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Game, Set, Shares
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00:00Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:57Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
01:00This is a moment of nervosity because normally we are meeting great people from technology,
01:14startups, great entrepreneurs.
01:16And used to receive and discuss with tech leaders, innovators.
01:27But now, today, at this very moment, it is a pleasure and a great honor to introduce a very, very
01:40special session
01:42that embodies the values of entrepreneurship that VivaTech pushes forward.
01:50But it is also a pleasure to present to you the stories of three individuals
01:57and two different worlds that blend together with a single story to move things forward.
02:08And I have to confess something.
02:11You know, since the inception of VivaTech, I had the pleasure and the honor of welcoming and speaking
02:23with people like Jack Ma, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and many others.
02:30And I feel good when I'm interviewing them.
02:35But I must tell you that I'm very, very nervous and intimidated because I have to introduce two immense stars.
02:51People who are icons, two fantastic women, ladies, that I admire profoundly and that I have seen from my little
03:06seat at Roland-Garros winning and making hearts beating.
03:12So, in this world of sport and during this Olympic year for the city of life, it's the first time
03:24since 100 years that Paris will be becoming the Olympic Games.
03:31And also at Roland-Garros' time, there cannot be a better time to welcome these two iconic stars.
03:44They've flown in from the United States and they came specially for you.
03:52Yes!
03:53Yes!
04:00Sarah and Venus Williams have redefined what it means to be an athlete, what it means to be a champion,
04:11what it means to be a star on the tennis court.
04:15But they have also shown the world that excellence is not just prize, money, and trophies, but also breaking barriers
04:26and changing the narrative.
04:28Of the court, they are entrepreneurs, founders, role models.
04:35They have embarked on a new journey in business and technology with, again, a tremendous impact.
04:42In the world of entrepreneurship, there is someone else that you will see a bit later on with Benjamin Chambla.
04:54He has had several lives already.
04:57He's very young, but he is what we call a serial entrepreneur.
05:02He has been attending Vinvatec in the past, but he was always in the back.
05:11Now, he will be, thanks to Serena and Venus Williams in front, because of his determination and relentlessness,
05:23he's here today with a new project shared in order to democratize investing for everyone,
05:31and I'm sure you will give him a very warm welcome later on when he will come to this stage.
05:37Now, I want you to give the warmest possible welcome to Venus and Sarah Williams with Marguerite Payon.
05:51Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go.
06:02You are fantastic.
06:07Thank you.
06:08Thank you.
06:09Yes.
06:16Oh, my God.
06:18Oh my god, Venus, Irina, it's a pleasure to have you both joining us live here in Paris at VivaTech
06:25and especially at a time when we are a sports capital, from the Olympics, of course,
06:30to Roland Garros happening literally as we speak.
06:34We both know it's a city close to your heart, but what makes it feel so special to you?
06:42I mean, I've always loved Paris.
06:45It's been a place where I have so many great memories and obviously at Roland Garros
06:51and just so many wonderful times there with my sister, you know, singles, doubles.
06:58We've just had so much fun and honestly, my first tournament win actually came in Paris
07:02at Stade de France. It was forever ago.
07:06And so I just, so many wonderful memories here for me.
07:11Yeah, totally. Hi, everybody. How are you?
07:18Yeah, actually, our first doubles title was here too, our first Grand Slam doubles title.
07:23Yeah, so really great memories for forever here.
07:27Of course, you can't forget the food and the wine.
07:30So it's always a great time to have wine here.
07:34I think there's a cocktail after, so, yes.
07:38Well, actually, looking forward to it.
07:42Now, we know that one of the main themes we want to dive into is definitely togetherness
07:46because you are bringing together what a team actually means to be.
07:52But how does it feel to be on stage together today?
07:56Well, it's always super special to share the stage with Venus.
08:01So we don't do this too often.
08:03So, you know, doing it here in Paris is something that's really cool.
08:07And it's great that we have this moment to do it here.
08:10Yeah, it's definitely a very special occasion.
08:12We don't get to work together often, actually.
08:15So we're here with our team shares.
08:18And so, yeah.
08:22We have the whole keep in front.
08:24So it's very special for us to come together for something that's very important.
08:29So definitely we are the lucky audience today.
08:32Now, confidence is key, of course, and you seem to have been raised with this motto in mind.
08:36But I'm just wondering, is it that easy to trust oneself every single time?
08:42To trust oneself every single time?
08:45Oh, transform yourself?
08:46Or trust yourself every single time?
08:48Oh, I'm sorry.
08:49Nope, no worries at all.
08:50No, actually, you're not going to trust yourself every time.
08:54That's a part of life.
08:56But the part of life is having the courage.
09:00You're not going to have, you're going to be afraid sometimes.
09:03But life is having that courage to get through those moments.
09:06Accepting those moments of fear.
09:07Accepting those moments when you don't trust yourself.
09:10Accepting the moments when you may not even understand the process or you get the process wrong.
09:15And I think that's right in sports, also in tech, in venture, in life.
09:21But having the courage to say, I'm going to try.
09:25That's what makes the champions.
