After presenting his project to us, Jean-Baptiste Ternon tells us today about his search for funding. A long road, not always easy.
In order to participate in the Mini Transat 2019, looking for partnerships is one of the first tasks I set myself. It's a very time-consuming and energy-intensive mission. I spent evenings and entire nights scouring the Internet looking for phone numbers, e-mails and contacts from companies that might be interested in my project. I raked very wide during this research phase. A file of more than 1000 lines was produced and almost as many companies were contacted.
Pre-formatted answers
The answers have arrived. Untiringly the same:
" Sir,
Thank you for your interest in our company.
We have paid a lot of attention to the study of your file and despite all the interest that your project represents, we regret to inform you that we will not be able to follow up on it.
We wish you good luck in the realization of this project and a perfect success in its completion. "
The terms and wording may vary, but the idea remains the same.
Follow-up and follow-up
After a first burst of responses, I phoned back all the companies that did not explicitly refuse (either I did not get any feedback, or the email was forwarded to a dedicated service). I was helped a lot for this very long and tedious task which requires me to spend time on the phone during working hours (which I am not able to do because of my job).
We have discovered how big companies and their switchboards work: "Sorry, we are a name-based switchboard, we can't put you through to anyone in the company if you don't have a name".
Always the same answer, and not much more success.
Some warm exchanges
But the picture isn't all black and white either. We have also had some exciting discussions with some of the managers of small and medium-sized enterprises. People who are passionate about the project, but who don't have the means to devote a budget to it or whose communication is not focused on it. The conversation, even if it proved fruitless, gave courage and balm to the heart, proving that the project makes one dream, that crossing the Atlantic on a small boat is an idea that speaks to everyone.
After contacting several hundred companies, about ten have followed up and wish to seriously study the file.
Making the network work
But this is not the way I found the most funding in the end. Because at the same time, of course, I told my family and friends about the project and did not forget to mention that I am looking for partners. Everybody goes there with his or her little piece of advice and thinks of a professional relationship or a friend that I could contact on his or her behalf. One thing led to another, and by dint of talking about it, I was put in touch with influential people in certain companies.
An accessible budget
The "size" of my project ( see the sponsorship file by clicking on this link ) allows a great flexibility in the partnerships I can propose to my sponsors. In addition to wearing the colours of the companies that support me, I can also propose more personalised actions such as wearing a brand's clothing, organising a regatta under the windows of an establishment that has seen the sea, or having the employees of certain companies sail.
From the first partners
My first partner to be involved with me in this adventure is none other than the Sables-d'Olonne conurbation, which gives me its support and allows me to develop my project. Other technical partners such as Secumar (for safety with top-of-the-range life jackets) and MX3 (freeze-dried food) have also helped me by providing me with equipment.
A hull still devoid of sponsors
Of course, finding full funding for the project is a never-ending task and my budget is still far from being completed. The communication managers of the companies I met during my steps and who are already involved in sailing or have been involved in the past have confirmed to me what is being said: the sponsorship of sailing projects have a very interesting investment/return ratio. I am therefore not desperate to manage to secure the budget necessary for the two years of racing and preparation so that I can concentrate fully on training.
