1) Why are you crowdfunding?

We've secured our Series A from media investors and now invite our community to join via Seedrs. For as little as £20, you can own a share in WaterBear and shape our next chapter. Your investment is a stake in our evolution to offer more diverse stories and actions on and off-platform. 🌱

2) How can I invest?

We’re partnering with Seedrs, one of the largest equity crowdfunding platforms in Europe. The investment will be made via their platform. If you're 18+ (excluding UAE, Canada, US, or Japan), you can hop on board. The doors are open for the next 5 days, so don't miss out and register via the button below to start. Need help? Visit our campaign page HERE.

2) What are you using the funding for?

We're enhancing our platform - WaterBear 2.0 - to offer more stories, actions, and opportunities for our community to engage and come together as one. For more details, see our pitch deck HERE.

3) Why invest in WaterBear?

Our vision is a global community where everyone has the tools to feel better about the future 🌟. From compelling stories to learning opportunities, actions, and connections, WaterBear is transforming faster than ever. If you’re in a position to contribute, this is your chance to be involved in this exciting evolution!

4) Will I see a return on my investment?

Investing in startups can be like planting a seed 🌱— it takes time to see the growth. This isn’t just a donation but a potential stepping stone towards potential returns. Yet please be aware that investing is risky, so first make sure you check out our growth plan (link to pitch deck). The Seedrs website has good resources too where you can learn more about how startup investors make money. We know investing isn’t feasible for everyone, so please consider this only if it aligns with your values and financial capacity.

5) If your platform is free and has no ads, how do you survive as a business?

Great question! It’s not all pennies from heaven 💸. We believe in inspiring change without a paywall. Our revenue streams come from partners—brands, NGOs, and foundations—who share our vision and help us keep the lights on and the content flowing 📡

6) How do you avoid greenwashing brands?

We handpick our partners like a gardener picks the best blooms 🌷. They’re chosen for their genuine commitment to our mission and the power of impactful storytelling. Each partner goes through a rigorous vetting process to ensure they walk the walk, not just talk the talk. No company is perfect, but we are committed to working with the brands that are truly honest, who support important stories that need to be shared with the world.

Questions? Contact us at info@waterbear.com. Whether investing or cheering from the sidelines, your support makes our community thrive, so thank you! 💚

WaterBear's Monetization Journey

Phase One: Pioneering Purpose-Driven Partnerships (Since Launch in 2020)

Our journey began with a focus on brand and media partnerships, powered by WB Studios for brand-funded content creation and widespread distribution. This model allowed us to generate revenue from the outset, establishing a stable services business with low dependency on our audience's engagement levels.

By fostering long-term partnerships with brands such as Jack Wolfskin, The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Nikon and Rolex, we not only secured stable income but also gained brand equity and organic growth opportunities. This phase, while now inherently scalable, served as a crucial foundation, enabling us to build a community and refine our product-led approach.

How does WaterBear ensure it works with partners that are similarly aligned and avoid ‘greenwashing’?

• We have a strict methodology in place when it comes to our partners - this includes extensive research and using an internal vetting tool and system. We only work with brands that share a similar mission statement to us and are truly serious about creating a positive impact in the world and prioritise progress over perfection.
• We collaborate with brands internally as well as externally. Currently we are working with organizations such as Ellen MacArthur Foundation and B Lab, who are doing vital work within the sector, as we want to influence brands at supply chain level.
• We only collaborate with brands when we know there is an important story that needs to be shared with the world, and is a topic they care deeply about and are historically aligned on.
• Our philosophy also relies on delivering impact returns to the brands that invest with us; ensuring robust measurement and reporting practices are in place also ensures you avoid the traps of traditional greenwashing.
  

Moreover, we strategically utilised the capital-efficient nature of our business model, emphasising low-tech - / content investment. This approach allowed us to develop valuable content assets, partly funded by our media partners, which could be monetized across WaterBear channels or even third-party platforms.

Phase Two: Nurturing Community and Diversifying Revenue Streams (From 2023 Onwards)

As we move into the second phase, our focus shifts towards growing an engaged community and introducing recurring revenue streams. Our commitment to maintaining free access for all members ensures continued community growth and brand recognition.

To achieve this, we are looking to scale our reach, preparing our technology stack and data architecture for scale, and to introduce the WaterBear Academy. This partnership with The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) not only diversifies our revenue portfolio but also taps into the burgeoning e-learning market.

The e-learning opportunity is significant, with the market valued at USD 399.3 billion in 2022 and projected to grow at a 14% CAGR between 2023 and 2032. Leveraging EMF's extensive network of 200+ corporates, we are looking to capitalize on this market, whilst de-risking our financial exposure in the process.

Phase Three: Ethical Monetization Aligned with Impact Strategy

In the third phase we intend to actively explore various avenues to monetize the WaterBear community in line with our Impact Strategy. This ensures that our commitment to positive change remains at the forefront of our business practices.

In conclusion, through our phased approach we plan to balance immediate revenue generation, community growth, and strategic partnerships. WaterBear's evolution is a testament to our dedication to impactful storytelling, fostering positive change, and building a sustainable future.

Please pre-register through the button below.

Risk Warning

Investing involves risks, including loss of capital, illiquidity, lack of dividends and dilution, and should be done only as part of a diversified portfolio. Please read the Risk Warnings before investing. Investments should only be made by investors who understand these risks. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change in future. No communications about any campaigns on Seedrs you receive from Seedrs or the fundraising business, through email or any other medium, should be construed as an investment recommendation.

This financial promotion has been prepared by and approved by Seedrs Limited on 23/04/2024. Seedrs Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Seedrs Limited is a limited company, registered in England and Wales (No. 06848016), with registered office at Stylus Building, 112-116 Old Street, London, England, EC1V 9BG.