09:26That's what makes the big businesses.
09:28That's what makes the success.
09:30What about you?
09:34I don't know.
09:34I feel like in a single sport, you grow up and you learn to trust yourself.
09:38And you have to.
09:40But then you have to also own the mistakes that you make.
09:43And I think it's just as important for me to trust that.
09:46And trust that as a leader, you might make mistakes.
09:51But for the most part, you're going to make the best decision that you can.
09:54And whether it's for that time or whether it's for a time in the future, I think that, you know,
10:00for me, it's super important to kind of trust the direction that I'm going and just leading that way.
10:07So now, I mean, no Venus, no Serena.
10:10You mentioned it several times across, you know, along the past decades and your career.
10:19Venus has been your inspiration all along now.
10:22I'm wondering what are ways you've tried to inspire her?
10:27Well, it's so hard to inspire someone that you've been inspired by for so long in so many ways.
10:32And she's so inspiring, not only in where we start out as tennis, but for business and just for everything
10:40that she does.
10:40And she's just always starting new companies and has such great ideas and so successful in what Venus does.
10:47So I don't know.
10:49I just stay inspired by her work ethic.
10:52I think that's something that is incredible.
10:55And a lot of people don't really see how hard she works day in, day out.
10:59I'll call her.
10:59I'm like, hey, what are you doing?
11:01And she's like, I'm at the office.
11:02I'm like, oh, okay.
11:03So it's really understanding the discipline and the drive that you have to have every single day to continue to
11:10be the best in whatever that you want to be.
11:12And so that's always inspiring to me still.
11:16Wow.
11:17What do you find, Venus, of Serena in yourself?
11:20What the Serena part of you?
11:22The part of Serena in me is definitely heart, for sure.
11:27I learned heart from Serena, especially not only on the court, but off of the court.
11:36I was a very talented player on the court, lots of physical ability, lots of natural talent.
11:45But right here, I didn't have that.
11:49So I could watch Serena, and she was younger than me.
11:52And at this time, we were in our teens.
11:54And I'm looking at her, and I could see how fearless she was and how much courage she had.
11:59And I was like, I want that.
12:01So it took me a few years, but I finally learned.
12:05And then I got to be just like Serena.
12:07So let's try to find the Serena part of us at some point.
12:11So of course, there is a million parallel to be drawn in between being an athlete and an entrepreneur.
12:17Now, what, I mean, in some way, was tennis the best training to join the business world?
12:26You know, I always say that athletes, you know, the right type of athletes make very, very good business people
12:32and entrepreneurs.
12:33I believe growing up, and when you grow up, and it's something that you do every single day,
12:38and it's something that you have to do, and you have to have that discipline, and there is no way
12:44out.
12:44You have to make sacrifices day in and day out.
12:48You miss out on so many things.
12:51Obviously, for me, and for Venus, I can speak for, it's always been worth it.
12:55But it's a lot.
12:57And so when you take all that energy and take everything that you've done in sport and you put it
13:04in business,
13:05you go in with this mindset of, I have to succeed.
13:08I have to be the best.
13:09I know how to do it.
13:11And I think that that mentality, that training from five years old or younger that a lot of athletes have,
13:21in particular in my sport, tennis has, it takes so much discipline.
13:24And that training definitely gets you to a place of, like, not that business is easy, because it is not.
13:31I've been in business for a minute, and it is very grueling and very hard.
13:35But it's different.
13:36You know what I mean?
13:36It's not, we're not necessarily sweating every day.
13:39We get to sit in front of our computers and try to figure out.
13:42And it just, it's a mind, it's definitely something very mental.
13:48But I feel like the preparation that tennis has can definitely prepare you to be an incredible entrepreneur.
13:54Even when you were born ready, I mean, you are icons, you are, again, a great artist.
13:59So everyone in here in this room could think that you were born ready to actually accomplish so much in
14:06life, weren't you?
14:09If you're born ready?
14:10Yeah.
14:11I think there's, you know, one or two people out of, let's say, 8 billion on the planet who were
14:17born ready.
14:18I don't think I was born ready.
14:19I think there's a few factors.
14:21Sometimes you have it inside of yourself, like Serena had that heart.
14:24That was her.
14:25A lot of times it's our influences, like your parents.
14:29Other times it's our mentors.
14:30Other times it's our team members.
14:33So it's really about putting yourself in that good position so that way you can be in this environment and
14:39building those great teams in your business and in your life.
14:43So finding inspiration in the people around you and building those ecosystems that help you thrive in a way.
14:50Yeah, but also being an inspiration too.
14:52And especially if you're a leader, you've got to be someone worth leading.
14:56You call yourself a leader, then you've got to play the part.
14:59Mm-hmm.
15:00Which, actually, you do embody perfectly.
15:03You are both role models to million, both in tennis and now in business and entrepreneurship.
15:10Serena, it's been 10 years since you started Serena Ventures.
15:14Your fund was first designed to aim at creating a more inclusive investment landscape.
15:20Over the past decade, how has the VC space changed for the underrepresented founders during this time?
15:26Well, I started investing over 12 years ago, and I started Serena Ventures officially.
