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 “amplify inspiring, unsung voices” 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.
“When I realised what really makes me happy, it was very clear,” he told me at Web Summit in Lisbon.
“The best thing for me is when I’m able to be useful or helpful to others.
“When you see all the studies, more than 90% of people say, especially on their deathbed, that they didn’t live a meaningful life.
“And when you see what a meaningful life is, it’s when you can be useful for others.”
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.
“We don’t want you just to waste your time in our app,” he explains.
“We want you to get inspired and do something together.”
He points to growing concerns around loneliness as part of the problem the platform is trying to address.
He adds: “Loneliness is kind of everywhere.
“Based on more than 100 studies, you can have better relationships if you have the same goals and the same values as others.”
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.
“The only companies who can advertise on our page are companies who have CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities,” he explains.
“We want to connect companies, organisations, NGOs, foundations, charities, and the people.”
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.
“They say luck is when preparation meets opportunity,” he says.
The introduction came through a mutual contact in the startup ecosystem, leading to a meeting in California.
“He said, ‘I just have one and a half hours,’” Nemes recalls.
“He stayed with us for three and a half hours.
“My first computer video game was International Soccer back in Christmas 1993! When I realised, I called my father.”
Burton has continued to support the business closely.
“He’s really happy helping us,” Nemes says.
“He sees it as an infinite game – to help younger entrepreneurs create something great.
“After Jeff joined us, we offered the same to six different people.
“And what the six said was yes, without hesitation. He really changed the game for us.”
A long-term ambition
While the company is launching first as a social platform, Nemes says it is only the starting point.
“I really didn’t want to create a social media platform,” he says.
“My original plan was to create an educational platform.”
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.
“We want Good People Everywhere to be the synonym of solving humanity’s greatest issues,” he concludes.
Christie Group disposes of visitor attraction software business