WANTED: Challengers

Last year we sponsored Caterham, one of the Formula One teams. The impact was extraordinary. It does not happen every day that a small fintech company gets its foot in the door of a sport as big and expensive as Formula One. Yes, the logo was small. Yes, it was only one race. But still it was an exciting, surprising story of a challenger supporting another challenger. We loved it. Our clients loved it. And the media loved it.

Since then, we have grown a lot. We have transacted more than $1.6 billion, doubled our client base, opened several new markets, closed another round... but despite all these successes we are still challengers, and everything we do must reflect it.

So, a few weeks ago we started looking for another challenger project we could support. An authentic challenger project, trying to make the world a better place. And I think we found it.

A few weeks ago we received a call from Best Buddies, a charity organisation whose goal is to promote friendship with people who live with disability. They wanted us to sponsor them.

At the time, I wondered, why would they call us instead of any of the multitude of huge companies with large marketing budgets and active social action policies?

So we spoke to them. It was quickly apparent that they were no ordinary charity group. They approached us because they were just like us: authentic challengers. Setting their own challenges and objectives, and then working hard to achieve them.

This year, they wanted to help their disabled athletes to compete and finish a real triathlon race. In order to do this, they asked us for a little financial help to purchase the tandem bikes needed for the race.

We couldn’t do it. At least not how they asked. Kantox does not simply give money for our logo to appear somewhere. We participate in the projects that we believe in.  So, instead of just giving them money we really got involved. We have trained together with them. We have shared the cause with our friends and clients. We even invited some of our clients to join the challenge.

And last Sunday, we swam, cycled and ran with them and cheered for them at one of the largest triathlon events in Europe, the Garmin Barcelona race. Shoulder to shoulder. Disabled athletes. Volunteers, Kantox employees and clients. All together. 

It was tough. Long. Tiring. But, in the end, we all finished the race. Each and every one of us. We are grateful for being able to participate and help those young athletes to achieve their goal. In a way,  the Best Buddies challenge is similar to our day-to-day work. We stand at the side of our clients, bringing security and confidence, and helping them to achieve their own goals by offering what we do best.

From left to right, Inma (a Kantox client), ángel, Patricio and Marek (Kantox chairman).

As a challenger yourself, you will know that big challenges require persistence, grit and, often, the help of many. As a challenger you can help, too. Do not worry, I am not asking you to run a triathlon, or donate. Best Buddies need visibility. So, please, spread the word. Hit that sharing button. Tweet. And, if you can, come and cheer for them at some of their future challenges. We'll be there!