15:32We took outside money and outside capital two and a half, three years ago.
15:38So, and the firm started about four or five years ago.
15:41So when I first started investing, I just felt like the world was changing.
15:47It wasn't an easy time to invest, but it was an easier time to invest.
15:52There were so many things that hadn't been done, whether it was, you know, Masterclass, which I invested in,
15:59or whether it was, you know, we all see Uber around.
16:01There's so many companies that wasn't even existing.
16:05And so it was changing these ideas and making them modern and bringing technology to different platforms
16:11in a different way to live in the future.
16:13So when I first started investing, like, it was like, you know, it was a pretty good hit rate.
16:18It was like, it was great.
16:19And it was awesome.
16:20And as time goes on, it's still awesome, because there's different ways to change the way you function,
16:24whether that's more or less B2B or SaaS companies, which is things that we are focusing on more now.
16:29And we still love that.
16:31But there's so many more entrepreneurs.
16:34There's so many more founders.
16:35And it's so much more due diligence that we do now in terms to weed through of what people are
16:41seeing,
16:41what people are presenting, because there's also other people that want to start a company,
16:45but they don't really want to start a company.
16:47They don't want to really do the work for it.
16:48They just want to start a company and raise money.
16:51And so it's interesting now, as in when I first started investing, people really wanted to change the landmark.
16:58And that's what I like about share so much.
17:00I know we'll talk about that a little bit later.
17:01They really are changing the landmark in the way that, you know, people are investing just broadly across the board.
17:09But, yeah, it was definitely a different time of investing, but now it's just as exciting.
17:16It's just in different ways.
17:19Interesting.
17:20So, I mean, the strategy out there is still actually paying off.
17:25You're still paying attention to the founders that matter.
17:30Any space for any, you know, like part of the audience who would like to pitch an AD to you?
17:36Maybe at some point.
17:37We always, we have a whole VC firm.
17:40We can see literally hands, you know, like up in the air.
17:43We have an entire firm, so we always love to hear pitches.
17:47We want to invest in diversity.
17:49We want to, we believe that women and women of color and men of color and we, and not only,
17:59not only diversity when it comes to people, but diversity in ideas.
18:08We also want ideas that are different, that are helping maybe the 90% of the world and not the
18:14elite 2 to 10% of the world.
18:16We want to really invest in people and companies and ideas that is really changing, again, like shares, that's really
18:23changing and opening opportunities for everyone to be able to benefit from.
18:28So, bringing diversity on both sides, not just the founders, but also the companies and the ideas.
18:33And that's what we lean into when it comes to Serena Ventures, and we'll continue to lean into that.
18:37And someone who actually made a difference.
18:39Also, on and off court, it's definitely you, Venice, from equal pay to girls' empowerment.
18:44You generally change the game, like literally.
18:48How do you keep on offending those causes today?
18:51Oh, the causes of equity.
18:54There's so many areas where equity can improve.
18:58Obviously, sport.
19:00You know, in tennis, we have continued to make strides.
19:04I think we saw women's basketball now lately in the States, like doing amazing women's soccer.
19:09But when you go outside of that, there's still a lot of room to grow, whether that is in investing
19:15or Serena was talking about diversity in ideas or people.
19:21There's a lot of work.
19:23It's always been something I've been passionate about and worked towards.
19:25But it's great to be a part of the problem, not just to talk about it, but actually it is
19:30so important to talk about it.
19:32Because if you're not talking about it, that's the first part, right?
19:34Talking about it.
19:35Absolutely.
19:35Then you do something about it.
19:37So it's that domino effect.
19:39Yes, it better be part of the solution.
19:41But it's the talking about it that makes people start to do something about it.
19:45So it's good to get that on people's minds and just, you know, getting that message and just saying, okay,
19:51we need to change this.
19:52And then sometimes things doesn't happen.
19:54But when the more people talk about it, the more action steps happen after that.
19:57In the U.S., most women are making about 82 cents of the dollar compared to men.
20:02So when you go outside of the U.S., that number drops.
20:04And most people don't wake up in the morning and brush their teeth and say, ah, 82% of them,
20:09women aren't making as much money.
20:11No one's thinking, you know, you're trying to live your best life.
20:14So it's important to have those conversations so they come to the front of mind instead of somewhere way in
20:19the back.
20:19You're never thinking about it.
20:21Absolutely.
20:22Especially at a time where 2024 is so important for so many reasons on the electoral map also.
20:31Now the saying goes that you learn more from defeat than victory, of course.
20:38So, I mean, what learnings do you both take when things don't go planned?
20:45I think that first you have to think that maybe it won't go as planned.
20:50What is your plan B?
20:52I think on the course, Serena and I both, we tried to build a game that was diverse enough that
20:59if you only had one plan that maybe, that you could have more than one plan.
21:04So a strong game.
21:06And I think also in business too, especially after a lot of things that have happened, you know, whether it
21:11was a financial crisis or whether it was COVID, most businesses really need to think about, am I diverse enough?
21:19Do I have enough income streams?
21:21What if something changes quickly and the world changes and I go out of business?
