In August 2020, the time had finally come: after 2 years of preparation, PlusPlus was launched. Like any start-up, we faced some challenges. In this blog several people from our team look back on the first year of PlusPlus.
Qauthar Saleh (46) invests through PlusPlus because he likes to make an impact. Which project appeals to him in particular? Laughing: "Oh, I don't think I've skipped any of the projects, except the cattle rancher, because I'm a vegetarian!"
Nowadays, more and more people are looking at "sustainability" or "social impact" when choosing their investments. Recent research by the AFM shows that seven out of ten investors consider sustainability to be an important criterion. They will even settle for less financial return if these investments also deliver a social return. And that is good news for humanity. If all the savings in Europe were invested towards impact, many world problems could be resolved.
Are all our investors people with hefty savings? No, Olivia and Joel tell us in this blog. Young people who see the value of sharing what you have by giving a loan. Even if it's only for small amounts.
Good news! Our first financial statements have been approved. After an extensive audit, the auditors have given their approval to our 2020 financial report.
Ilse Duijvestein is an enthusiastic investor at PlusPlus. "It's only tiny amounts thought," she explains. But she is very clear: "I certainly don't see my investment in PlusPlus as a gift. I really want to get back what I have lent out. In doing so, I am expressing confidence in the borrowers."
Suzanne Larsson, Co-Founder of PlusPlus, explains how those with a taste for investing can make a difference.
This week, exactly as planned, PlusPlus investees Sereni Fries and POD Chocolate have repaid the first half of their loan. The gift that keeps on giving is now ready to make an impact yet again. But what was the impact of these first loans?
What inspires people to invest in PlusPlus projects? We asked two lenders about their motivations for investing without financial return.
Last weekend, PlusPlus existed for six months. Time to get the numbers up. What have we achieved together? What's going well? Where do we still have a way to go? We like to be open about this.
Investing in entrepreneurs in developing countries as a Dutch entrepreneur? This can be very rewarding for both parties. “Sharing opportunities makes everything a lot more fun,” according to entrepreneur Ruud Bijl from Rotterdam.
