Avast for Bem Valente!
Last year at Startup Pirates @ Curitiba, Diogo Beltrami and his tem won the program with his idea, Bem Valente. Let's know more about this really inspiring social idea.
Who are the people behind Bem Valente?
"Diogo Beltrami (Product Designer | Right on the photo) and Marcelo Grassano (Automation Engineer | Left on the photo), now both business and code developers. We met at Startup Pirates Curitiba but curiously we were in different teams."
Can you tell us a bit more about your project? What are you doing?
"The fight against cancer is not easy, there are a number of difficulties caused by the treatment, which in many cases is intense and aggressive. It’s a disease that weakens not only the physical but also the psychological aspect as well, motivation and self-esteem are significant factors to overcome. So we started Bem Valente to provide special and unique moments of well-being for cancer patients through a sustainable business model.
Bem Valente offers a unique way for you to fulfill dreams and contribute to the fight against cancer. You can buy products and services at the same market prices to fund dreams without paying more and without the need for donations.
Everyone wins:
Patients and their families live special moments of motivation and well-being.
Dream Makers receive their products and provide the attainment of these unique and special moments through their purchases.
Our partners and institutions are benefited financially from sales."
How have these past months been since Startup Pirates? What are the biggest challenges that you faced until now? And accomplishments? Next moves?
"We faced many challenges and learned a lot since Startup Pirates Curitiba. We also won another competition: Souper Heroes organized by Impact Hub Curitiba during the Global Entrepreneurship Week. The biggest challenge we’ve faced with Bem Valente is how social entrepreneurship is misunderstood for most people in Brazil. There is a gap between making good and making money.
Our next move is to improve our revenue streams."
What would you say to a person who has a business idea and wants to turn it into reality?
"The best moment is now, keep dreaming while you’re going for it! We quit our former jobs to pursue this dream and we’re living an amazing experience. But the best way to describe my feeling while working on this project is the testimony of Helen during her dream realization. She looked at us and said, almost whispering, while walking between a toboggan and another: "This is the best day of my life!". And this is the best time of our lives."
Follow Bem Valente: Website | Facebook
Photo Credit: www.gazetadopovo.com.br