21:26What's my backup plan?
21:28So it's not enough today to be good at what you're doing.
21:32You have to think one, two, three steps ahead to have that game plan so you don't become absolute.
21:38And also, you know, people say this all the time, but innovation is so important.
21:42Once you get comfortable, it's done.
21:46You have to continue to innovate and recreate and look forward.
21:51And just thinking every single time to step out of your comfort zone, to keep being on a job and
21:58creative.
21:59Yeah, I don't think, I don't know.
22:01I mean, I've never asked you this, but I think when I won my biggest matches, I had to come
22:07out of my comfort zone.
22:08It was so easy to stay in the comfort zone and just maybe hope that something great would happen.
22:14But instead, you step outside of your comfort zone and you go for it.
22:18So it's all about going forward, getting out of your comfort zone.
22:22That's where the biggest growth happens.
22:24And you actually did it a couple of years ago because something that maybe the audience doesn't know about you,
22:32Venus,
22:32is that you studied interior design and you're now a founder with your own company.
22:38Yeah, yeah.
22:39I've been in the interior design business for my whole life.
22:43So we never, we haven't designed any spaces in France.
22:47So maybe that's next.
22:49Well, that's an opportunity to seize somewhere.
22:51Yes, exactly.
22:52So we do a lot of work, you know, in the commercial side.
22:55So hospitality and commercial work.
22:58So I became a co-founder in an AI company for interior design.
23:03It's been a very interesting ride because I think Serena has the more business knowledge on that side.
23:11And I think in the beginning, too, I was there and I thought, do I really belong here?
23:16And I think that was the first time I've ever felt like that in my life.
23:19But then again, it was like getting out of your comfort zone.
23:21It was my first time raising money.
23:24So very uncomfortable for me to ask for dollars because growing up, I was always taught, don't ever ask anybody
23:31for anything.
23:32So you're on the phone like, can you give me some money?
23:35And they're like, no.
23:38Next call.
23:40So it was very uncomfortable.
23:42But I kind of started to understand that what I learned in sports was very appropriate for what I was
23:50going through then.
23:51It was like learning on the spot, being uncomfortable, being in a position where I needed to win.
23:56And you're not always sure how to win.
23:59Needing to pivot.
23:59You know, we've continued to pivot the business, you know, all the time as we understand new strategies and we
24:05start to see, you know, what's happening.
24:07Are we going B2C?
24:08Are we doing B2B?
24:10What is working for us?
24:11So it's been a super interesting journey.
24:14I don't know that I'll ever be a co-founder again.
24:18It's so much work.
24:19Well, that speaks of experience apparently.
24:21And I think I will let you guys do that.
24:24But it's been a lot of fun.
24:27And something I'm passionate about, design.
24:29And AI is here to stay.
24:31And it's going to be in everything.
24:32So it's wonderful as someone who's passionate about design to be able to put your fingerprint on it.
24:38And say, you know, be one of the first ones to be a part of that.
24:46Now, I mean, we are heading to the moment we've been waiting for.
24:54And that's part of the crowd has been waiting for, too, because we are about to reveal a once-in
25:00-a-life campaign with both Serena and Venice Williams for shares.
25:04But before we do so, and maybe you actually began to answer the question already, but what is winning today?
25:11Is it learning every single time?
25:13Is it, again, stepping out of your comfort zone?
25:15Is it trying to reach out to as many people as possible to probably foster a better ecosystem and world
25:21in the end?
25:22I don't know.
25:23No, I think every, I mean, if you just break it down easy, I don't know, winning today could be
25:29just getting through a long day, to be honest, because sometimes the days are so long and so grueling.
25:34And you're seeing, whether you're seeing so many companies or you're dealing with so much stuff that are happening in
25:40your companies, it's just getting through that day with a positive attitude.
25:43I'm going to say that's winning.
25:46For me, just, if you're lucky enough to get to choose what you want to do, and you get to
25:53pursue that, that's winning.
25:55And more than that is being happy.
25:58You can succeed, you can make money, you can live your dreams, but if you are not happy and you
26:02don't have happy memories to go with that success, it's not winning.
26:06So, as much as we'd like to succeed, it's important to be healthy, to be happy, to have family, to
26:13have friends, to have connections, and to have happiness.
26:16And actually, when you have that, easier to succeed.
26:20Well, you know your business.
26:26So, now that we do have our winning list, and that we have stepped out of our comfort zone, you
26:34also did, and actually chose to team up with Shares.
26:38We're going to dive into this in a few seconds with the man of the hour, of course, the CEO
26:43of Shares, Ben Shamla.
26:44But, but first, and only for your eyes, please, let's watch the very first campaign that you girls have filmed
26:52for Shares.
26:58It feels good, right?
27:01Sure, we play each other a few times.
27:05You can say that again.
27:08But we've been on the same team for life.
27:10We do things together, even investing.
27:13Because investing shouldn't just be something you do on your own.
27:16It should be something you do together.
27:25Let's go!
27:32Merci, merci.
27:33And welcome onto the stage.
