From the outset, Meet&Map harnessed the co-founders various skill sets to give their social entrepreneur collaborators the best chance of success. Dakhil, an experienced sales professional with self-described “networker DNA,” can help startup social enterprises with marketing strategies and network expansion. 

For his part, Weiss has 25 years of experience in developing creative workshops. And, last but certainly not least, Ellarian offers strong credentials in building businesses that adhere to both social activism and financial sustainability.

After four years, Meet&Map was able to secure funding to offer training workshops and networking events under formal projects. In one key assignment, Meet&Map has been working with female entrepreneurs across six EU countries to provide tips on entering the circular economy. 

Recalling that long-ago conversation between Dakhil and Weiss, the project’s focus on women comes as no surprise. Established in 2018, the Women’s Map initiative recognises that women frequently have outstanding ideas and talents for advancing social projects, but sometimes need support to realise those dreams.

While Meet&Map relies solely on EU funding for income, the organisation has plans to build other, complementary revenue streams. At present, Meet&Map is constructing a “Services for Businesses and Organisations” department, which will deliver paid training sessions to SMEs on topics like corporate social responsibility, cultural transformation, and networking.

In this way, Meet&Map’s mission operates like concentric circles: supporting female entrepreneurs, expanding to social enterprises in general, and eventually helping the private sector to implement meaningful, sustainable change. This open-minded attitude permeates Meet&Map’s very organisational fabric.

“How we do things is as important — or sometimes more important — than what we are doing,” Dakhil concluded.

Learn more about Meet&Map through the website and Facebook.

Photos courtesy of Meet&Map