Finding foundercontact

I had the pleasure recently of being introduced via Skype to Andre Maljaars, CEO and co-founder of foundercontact group.

foundercontact is a European-based global online business tool for entrepreneurs and business owners and investors - where they can network and expand business 24/7. Their mission is to offer entrepreneurs a true international network of business contacts with currently 3,500+ investors that is still growing fast.

This is a distinctly different niche than that occupied by other business/social networking destinations online.

Andre was kind enough to deal with time zone differences and take time from his busy schedule to answer a few questions and provide important insight into how to effectively network on a global basis as well as the benefits of utilizing his unique site, foundercontact.

Be sure to read the entire article so you won’t miss his special offer!

After completing his studies in business administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam and corporate experience as product manager and account manager at Philips NL followed by 9 years at Ingram Micro in senior executive positions where he had bottom line responsibility for U$ 1 Billion revenue, Andre gave in to his true entrepreneurial desires and founded Leaderboard in 2000 an e-novator of SME front office operations (marketing, communication and sales).

Since founding foundercontact Holland in 2004, Andre has taken responsibility for global expansion and daily operation.

The group currently has networks at India, USA, Holland, France with many more to follow.

What prompted you to create foundercontact, Andre?

As an entrepreneur myself, I was frustrated with the poor outcome of many network happenings where afterwards you hardly can remember which business card belongs to what person. Another widespread complaint is the lack of entrance to potential interested investors. Everyday I see promising entrepreneurs wrestling with this - did you know that more than 80% of all business plans end up at the wrong desk, and therefore, will fail? Our ambition with foundercontact ànd Capital Gate is to create a seamless online marketplace for entrepreneurial ideas and bring them into contact with an large international network of qualified investors. We help entrepreneurs present a compelling business proposition to potential investors. Capital Gate connects entrepreneurs with an enormous diversified network of 3,500 investors. It ranges from angel investors and private equity companies to syndicated investors that share an interest in a same portfolio or business opportunity. Capital Gate has attracted successful investments, ranging from a UK Sterling 75,000 up to investments of Euro 233 Million

Click here for more info on some business cases. http://www.foundercontact.eu/businesscase

What are the primary goals for foundercontact and for individual members?

At foundercontact we like to offer an online place where they can meet and exchange ideas with peers. For many entrepreneurs and business owners it's lonely at the helm, they need to motivate themselves everyday. We offer them easy to use tools to expand their network regionally and, if they like, globally. End of this year we plan to have a membership of 50,000 entrepreneurs worldwide and our ambition is to expand that to 500,000 at 2009 year-end.

What do you feel is most important for successful networking for entrepreneurs?

Entrepreneurs are very busy and hands-on. If they jump on our network, it is for a reason - they like to search for someone's email address or website or even better Skype or email directly. We’ve tried to streamline and simplify making these critical connections.

How is networking different outside of the US? What's the same? And, how do you recommend we entrepreneurs find common ground with our peers around the world?

With internet and business tools like foundercontact, the world is becoming a smaller place. The 12,500 entrepreneurs and business owners out of our database, are representing 85 different countries. I believe that for most entrepreneurs the window for success is shortening and boundaries are literally fading away. One of the fastest growing regions at foundercontact is India where we have our own networking company and backroom operation located in New Delhi. But this is just the beginning and we see great exchange of people, ideas, capacity, design and capital between countries and regions. The great thing, it's not a one-directional movement but offers many opportunities for smart open-minded and globally operating entrepreneurs.

What do entrepreneurs need to keep in mind when networking internationally?

It starts with simple things like time zone differences and still language barriers. We see that our hotmail/chat functionality is very popular with non-native English speaking entrepreneurs. In direct communication with native English entrepreneurs, it gives you still some more time to think over your (written) response compared to a direct phone call. The great opportunity for entrepreneurs from the USA and Canada is that many SME entrepreneurs from Europe and India want to increase business overseas and you are ahead with many new business trends, too. Last but not least, the US dollar noted 1,40 to the Euro which gives you guys relief on pricing.

Most importantly

We would like to offer all TNNW subscribers who are entrepreneurs and business owners from the USA a life-time free country membership at foundercontact USA. Just go to http://www.foundercontact.com/usa to complete the registration.

Contact Louise at LydiaS@TheNationalNetworker.com or via TNNW Blog.
 

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