27:39And, of course, we're welcoming onto the stage, the man that actually got you on board.
27:46And actually got you so long.
27:51And the man that got you so long on the idea of partnering with his own company, Ben Shamla, of
27:56course.
27:58Well, you have to tell me, what is the secret recipe to get these great two athletes and entrepreneurs join
28:05your team?
28:06As brand partners, of course.
28:08You know, I've always admired Venus and Serena.
28:12I remember as a kid, when my dad, who's somewhere here, introduced me to tennis, brought me to Roland Garros.
28:20They represent everything that can happen to you when you work hard, when you follow your dreams, and you never
28:29give up.
28:30And the thing that interested me and made you like the dream brand partners is that not only you did
28:36it individually, you had a tremendous success individually, but you did it as a team.
28:41You did it together, which honestly perfectly aligns with our mission at Shares.
28:47And so dreams come true sometimes, and that's what happened.
28:51And actually, you told me a very beautiful story about Serena in Venice.
28:55Okay, I'm just going, you know, like to open the secret box just for you guys here.
28:59You were actually, of course, a tennis supporter and a tennis player when you were younger.
29:04The only signature you never had was Venus and Serena, although your dad actually got you to Roland Garros many
29:13times.
29:13Put this together, you know, for that situation to happen.
29:16But yeah, I was one of these, you know, young men running around with, you know, the newspaper of Roland
29:21Garros or Wimbledon, like trying to get the signatures.
29:24And yeah, so maybe I will succeed somewhere tonight or later.
29:28So the entire reason why you created Shares is because of that one?
29:32Yeah, but let's keep it between us.
29:35Of course we will.
29:36Well, I hope we're not going to keep it between us because, I mean, of course, I know that Venus
29:41and Serena, you do choose your collaboration quite carefully.
29:46Why accepting Ben's proposition?
29:49Yeah, well, we got some advice from someone we trust very much, La Mia, who's here today.
29:55So, of course, yes.
29:58When she says something, we listen.
30:00She's been our friend for, I don't know, a long time, longer than we want to admit, because that means
30:05we're getting older.
30:07And then, of course, with Ben, he's been a founder and his team.
30:11He's had an amazing track record.
30:13And I think Serena can speak to this best about investing in a founder.
30:19And also, when you just like someone, when you're just like, all right, he's cool.
30:24You know, so a lot of that.
30:26And I think Serena felt strongly about him as a founder, right?
30:29Yeah, I felt strongly about him as a founder.
30:31And when we look to invest in people, we always say, one of the things, this doesn't always happen, especially
30:37because we do early stage investing, is have they started something before?
30:40Have they had any exits?
30:42What was that like?
30:42Were they, you know, do your due diligence?
30:44And so he actually checked so many boxes that we don't often see checked.
30:48And so it was quite interesting.
30:50So in addition to what Vena said, it was like, okay, well, he's been a founder before.
30:55He's done this.
30:55He's been successful before.
30:57So, you know, let's see what this is about.
30:59And also it was, and I'll let you speak to this.
31:02I don't want to take too much of your time, but it's also just too much of your words, I
31:06should say.
31:06But it's also just the idea of investing and getting more people to invest, which is what I'm all about
31:13and why I did start Serena Ventures.
31:15So I think that was the idea of shares and I just was really blown by the idea.
31:21And plus, like Vena said, we don't get to work together often.
31:24And it was one of the rare opportunities where we could actually work together and look, we get to come
31:28to France together.
31:30And so it's, that also kind of was a little nice for us.
31:33Well, there you go.
31:35Feeling good?
31:36Pretty good.
31:37Now on to questions.
31:39So Ben, I mean, you're back at Vivatec, of course, after quite an active year, to be honest, launching shares
31:45in various countries, including France.
31:47And a year ago, you were telling me, literally on set, live on Vivatec News, that you're aiming to become
31:53the French leader in stocks and cryptos investments.
31:57Are you on track?
31:59Yeah, indeed.
31:59It's been a crazy year.
32:01We launched France, I think, last November.
32:04It's been a blast.
32:05I've been quite busy.
32:06You can ask my wife.
32:08She's somewhere in the front row as well.
32:10But more than that, for the whole team, it's been a crazy year.
32:13And the first reaction in France were, like, amazing, insane, unexpected.
32:18And I want to thank the French market for that, my home country.
32:2318 months ago, we launched the UK market, which was also quite epic.
32:27We've been the second most downloaded application under our first month in the App Store, which also was unexpected.
32:33So, I believe what is very different here, and explain a bit this early success, is that not only we
32:42provide people an easy access to finance,
32:46but we provide them with a set of tools and features and functionality, allowing them to make smarter decisions, financial
32:53decisions,
32:54which was not there on other platforms.
32:58So, I think that is something that people, like, they needed, and when you create something that just works, it's
33:05just unbelievable.
33:06So, let me stop here for a second, because you want to make your investors smarter, faster at making their
33:13decisions, of course,
33:14but also more conscious of their financial future.
33:17Should you also make them aware of the risks of investing?
33:21So, first of all, I don't like the faster world, because it doesn't need to be fast at all.
