We have started working on a brand new purpose-led business venture called Treegeneration which aims to raise funds for wildlife projects, whilst at the same time encouraging people to support local businesses.
The project was conceived during lockdown, when with time on our hands, and the sun shining brightly, we were all thinking really hard about the future. During this time we came to the conclusion that it would be really cool to use our web skills to develop a new platform which is beneficial for the natural world.
At the core of our model is a "Wealth Creation Cycle" based on Michael Linton's Community Way model, found on the Open Money (Web 1.0) site. We have decided to test-pilot this model to see if it can be used effectively in a rural area of Wales, to stimulate economic activity, and generate funds specifically for local wildlife projects. It is not our intention to use the model to get people to buy more stuff, since consumerism is a bit part of the problem the planet faces. Rather, it is our intention that the platform will encourage people to buy more local.
To that end, we've started work on a shiny Drupal 8 website and will be using the built in API that is included in the software, to extend the platform, to integrate with a mobile app, commercial websites, and POS (point of sale) systems in the future. This is just the beginning, but hopefully in a few months time we will have a clear idea about the viability of this innovative business model.
You can read more about Treegeneration and see how it works by visiting the website here. If you are a local business in the Aberystwyth area, and are interested in using the platform to increase your own sales, then please get in touch with the Treegeneration team.