A new social platform aiming to inspire real-world action for good has secured the backing of an influential figure from the global tech industry.
Good People Everywhere, founded by entrepreneur Gabor Nemes, is preparing for an official launch before March, with Electronic Arts co-founder Jeff Burton now on board as a key supporter of the business.
The platform is designed to 鈥渁mplify inspiring, unsung voices鈥� and connect people, charities, NGOs and companies around shared values, causes and action.
Nemes says the idea behind the London-based startup is rooted in a personal realisation about meaning, usefulness and happiness.
鈥淲hen I realised what really makes me happy, it was very clear,鈥� he told me at Web Summit in Lisbon.聽
鈥淭he best thing for me is when I鈥檓 able to be useful or helpful to others.
鈥淲hen you see all the studies, more than 90% of people say, especially on their deathbed, that they didn鈥檛 live a meaningful life.聽
鈥淎nd when you see what a meaningful life is, it鈥檚 when you can be useful for others.鈥�
Patrick Killeen and Gabor Nemes, founder of Good People Everywhere
From inspiration to action
Unlike traditional social platforms, Nemes says Good People Everywhere is not designed to maximise time spent scrolling.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want you just to waste your time in our app,鈥� he explains.聽
鈥淲e want you to get inspired and do something together.鈥�
He points to growing concerns around loneliness as part of the problem the platform is trying to address.
He adds: 鈥淟oneliness is kind of everywhere.
鈥淏ased on more than 100 studies, you can have better relationships if you have the same goals and the same values as others.鈥�
The platform aims to show users causes and people they can work with, before encouraging them to take action offline and share that experience to inspire others.
A for-profit, for-purpose model
Good People Everywhere is officially a for-profit business, but Nemes is clear about its broader mission.
Revenue will come from advertising, but with a strict filter on who can advertise.
鈥淭he only companies who can advertise on our page are companies who have CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities,鈥� he explains.聽
鈥淲e want to connect companies, organisations, NGOs, foundations, charities, and the people.鈥�
The platform has soft-launched and is currently testing the app, with a wider rollout planned before March.
Preparation meeting opportunity
One of the biggest milestones for the company so far has been the involvement of Jeff Burton, one of the original co-founders of Electronic Arts.
Nemes describes the connection as a mix of luck and readiness.
鈥淭hey say luck is when preparation meets opportunity,鈥� he says.
The introduction came through a mutual contact in the startup ecosystem, leading to a meeting in California.
鈥淗e said, 鈥業 just have one and a half hours,鈥欌�� Nemes recalls.聽
鈥淗e stayed with us for three and a half hours.
鈥淢y first computer video game was International Soccer back in Christmas 1993! When I realised, I called my father.鈥�
Burton has continued to support the business closely.
鈥淗e鈥檚 really happy helping us,鈥� Nemes says.聽
鈥淗e sees it as an infinite game – to help younger entrepreneurs create something great.
鈥淎fter Jeff joined us, we offered the same to six different people.
鈥淎nd what the six said was yes, without hesitation. He really changed the game for us.鈥�
A long-term ambition
While the company is launching first as a social platform, Nemes says it is only the starting point.
鈥淚 really didn鈥檛 want to create a social media platform,鈥� he says.
鈥淢y original plan was to create an educational platform.鈥�
His long-term ambition is to use technology, data and community to help people develop skills, find causes and even build new companies focused on solving global challenges.
鈥淲e want Good People Everywhere to be the synonym of solving humanity鈥檚 greatest issues,鈥� he concludes.
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