33:27But I believe, here, the idea is to fulfill the gap, and the hole that there is in the racket,
33:34right, when it comes to financial education.
33:38So, that is really our goal, and as a regulated company, regulated by the French regulator,
33:44we are actually one of the only places where actually people can have discussion about investing in a safe environment,
33:51environment, because unlike any other social media, we are regulated, there is a moderation,
33:57we have done a very strict curation of premium investor users that are visible per default,
34:06and you can learn from them, you can chat, you can ask questions, and this is unique, and you don't
34:10find that anywhere else.
34:12But every one of them is vetted before joining the community.
34:15Absolutely, and not only they are vetted, but we have a compliance department with a pretty big team,
34:21we have a support, and there is no any post that goes live without going through a compliance team,
34:28because they are visible per default, and that's what I'm saying when I say that it's much safer,
34:34and that's what really initiated our initiative.
34:37Okay, I mean, the market seems to be pretty crowded, actually, I mean, there are a lot of competitors in
34:42this space,
34:43especially trying to get, you know, like a glimpse and grab a part of this cake of investment community platforms.
34:51I mean, that can feel a little overwhelming, to be honest, when you're a user or a potential investor,
34:56so why should those investors trust you upon anyone else?
35:01I think, yes, it can sound a little bit saturated as a market, for sure,
35:06but I think the appetite for finance is also going crazy.
35:11I think probably since COVID, there is a mass affluence of new investors,
35:17maybe a little, like, younger, more diverse, and they are, like, deeply seeking for a place like Shares,
35:23so they can learn why they invest.
35:26And so that's why, at the end of the day, no matter, like, how many companies there are out there,
35:31and that's great, we're all part of, you know, we probably, like, are all chasing the same goal.
35:36I just believe that we have a different angle that is making us a little bit different.
35:41Okay, well, that difference, you know, like, speaks volume when it comes to smart investment in stocks.
35:47That sounds promising.
35:48But what about, I mean, probably the clickbait type of sound I can actually hear when it comes to cryptos,
35:56because, I mean, again, you have to avoid the black mirror effect when it comes to Bitcoin or so many
36:02different cryptos,
36:03plus, you have to admit, there is kind of a lot of scams in this area.
36:08Indeed, and that's why there is a need for safe places,
36:13but at the same time, crypto now, crypto assets are here to stay, right?
36:19You know, they are pretty here to stay.
36:21Last January, BlackRock launched 11 ETF,
36:25exposing, like, regular investor to crypto through funds.
36:29And I believe now BlackRock stands for about 4% of all Bitcoin in the world.
36:34And what I'm saying here is there is a movement,
36:37and actually, because there is this movement,
36:40we do have to provide our users with crypto assets.
36:43Now, on the other hand, there is a very strict creation
36:47when it comes to selecting our crypto assets.
36:50We don't welcome any, like, sheet coins or, like, small coins.
36:54We look at their market valuation, the team behind,
36:57and a lot of different criteria to make sure that we're lowering the risk.
37:03Now, I mean, Venus and Serena, you're turning your sights
37:05to the world, of course, of tech and investing.
37:08We touched upon it a little earlier ago,
37:11but I want to dive into it.
37:13What that inspired you to explore, literally, the space?
37:18Well, I've always been curious.
37:20I think curiosity started my exploration of investing.
37:26And technology was the only place to invest.
37:29If you want to invest in, you know, things that you believe in
37:32that's going to still be around, then that is really technology.
37:34And you look at all the companies that have been built since, you know, 2000,
37:39those companies and the biggest companies are technology-based.
37:42And obviously, there's some amazing CPG companies,
37:44and there's some amazing consumer good companies,
37:46but all of them are really backed by technology.
37:49And when you think about all the best companies that are backed by that,
37:52I call it the non-sexy fund returners,
37:55the things that you don't really see,
37:56but they definitely return your fund,
37:59that is what I'm interested in.
38:01And so that kind of got me really involved in technology
38:04and thinking of how technology is really shaping the way we live.
38:07You think of, you know, something as simple
38:10as how the wheel changed so many lives, you know.
38:13But we're living in a time where technology is changing our everyday lives
38:17and how we approach it and how we think.
38:19And our children and our grandchildren,
38:21they literally are going to live in a different world.
38:23We live in a different world.
38:25Sometimes I think about, you know, my grandmother,
38:28how she, this is a completely different world than what she lived in,
38:32and that's only going to continue, and that's only going to change.
38:34And so when you think about technology,
38:37first of all, I love technology.
38:41That's just such a great place to invest.
38:45I have spent so much time in the design world.
38:49In many ways, I am new to technology.
38:51So I'm the person on the stage that's like,
38:54which one doesn't quite belong?
38:56So I think I've learned so much in this process,
38:58working with shares,
39:01watching Serena grow her business,
39:03and even with her investment philosophy,
39:07just kind of understanding that and taking on that philosophy too.
39:12And we're all taking a part of,
39:14we're all taking part of tech
39:16and promoting it in the way that we live.
39:18So why not embrace it?
39:20I think we all do, right?
