Joe Freedman, an Entrepreneurs’ Group (EO) member in Nashville is the founder and CEO of Occasion Works Leases. Joe noticed a necessity for entrepreneurs to assist the Ukrainian folks combat their struggle and tapped his entrepreneurial expertise and assets to take action. Right here’s what he shared in regards to the expertise:
Throughout a current journey to Ukraine to ship donated drones, I visited Auschwitz throughout the border in Poland. On a wall on this place the place so many harmless folks had been killed is a plaque: “Those that can not bear in mind the previous are condemned to repeat it.”
As a Jew, this warning is very current to me, which is why I’ve a deep and lifelong disdain for bullies. When Russia invaded Ukraine, I noticed one other potential slaughter of innocents. Historical past repeating itself. I’ll by no means perceive why so many individuals ignore atrocities—then or now.
However what can I do? I don’t have army, medical, or different expertise to assist the Ukrainians. I’ve no political strings to tug. I’m simply a median man, a businessperson, pissed off and deeply affected by watching one other tyrant slake his thirst with harmless blood.
Then I spotted there was one thing I may do. I’m a member of EO Nashville, the biggest US chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Group—which has chapters all around the world. So, I emailed every of the 23 entrepreneurs in EO Russia and the 48 members in EO Poland. The Russian entrepreneurs needed to assist their pals and kin in Ukraine. A number of Polish EO members are engaged in supporting and offering assist to Ukrainians. I had discovered good individuals who needed to assist, in order that was a begin. I started speaking with my community about how somebody in Nashville may assist victims of a struggle on one other continent.
After which a drone firm on which I sit on the board of administrators, Crimson Cat Holdings, began getting emails from Ukrainian drone pilots helping within the struggle effort–civilians, not skilled troopers. They had been asking for American-made drones to assist arrange refugee secure zone exits, detect and detonate land mines, survey broken buildings for rescue operations, and different humanitarian efforts.
I knew it was time to behave. I rounded up a dozen sturdy and agile racing drones and boarded a airplane with fellow EO Nashville member, Steve Curnutte. Along with a drone skilled, we flew to Warsaw, drove to the border, crossed into Ukraine, and hand-delivered the drones to skilled drone pilots at their hidden headquarters the place the drones are geared up for varied duties—some humanitarian, some army. Both approach, they’re saving harmless lives.
That supply was the primary installment in what I hope will probably be a gentle stream of drones to Ukraine by means of a non-profit group, Drones for Good Worldwide. We’re elevating cash to purchase and ship drones to the 400+ drone pilots in Ukraine to make use of in humanitarian methods–serving to to avoid wasting lives and maintain folks secure.
Whereas in Ukraine, I additionally met with and vetted the on-the-ground non-profit group, Help Legion, which is able to assist with the logistics of getting the drones to the proper folks. Additionally, my new pals from EO Poland, who themselves have been elevating funds and offering reduction to tens of 1000’s of refugees fleeing Ukraine, helped me scout warehouse house close to the border to retailer the drones earlier than delivering them.
It was Passover once I boarded the airplane to ship drones to Ukraine, a celebration of one other time when oppressed folks efficiently freed themselves from tyranny, although many perished within the course of. And whereas thousands and thousands perished from the horrors of World Conflict II—each on the battlefield and in loss of life camp gasoline chambers—finally, good prevailed over evil. It’s my want, and perception, that the identical will occur in Ukraine, hopefully ahead of later.
Listed below are my entrepreneurial take-aways from this enterprise about the way to use your community and expertise to try to clear up issues exterior of these encountered in working a enterprise:
- A worldwide community is a superpower that may show you how to clear up nearly any drawback. Connecting with entrepreneurs in Poland gave me the robust benefit of getting folks on the bottom, in a spot I’d by no means been, whom I knew I may belief–actually with my life. I used to be in a position to belief that they had been who they mentioned they had been—one thing not all the time potential in a struggle zone—and belief that they’d the enterprise sense and native information to carry success to each the journey and the following non-profit we arrange.
- I confirmed what all entrepreneurs know: The market and the entrepreneurial power that drives us are very efficient at rapidly figuring out points and doing one thing about them. The Ukraine Conflict is exclusive in being the primary worldwide battle by which non-public enterprise, with out urging or organizing by the federal government, is immediately reaching out to assist. The early use of drones on this struggle is a first-rate instance. This enterprise started when non-military skilled drone pilots in Ukraine began utilizing their very own drones to assist Ukrainians. Their employers obtained concerned, after which it went worldwide—a completely voluntary enterprise effort—to not combat the struggle, actually, however to offer the humanitarian assist folks want particularly throughout wartime.
My effort in Ukraine with the drone firm on whose board I sit is one amongst a whole bunch, maybe 1000’s, of others being carried out by fast-acting entrepreneurs and different caring folks, similar to you. Possibly atypical folks can cease historical past from repeating itself.
For extra insights and inspiration from at this time’s main entrepreneurs, try EO on Inc. and extra articles from the EO weblog.
