Two 20 Year Olds Reshape Entrepreneur Landscape With New Social Investment Platform The Merge vision is to become the 'go to', digital meeting place for entrepreneurs and investors, and to truly make a difference in the world.
By Merge Connect •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
You're reading Entrepreneur South Africa, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.
Vital Stats
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mergeconnect/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mergeconnect/
- Website: http://www.mergeconnect.co/
- Email: Hello@mergeconnect.co
- Number: 072 458 2182
It's no secret that finding the right investor for your venture is a challenge that most entrepreneurs face. The current process of finding investment is one that is outdated, and limits entrepreneurs due to a lack of time, and network that is needed to find the right investor. But, this doesn't have to be the case in today's digital society, says Zander Matthee and Brandon Bate, co-founders of Merge.
"By making the Internet the middleman, we are able to connect with each other much simpler and faster than before" was Zander's response. "We have taken advantage of this, and have created a digital meeting place for entrepreneurs and investors" added Brandon.
Merge is a social platform that connects entrepreneurs and investors. It aims to simplify, refine and accelerate the process of finding investment for entrepreneurs, and the process of finding investment opportunities for investors. From idea to developed, the platform allows entrepreneurs to present a brief outline of their venture to a network of all investor types. While doing this, entrepreneurs are able to browse through, and connect with investor profiles that suit their requirements.
From Private Investors to Venture Capital, and everything in between, Merge allows all investor types to join. Investors have the opportunity to personalise their feed to suit their investment preferences, and will be able to connect with innovative businesses - that are looking for investment - at their fingertips. Only once there is a mutual interest in each other, are users able to enter a secure private chat where they can discuss further and share documents under the protection of a digital NDA.
The two boys became good friends during their time in high school at St Stithians Boys College. However, it was only in their last year, 2016, that they decided to pursue their dreams and create the platform. They didn't know how to code, so rather ironically, they needed some form of investment to get the platform off the ground.
"We knew we had a mountain to climb, but we believed in our vision and that we were really trying to make a difference, and if we could get others to see that, they would be onboard." said Zander.
Chris Peters is one of these individuals that bought into their vision, and became Merge's first investor. As a successful entrepreneur and part time investor , Chris saw how much value the platform could bring to all entrepreneurs and investors alike. His marketing and strategic background gave him insight into how Merge could play a vital role in a lucrative space, Brand involvement.
"Entrepreneurship and SME development are two key factors that drive economic growth in developing countries like South Africa. That is why brands are currently getting involved, and looking to support entrepreneurs through various means. We have built a platform that allows these brands to successfully market, and execute on the programmes they have created to assist entrepreneurs." said Chris
Merge was created to assist all entrepreneurs and investors in finding exactly what they are looking for, regardless of age, race, sex, financial position or social status. That is why anybody can sign-up as an entrepreneur. As long as you are determined and willing to work for your dreams. For too long has the investor space been seen as an "elite club for the select few", and Merge is here to change that. Whether you've gotten your bonus at the end of the year and looking for new investment opportunities, or are an active investor, you can sign-up. Whether you're currently working, or a retired industry leader, you can join as a mentor.
Their vision is to become the 'go to', digital meeting place for entrepreneurs and investors, and to truly make a difference in the world.