39:22Absolutely.
39:23Now, you know, Ben,
39:24how much I love to dig beyond and beyond buzzwords
39:27to actually try to understand the impact of a product
39:30or a company or technology itself
39:33on our societal lives,
39:35on our economical lives, political lives.
39:37And you are definitely on a mission with yours,
39:39which is a mission for financial inclusion.
39:42Who do you want to empower specifically?
39:45I mean, all the people in the room, probably,
39:47to begin with.
39:49But, no, probably everybody,
39:52I think everybody is entitled to a better financial future.
39:56Everybody should have access to the same knowledge,
39:59to the same information.
40:01So many times I hear, like, people saying,
40:04oh, my savings are just, like, on my bank accounts,
40:07no matter how much they have.
40:08And I'm like, like, what are you doing with them?
40:10And I'm like, and they're like, nothing.
40:12They are not even aware that they can just,
40:14just put their money in a money market phone
40:16and expect, like, a 3.5%.
40:19So what I'm saying,
40:20we have discussed about cryptocurrencies,
40:22but there is so many things, you know,
40:24so many things to look at and to understand.
40:28And it's a shame.
40:29And so that is what we are under the mission now,
40:31to achieve and solve.
40:33So, I mean, of course,
40:35we are lacking of financial literacy at some point.
40:38But my question is probably,
40:41who should pave the way for a better financial literacy?
40:45Companies, private companies, actually, such as yours,
40:47the government, institutions, schools, maybe, at some point?
40:51A couple of, I think, weeks, months ago,
40:54we shared that we have signed, co-signed,
40:58how do you say, petition?
41:00A petition.
41:01A petition, sorry, about that.
41:03Actually, about this theme,
41:04we do believe that states should introduce in school,
41:07like much earlier,
41:09some financial education classes, 100%.
41:12Now, as a tech founder,
41:14I'm going to say, obviously,
41:16that as well,
41:17I believe that technology can help a lot,
41:19can make things, like, much more accessible.
41:21You know, from your smartphone,
41:23you can have access to some of things,
41:24as long as you can, obviously, find your way.
41:27I see you guys nodding
41:29to this quote from Ben.
41:32And, of course, education is everything.
41:34And, of course, when it comes to investing.
41:37Yeah, and that's one of the beautiful things about shares,
41:39is this opportunity to be in a community
41:42where you can learn
41:44and where you can create your own community of people
41:47so that way you can feel supported and educated.
41:50And when it comes to finance, investing,
41:53financial literacy,
41:54around the world, people are intimidated.
41:57You know, you think it's something for someone
41:59that's not you,
42:00but it has to be for you
42:02because it's your future.
42:04And let's face it,
42:05we don't all want to work forever.
42:07So for us, Serena and I,
42:08to have this opportunity
42:09to bring down the wall
42:12and say, hey, step right in,
42:14get started, get started now,
42:16get started today,
42:17get started with any number,
42:19making it easy,
42:20that's, like, the most beautiful opportunity
42:23for us to be able to do that.
42:24Because if I'm not mistaken,
42:26this is also your story.
42:28I mean, your parents always told you,
42:30this is the first cent you're going to earn,
42:33use it, invest in it,
42:35invest in yourself too at the same time.
42:37That is our story.
42:39Our parents always made sure
42:41that we were owners of our money
42:42and we were stewards of our money
42:45and we had to be the best stewards of that.
42:46And my dad always said,
42:48don't go broke.
42:50So with just that knowledge,
42:52we had to figure out to,
42:54you know, we had to figure out
42:56whether it was,
42:56we didn't know it was learning
42:58about financial literacy or anything.
42:59We just had to figure it out.
43:00I do agree it should be taught in schools
43:02at some point
43:03because it's such a big part of our lives.
43:05I think that Venus and I
43:06and people like us on platforms like this
43:08and talking about shares
43:11and talking about how you can up
43:13your financial literacy through shares
43:17is super important.
43:19And, you know,
43:21I think there's just so,
43:22like Nina said,
43:24you are,
43:24when I first started investing,
43:26I was so intimidated.
43:27I was like,
43:28what am I doing
43:30and how do I do this
43:31and how do I learn?
43:33And it took a while.
43:35It takes a long time before you learn.
43:37But having that community,
43:39having an opportunity
43:40to throw things off
43:41and to ask questions,
43:43I think is invaluable.
43:44And so that's one thing
43:45that we love about,
43:46we love about shares
43:48and we love about
43:49talking about technology.
43:51And also the opportunities
43:52as you grow,
43:53as you start to understand
43:55about investing
43:56and the opportunities
43:56for diversity too.
43:58Being able to invest in the U.S.
44:00or invest in Europe.
44:01That's very powerful.
44:03So we love that
44:04there's opportunities
44:05for growth too.
44:06You can't,
44:07you don't have to just stop
44:08once you and go somewhere else.
44:09You can always stay there
44:10throughout your investment journey.
44:12And listening to you,
44:13because I'm also just,
44:15you know,
44:15like what pops in mind
44:16is that it's also fascinating
44:17because through investment
44:18you can shape
44:19the world you want to live in,
44:21like literally,
44:22while investing
44:23and betting
44:24on the future
44:25of certain
44:26and various companies
44:27and sectors.
