I recently sat down with Sam and Simon, the co-founders of WONDR, to discuss their journey of building a company designed to foster meaningful knowledge sharing and professional growth. In this interview, they share the inspiration behind WONDR, the challenges they've faced as founders, and their advice for budding entrepreneurs.
The Inspiration Behind WONDR
Sam explains that the idea for WONDR was born from his professional experience in small businesses (SMEs), where everyone contributes to a common goal and personal growth is critical. Reflecting on the early days of social media's rise, Sam noticed a gap—technology was connecting people for entertainment, but not for meaningful professional development. He envisioned a platform where people could share knowledge, help each other grow, and build valuable skills, beyond mere certifications.
WONDR was created to foster an environment of continuous learning and curiosity.
Simon added that his own learning experience, both from mentors and on the job, shaped his belief in the importance of practical, hands-on learning. Together, they saw the potential to create a space where individuals could accelerate their professional journeys by learning from one another in a more social, practical way.
Evolving the Mission
WONDR’s mission to create knowledge-sharing networks that drive human development has stayed constant, but the focus has shifted. Initially, the vision was broad, but over time the company zeroed in on serving founders, particularly those in impact-driven and sustainability-focused industries. This focus aligns with their belief that entrepreneurs leading businesses with a positive impact are key to societal progress.
As Simon put it, "We believe that founders within impact and sustainability areas are crucial to moving the world forward in a positive way, and the best way to support that is through learning and growth."
Overcoming Challenges as Founders
Starting a company is never smooth sailing, and both founders have faced their share of challenges. One of the toughest was navigating the "messy middle"—the uncertain phase of figuring out business models and product offerings. Both highlighted that resiliency was key: "Caring deeply about the mission, staying connected to our customers, and continuously iterating based on their feedback helped us get through the rough patches." - Sam
They also pointed out the benefit of having each other as a co-founder: "Having two people on the journey has been crucial. Valuing each other’s skills and contributions has helped us get through the hard times."
They both emphasised the importance of listening to your customers, iterating quickly, and staying focused on your long-term vision. As Simon noted, "One of the biggest lessons is to stay humble and realise there’s a lot you don’t know. Surround yourself with great people who can help you navigate those challenges."
Advice for Founders Starting Out
When asked what advice they would give to new founders, Simon stressed the importance of extreme focus and speed: "You need to be acutely aware of the specific problem you’re solving and be meticulous in experimenting with different solutions. Speed is essential—move quickly with a great team to find what works."
Sam echoed this, adding that humility is key: "Recognise early on that you don’t know everything, and don’t hesitate to bring in great people to help you. Building a solid team is one of the most important things you can do."
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Staying Motivated Through the Tough Times
Motivation doesn’t always come easy, especially when times are tough. For Sam and Simon, it’s all about reconnecting with their "why." Si believes that if you’re driven solely by financial gain, it’s easy to falter when challenges arise. "You need to believe in the bigger impact your business can have. That belief will keep you going when things get hard."
For Sam, customer feedback is a powerful motivator. "Even when feedback is negative, it pushes us forward. Seeing how our work helps people and businesses succeed is incredibly rewarding."
Looking Ahead: The Future of WONDR
Both founders have ambitious visions for WONDR in the next five to ten years. They hope to scale the platform globally, supporting founders who are tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges. "We want to be part of the narrative for how knowledge-sharing networks can help accelerate problem-solving in areas like sustainability and economic development," says Sam.
Simon added, "Our goal is to create measurable, net-positive contributions by helping founders grow impactful businesses. We’re excited to scale that vision and support more founders on their journeys."
Key Takeaways for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
- Focus and Speed: Stay focused on solving a specific problem and move quickly to test and refine your solutions.
- Resiliency: Challenges are inevitable - resiliency, staying connected to your customers, and persevering are critical to success.
- Humility: Recognise what you don’t know and surround yourself with great people who can fill in the gaps.
- Customer-Centred: Always listen to your customers. Their feedback, whether positive or negative is a roadmap to improving your business.
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