Sandbox

2009: The Sandbox year in review

December 30th, 2009 by Sandbox

Bubble Wrap Calendar (source Boingboing.net)

2009 was an amazing year for Sandbox and we wanted to share the highlights with you. In 12 months, we incorporated a company, have established one of the most active and valuable networks worldwide, started a business, and passed from 1 to 4 full time positions, enlarging the team to 9 people.

From a project to a company

Shaking hands after the incorporation, May 8

First, 2009 was the year that saw Sandbox transformed from a project to a company. Two years ago, we started with the aim to organize a global conference for young talents. Due to the economic downturn and to the lack of sponsoring opportunities at the time, we finally decided to change our business model and to put a focus on creating a community and develop services to finance our activities. That was the stand at the beginning of the year.

Shortly after, we could close an investment and we finally incorporated the company in May. That’s the first thing we are proud of, without which the project couldn’t have been pursued.

Creating a virtual & physical community

Screenshot of the Sandbox online community

Simultaneously, we started an online community, which our members can enjoy today. From a very basic network, we developed custom formats and community services, among which an introduction concierge, a couchsurfing system and a geolocator. The community is highly selective (almost 300 members and admitting only 1-2 talents per day), very diverse, and unites some of the world’s most promising young achievers. The drive and the achievement of the members are truly amazing, and most of them are playing a very active role.

Dinner in New York, 2009

The community is not only active online: we are convinced that most value comes from the fact that people meet in real life and can build meaningful relationships. Therefore, we started organizing dinners and events all around the world, with the help of some members who have been playing the role of Sandbox Ambassadors and are taking care of making local communities come to life. We have now 22 ambassadors in 18 cities, the latest ones being Hong Kong, Madrid, and Rio.

Starting a business

2009 was also the year where we started running a think tank, bringing the knowledge and insights of the community to large organizations, while constantly feeding back to the community. We successfully proved the concept by working for a major European airport, a car manufacturer, a German city and a multinational bank. We have formalized this process of working in what we call «community based consulting». More about this to be published tomorrow in a post about our 2010 perspectives.

Enlarging the team

Christmas team dinner 09 in Zurich

From 6 Co-Founders, we have now enlarged the team to 9 people with the arrival of Sara, Julian and Paul. The community we have built is so precious for its members that we have to manage it professionally. It is the responsibility of Sara, Christian and me to further develop it and to constantly foster the interactions between our members, while Nico, Julian and Paul are focusing on the business side.

What Sandboxers have achieved in 2009

Among the dozens of projects, companies and initiatives launched by Sandboxers this year, we will especially remember the following ones:

- Palomar5, a six-week innovation camp based in Berlin, co-founded by Mathias Holzmann and Hans Raffauf

- Patrick Liotard bought ASmallWorld from the hands of the Weinstein brothers

- Lucian Tarnowski’s company, Brave New Talent, was chosen to lead the recruiting for the OneYoungWorld Summit – and Sandboxers under 25 are invited

- Sebastian Lindstrom went to Africa and to Papua New Guinea with the What Took You So Long foundation, which he co-founded

- Nick O’Neill sold his company, Allfacebook.com

- Supermodel Cameron Russel stripped against climate change

- Holstee, an eco-friendly clothing company, was launched by Dave & Michael Radparvar and by Sandbox co-founder Fabian Pfortmüller

Also, a number of Sandboxers gained recognition for their achievements, as well as national or international attention:

- Marc Bernegger’s company Amiando was nominated Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum

- Rajeeb Dej won the O2 Entrepreneurship Award for his company Enternships

- Susanne Jakob was elected “Nachwuchskünstlerin des Jahres” by the City of Berlin in the field of performing arts

- Sandbox co-founder Noé Blancpain was named Head of Communication of FDP, one of the largest Swiss political parties

Thank you !

We finish this year being very thankful to all of you who helped us make Sandbox become what it is now. There are too many people to name them all here, but we would like to say a special thank you to our world class Advisory Board, to all our Ambassadors, and to the people who trusted us in the beginning and who have invested in the company or supported us in any other way.

We look forward to an even more amazing year 2010! Come back tomorrow for another post about our perspectives for next year.

Antoine is a Co-Founder and the CEO of Sandbox. Looking back at 2009, he is proud of what has been achieved and he is now ready to start 2010 full steam ahead!