44:28Yeah,
44:28the world is shaped
44:29now by technology
44:30whether we realize,
44:31whether people realize it or not.
44:32It's totally shaped
44:33by technology.
44:34And it's
44:35what people are investing in.
44:37and they invest
44:37in different technologies
44:38that are shaping
44:39how we use our phone,
44:41that are shaping
44:42how we use technology,
44:43how we use a tennis racket.
44:44I mean,
44:45it's shaped in so many
44:46different ways
44:47from garments
44:47to design
44:49to investing.
44:51So it's really
44:53a part of your everyday life
44:55whether you realize it or not.
44:56And also just investing.
44:57If you want to be someone
44:58who's investing
44:59towards sustainability,
45:00if you have a cause
45:01and you're a conscious investor,
45:03those are amazing opportunities
45:05that cannot be ignored.
45:06So making it easy
45:07for you to be able
45:08to give that future
45:11to the planet
45:12or to the world
45:12that you'd like
45:13and invest in that
45:14is very powerful
45:15and it's great
45:16to be able to do that.
45:17Is investing
45:18making a statement
45:19at some point?
45:20Like,
45:21I want to be true
45:21to my values.
45:22I want to invest
45:23in this company,
45:24this sector.
45:25Is this also the role
45:26and the part
45:27of the community
45:27you've vetted
45:29on shares?
45:30Yeah.
45:30You know,
45:31I like to say
45:32that there's also
45:33another company
45:33besides just growing
45:35your wealth,
45:35which is voting
45:37with your money,
45:38right?
45:38And so,
45:39somehow,
45:40that's the other part.
45:41Now people
45:41on such platforms
45:43can realize
45:43that they get
45:45to understand
45:46what are these companies
45:47about, right?
45:48What am I investing in?
45:49Oh,
45:49I like this company,
45:50I support the strategy
45:51and I want to put
45:52my money in that direction.
45:53So,
45:53I think this is also
45:54a new element
45:56that happened a lot
45:57obviously during COVID
45:58with all the memstock
46:00sequence
46:01that happened a lot
46:02on Reddit actually
46:03and so,
46:04yeah,
46:04so that was
46:06it's an interesting point
46:08but our core mission
46:10is really like
46:11allowing people
46:11to learn
46:13and, you know,
46:14fill up the lack
46:15of financial education.
46:16Speaking of learning
46:17and of course
46:18of education
46:19too at the same time,
46:21do you sometimes
46:23think that you are
46:24going to foster
46:25a new generation
46:25of investors
46:26and what would
46:28this new generation
46:29look like?
46:32New generation?
46:34I mean,
46:34I think that's
46:34a great question
46:35for Serena.
46:36I mean,
46:37yeah,
46:37I think that...
46:38You were totally
46:39dodging the question.
46:40I think that
46:41using my platform
46:43definitely inspires
46:44a lot of people
46:45and I've gotten
46:45a lot of stuff like
46:47I want to learn
46:48how to invest
46:49and how do I do that
46:50and I think
46:50a lot of people
46:51that are younger
46:52are either
46:53becoming founders
46:53or starting
46:54their own businesses
46:55or they're entrepreneurs
46:56and they want
46:57to be able to learn
46:58how to build
46:59their own business
47:00and in order to do that
47:01they have to get investors
47:02and it works both ways
47:04so now they're learning
47:05about investors
47:06and then they learn
47:06about investing.
47:08A lot of founders
47:08are some of the best investors
47:11and so seeing
47:13this whole new group
47:14of people
47:14that are becoming founders
47:15and are becoming entrepreneurs
47:18they're naturally
47:18learning about investing
47:20but it all starts,
47:22you know,
47:22I think this is
47:22a whole new cycle
47:23that we've literally
47:24never lived
47:25in a world like this
47:26so if we take a moment
47:27and just like
47:28think about it
47:28we are creating
47:30a new life
47:31that people are just
47:32learning more
47:33about investing
47:34and getting more
47:35involved in it.
47:36Last words
47:37with the men of the hour.
47:39Are you actually
47:40creating that new
47:41generation of investors
47:43and what does
47:45the future
47:45of investing
47:47look like?
47:48I guess
47:48it's already happening,
47:50you know,
47:51millions of new
47:52retail investors
47:54over the last couple
47:55of years
47:55have created
47:56their account
47:56not necessarily
47:57on shares
47:58but in general
47:59so it's already
48:00happening
48:00so the idea
48:01is more
48:01to provide them
48:02with the tools
48:02I would say
48:03but it's a phenomenon
48:04that it's already
48:05happening.
48:07Game set
48:08and shares
48:09thank you so
48:10so much
48:11thank you very much
48:12thank you
48:12everyone
48:14please huge round
48:15of applause
48:16for these segments
48:17thank you so much
48:27I'm happy
48:28you're a happy
48:28I'm happy
48:31I'm happy
48:31what'd you say?
48:32Bye
48:33Bye
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