Francesca Hodgson - ex-Founder - Goodbox

Breakfast with Founders 🥐 On Friday I met with Francesca Hodgson, MBA

You'll know an exceptional founder when you meet one. It's rarely just about their idea or the ability to execute; but also everything in between.

Francesca - previously founder of GoodBox, a fintech-for-good platform that solved the increasing impacts of a cashless society on the charity section in the form of donations.

Currently, Francesca is exploring a brilliant opportunity in the health and wellness space, more on her profile 👀 

We spoke about:

- Once a founder, always a founder. It's difficult to let an hour or day go past without looking at the next idea to build. With everything though, ideas are nothing without execution and in many cases you're better off disproving ideas first before you go on to build. In both of our cases, don't think we've had our final gigs! 

- Identifying the exceptional founder. Difficult to describe, easier to feel. You'll know an exceptional founder when you meet one. It's rarely just about their idea or the ability to execute; but also everything in between. Their timeliness; their ability to show passion; their respect for those around them; being prepared; among many other characteristics. (one day I'll write a book on my findings)

- Investing in high potential underrepresented founders. It's easy to assume that people with ideas and desire to execute know exactly how to navigate the journey. Some of the strongest founders out there built to create revenue to survive or to built for purpose. Equally these founders aren't the ones that get the exposure and network into the world of venture capital and startups. They're not ex-consultants or bankers either.

Plenty more was discussed including the angel investing world and combining networks for the greater good.