, impactful financial model where investors would be interested in the outcome.
Together they developed a business model of investment through royalties and are continually iterating their business model. When you invest in a project with their platform, you’ll get a cut of future profits throughout your contract. This revenue sharing model is a growing financial innovation globally which already represented $398 million in 2018.
Network Online
During a global pandemic, networking may seem more difficult, but constraints always bring opportunities. Engage with other people’s work and reach out to them to start a genuine conversation about it. As the conversation develops, ask them for a quick call and stick to time. Follow your discussion with a confirm and clarify email and if someone has given you some tips, let them know if you follow through with those ideas.
Attend online events that align with the problems you want to solve and your values, then connect with speakers and attendees afterward. Organize events, podcasts, or live events online (with lockdowns, some people have more time now, so make the most of it). Volunteer for projects you can positively impact and find people interested in the same problems as you.
Make Genuine Connections
Networking done the right way is not about taking business cards and moving onto the next person. Networking is about being genuinely curious about other people as well as exchanging ideas and creating more significant conversations.
Susana didn’t aim to start a financial startup, but she knew the problems she wanted to solve. She wanted to do more to protect the planet and questioned the current system.
Focus on meaningful connections and solving problems. Through genuine and deeper relationships, you will develop better ideas and create more impactful projects. And if not, at least you will make good friends.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriacollins/2021/03/01/how-networking-helped-these-entrepreneurs-take-on-finance-to-save-the-planet/
2021-03-01 14:00:00Z
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