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I Try To Make My Investments Count For More Than Just Myself
I Try To Make My Investments Count For More Than Just Myself
I could invest in weapons, oil, or other industries that harm society and the environment, and earn a great deal of money from them. I deliberately chose not to take that route. Instead, I aim to invest as responsibly and socially friendly as possible, while still achieving a reasonable return. In this post, I will share the types of investments I selected. I will not mention any amounts, only the areas in which I chose to invest.
Investing In A Good Idea
Investing In A Good Idea
Through the crowdfunding platform CrowdAboutNow, I can invest in the ideas and ambitions of small business owners. I select projects that produce something I would personally use, or concepts that simply appeal to me. I have invested in Groei van Boei, Soep‑er, Blue Bananas Pancake Café, Coffeelab, Oogst – de nieuwe boerenwinkel, Bloem eten & drinken, and VAAT. All of them are still operating as of early 2026. All but one have already repaid the borrowed amount along with interest. I have ordered products from them or visited their locations, except for two of the businesses mentioned.
Another Crowdfunding Platform To Invest In The Ideas & Dreams Of Small Business Owners
Another Crowdfunding Platform To Invest In The Ideas & Dreams Of Small Business Owners
CrowdAboutNow is not the only platform where I can support small business owners. There is also Collin Crowdfund, which takes a noticeably different approach. On Collin Crowdfund, entrepreneurs present themselves in a more financial and results‑driven way. The focus lies strongly on the amount they need and the interest the crowd can earn, whereas CrowdAboutNow places more emphasis on storytelling and the entrepreneur’s vision. On both platforms, small business owners must prepare a solid business plan, present their ideas clearly, and demonstrate that they are reliable enough to repay the borrowed amount with interest, while keeping their business running during and after the loan period. I haven’t visited any of the businesses I invested in through Collin Crowdfund, but the platform still offers a structured way to support entrepreneurs and help them grow.
Investing In Electric Driving Instead Of Oil
Investing In Electric Driving Instead Of Oil
I no longer have a driver’s license, but I still believe that mobility should be powered by something other than oil. There are several alternatives, solar, hydrogen, and electricity. I chose to support electric driving by investing in Fastned, a company that builds and operates charging stations. Fastned began with charging infrastructure for passenger cars, but it is now expanding to serve trucks and buses as well. This means the products I buy can be transported in a more environmentally friendly way, and public transport continues to become cleaner and more sustainable every day.
Impactful Investing Abroad
Impactful Investing Abroad
In the past, I invested in small businesses and projects abroad through the LendAHand crowdfunding platform. Later, when it became possible to invest directly in the LendAHand organization itself, I did so via the Seedrs crowdfunding platform. Instead of supporting individual international projects on LendAHand, I shifted my focus to investing in the platform as a whole. Seedrs eventually became Republic Europe, and through their secondary market I sold all my investments in LendAHand and closed my account.
Bernhoven
Bernhoven
Although I don’t particularly enjoy visiting a doctor or a hospital, I chose to make a social investment in Bernhoven Hospital shortly before the COVID‑19 outbreak. The investment provides interest, but it does not give me any influence over the hospital’s plans or decision‑making, their strategic decision. What it does offer is insight into their patient‑care activities and the reassurance that my money supports an organization with a social mission. I made this investment through the platform Anders Financieren (Geld Voor Elkaar), which enables socially oriented projects to attract funding from individuals who want their investments to have a positive impact.
Investing In Agricultural Land
Investing In Agricultural Land
I want the food I eat to be produced locally and with genuine care for plants and animals. That is why I’ve invested in Lenteland and one of their farms Erve Kiekebos. They operate as a cooperative with several farms and parcels of farmland, and the initiative is still in its start‑up phase. Lenteland has not yet established a farm in my region, but whenever I visit one of their locations, I make sure to buy their products.
BrightPensioen
BrightPensioen
As an entrepreneur, I do not build up a pension in the same way employees do, so I had to arrange my pension differently. I chose BrightPensioen as my pension solution, and I also invested in the platform itself. Later, I divested from BrightPensioen and sold all my bonds on the NPEX platform.
SharePeople As My AOV
SharePeople As My AOV
As an entrepreneur with a medical history dating back to 2010, I cannot take out standard disability insurance, the premiums are far too high, and insurers consider me a significant risk. I have been an entrepreneur since 2012 and have never been ill during those years (updated in 2026), nor before 2010. With SharePeople, I can obtain disability coverage, and I have also invested in the platform itself, both as an additional form of protection and as a way to build a Tussenpensioen.
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