Thanks for the reply – and the belief! I understand that Esc is being frugal – good idea – keep doing what you do best!

Of course someone was going to ask, especially after Paul Archer mentioned at the event that small, fast growing (tech) companies that have recently received investment, might be good places to ask!

Looking for sponsorship has not been part of my business plan, but the event inspired me to at least ask – I had assumed it would be nearly impossible..but there’s always a chance! And if you don’t ask, you’ll never know, right?

I have thought about Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but as I say, fundraising for the first trip was not part of my plan. Unfortunately the timelines and deadlines have passed for any kind of structured crowd funding for my October Inspiring Adventure.

It’s not the end of the world – I’ll just have to spend October generating income instead. Unless I find someone else out there who would like to be inspired by meeting a range of social entrepreneurs in Brazil!

Bye for now,
Rich

The content production landscape is a tricky one – we’re still figuring out what content we’d pay for in cash and what content we pay for in traffic to guest contributors. Esc is a platform that content creators can leverage, but we’re really not in a position any time soon to be spending on paid content.

Ultimately, the content decisions are driven by what brings the most value to our global members. So the first priority for any magical ‘video budget’ would probably be filming the events like Wednesday night’s, and turning them into a TED-talk style format, so that global members can benefit from the knowledge shared there too.

I get approached by members who are doing VERY cool things, and I’ve contributed to a couple of Kickstarter campaigns I’ve found out about via Esc, but it’s been out of my own pocket, not Esc’s – because our priority right now, as Esc, is investing in the new site/platform. Any content expenditure would be classified under ‘marketing’ – but even the best marketing won’t make up for a less-than-stellar product. So the product is our main focus right now, in terms of spending priorities.

Personally – away from Esc – I’ve done a lot of video production myself, but I’ve found that it’s nearly impossible to find someone to ‘sponsor’ you to make content where you also retain creative license. So in the past, the approach I’ve taken is similar to that preached by those adventurers on Wednesday night – I’ve worked as a contractor in web/digital management, saved up the cash myself, then ‘sponsored’ my own content.

Happy to continue the chat offline. Have you thought about Kickstarter? Or Indiegogo?

Well done – what an inspiring event.

In fact, I’ve been inspired to openly ask Escape the City to sponsor the first Inspiring Adventure, and to start our collaboration together!

I’m on a mission to inspire more people to start, join and support socially beneficial businesses. I do this by introducing more of us to inspiring people and stories, locally and around the world.

Don’t laugh – This is what is in it for Escape the City:

During the Inspiring Adventure:

5 video and written interviews with at least 5 inspiring entrepreneurs (during October). As you know I’ve been planning this Inspiring Adventure for 6 months, and have already connected with local social entrepreneurs and Escape Heroes. For example, the Brazilian Ex-McKinsey consultant who set up Brazil’s first social finance fund and the UK ex-pat who is taking over the running of Latin America’s largest Bird Park, along with my connections at the Hub Sao Paulo and Hub Rio initiative (more info on on my website).

After the Inspiring Adventure:

I will talk at an event of your choosing about the experience, if you want, in November.

Plus, I’d like to continue the collaboration, and offer 5 more video and written interviews and updates with inspiring people/Escape Heroes from Japan and the Hub Tokyo – ongoing into next year.

Plus plus, I’ve just applied to join Peace Boat again, and sail around the world, from December to March. If I get on board, and you would like it, I’ll wear an Escape the City T-shirt and take photos in over 15 countries (including Easter Island) during the Peace Boat voyage. And if you are really nice, I might even record and edit videos doing an Esc The City activity of your choice (or the communities choice) in more than 15 countries (Here’s my yoga around the world video that I made last time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGxQ72NURec ).

How much would all this be worth in sponsorship? £500? £1000? something else? You decide.

Without sponsorship, I won’t be able to operate the first Inspiring Adventure in Brazil, but to be honest, it’s not just about the money – it’s having a partner who believes in me, and Inspiring Adventures. I’m looking for someone to say “here you go, we believe in you, you can do it”.

Are you interested? Do you believe in me?

See you soon,
Richard