Jack Thorogood is the Founder and CEO of Native Teams, a comprehensive payments and employment platform designed to support freelancers, remote workers, and their employers. With over a decade of experience in the fintech and remote work sectors, Jack has successfully led multiple companies focused on knowledge management, video software, and smart building technologies. His entrepreneurial journey includes founding and exiting InPlayer.com, a video monetization specialist, and BuildingBrain.com, a smart building platform. Native Teams, founded in 2021, is Jack&#39;s largest project, operating in more than 70 countries and employing a global team.
Native Teams addresses the growing needs of remote workers and freelancers by offering seamless payment solutions and local employment status. The platform provides tools for managing global work payments and creating a streamlined process for cross-border employment. Recently, Native Teams raised €6.2 million to enhance its platform and further establish itself as a leader in the evolving world of remote work payments, becoming the go-to platform for freelancers and global employers.
1. What inspired you to start Native Teams, and how did the idea evolve into the platform it is today?
Simply put, Native Teams solved a problem we had ourselves. I had a small digital agency building software for others. Even in that company of 15 people, we had issues paying people in a way that gave them the biggest intangible and in-work benefits, for example, the creditworthiness that comes from a good job.
We fixed that for ourselves and then had first a friend then some friends of friends ask if we could help them too. That was the genesis and the driver that made us go ‘all in’ on the idea that Native Teams grew from.
2. What gap did you see in the remote work and freelance space that Native Teams was created to address?
First off, we’re ‘employee-first’. Unlike any of our competitors, we’re happy to work directly with employees. It is that group of users we are building our feature set around. If we can look after employees better than anyone else, we&#39;ll win their employer&#39;s business.
Secondly, we needed to build a cost-effective platform that works for all knowledge and tech sector workers. When we launched some of our initial users were lower-earning remote workers. Our cost base and pricing reflect that and open up a world of opportunity even to less well-remunerated talent.
Our competitors were charging fees that in some cases exceeded what the actual end talent was earning each month. That made no sense to us and felt like price gouging.
3. How does Native Teams simplify global payments for remote workers and freelancers, and what unique solutions does it offer?
We offer a wide variety of payment tools - for example, an invoicing platform and multi-currency wallet - and employment options (including payouts through the payroll system in the country of a user’s tax residency) for remote workers and freelancers.
This provides remote workers and freelancers with the best of both worlds of work: The freedom and opportunity of freelancing and remote work combined with all the benefits of a local employment contract.
4. What are some of the key features of Native Teams that set it apart from other global payment platforms?
Compared to other EOR (employer of record) platforms we’re built around a multi-currency wallet, giving absolute flexibility and transparency for payments.
Compared to generalist payment platforms, we are unique in supporting our payments via the in-country payroll system. We also go much further when it comes to functionality such as automating access to tax-free allowances, enabling our users to keep more of the money that they earn.
5. How do you see the future growth of Native Teams, especially with the increasing shift towards remote work?
We expect the company to grow 2.7x during 2025 which will be on the back of 3x growth this year. 
While the trends towards remote work help us - and despite some of the recent ‘back to the office’ drives, remote work is still growing in popularity - it isn’t the sole driver behind our growth. We can work with local firms and distributed teams too to improve the way they think about and manage remuneration.
6. Do you have a mentor or figure who has inspired or influenced your entrepreneurial journey?
My business partner and co-founder Alex has had the biggest impact on my journey to date. Moving from zero to one is exceptionally hard and there is no way I could have made the progress I’ve contributed to without her.
7. What are potential exit scenarios for investors supporting Native Teams?
This depends a bit on the journey that the investors want! We expect to grow the business over the next 3-5 years ourselves. We have a unique opportunity to grow shareholder value over this period and while we have had a couple of significant acquisition offers already, we can add a lot more value for Native Teams shareholders ourselves over the short- to mid-term time horizons.
Having said that, we are regularly approached by potential investors who are keen to buy out existing investors’ positions. For those looking for a shorter-term exit, therefore, there remains optionality.
8. Why should investors consider being part of Native Teams&#39; journey?
Fundamentally I’d summarise this as:
<ul>
<li>We have product/market fit and consistent growth, month over month.</li>
<li>We are in a uniquely massive market. We are relevant to anyone getting paid for the work that they do, which is basically anyone with a job (although we are of course segmenting this and not trying to boil the ocean).</li>
<li>There are many adjacent and ‘upsell’ products we can and are adding to the stack to increase both ARPA and ARPU.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://investors.seedblink.com/invest/native-teams/277">Explore the opportunity on SeedBlink.</a>

Discover how Native Teams is simplifying work payments globally and explore the potential growth and impact of this innovative start-up.

Redefining global work payments: a conversation with Jack Thorogood, founder & CEO of Native Teams

CUSTO has developed a technology that allows more than 1,500 couriers worldwide to deliver packages simply and efficiently. Our solution simplifies the delivery process for couriers by allowing them to scan packages directly to a parcel box, reading each package&#39;s unique barcode, eliminating the need for complicated procedures when a customer is away. This eliminates the need for complicated procedures when the customer is not at home and makes the delivery process not only faster but also more user-friendly and secure.
CUSTO started in 2021 with a focus on B2C, developing both hardware and software to create a marketable product. Already it quickly became clear, through market feedback and interest from large letterbox manufacturers, that CUSTO&#39;s technology is unique and that our expertise lies primarily in that area. Large manufacturers are already active in hardware development, but our strength lies in combining both areas of expertise to create an innovative scalable product. The recognition from B2B parties came primarily through validation from the B2C market, with the CES Innovation Award 2024 helping further that our product is very unique. 
Thanks to this nomination, CUSTO was awarded a booth at the CES trade show, which allowed us to further expand our network. This accelerated the process toward LOI agreements, of which we have now signed contracts with multiple partners. In this new business model, CUSTO will sell a cassette to B2B parties, who will then integrate it in their turn and sell it to consumers. CUSTO will maintain the relationship with the end customer, by driving the application provided. This grant application aims to scale as well as enable further optimization and expansion of our technology. This is to continue to meet the growing demand from the logistics sector.
1. What motivated you to start Custo, and how has the concept evolved since its inception?
Custo was born out of personal frustration. More and more, as founders, we were buying online which resulted in more and more courier companies coming to us. Each of them with their delivery terms. This usually went well when we were at home, but went we weren&#39;t there it became difficult to find our packages. We wanted a safe, easy guaranteed way to receive but also send our packages, and that for all couriers. That&#39;s how the idea was born. On top of that, when we saw that there was no smart home version of a mailbox and online sales kept increasing we started.
2. In your opinion, why is it important to address security and convenience in the delivery process for customers?
According to McKinsey there were 100 billion parcels delivered in 2020, and this number will double by 2030, knowing that 75% of deliveries are at home, we face a huge problem in the future. In the US already more than 2M parcels a day are stolen. If you read all those figures there is a clear need to build a solution that goes a lot further than a metal box. There is a clear need for a custodian/concierge in front of the door that will manage all your purchases/returns easily and conveniently. That is what our technology does.
3. How do you envision Custo making a difference in the delivery solutions market?
Our ambition is to become the standard in the market in terms of mailbox tech. Today we talk with the biggest players in the European market to integrate our technology as they are not tech companies… We will be their tech partner to convert the box into a fully connected/monitored concierge that customers will manage from their pocket.
4. What are some of the key features of Custo that set it apart from other delivery and mailbox solutions?
<ul>
<li>Opens by scanning the parcel&#39;s T&amp;T code, without knowing the details upfront as we do a real-time check via (+-1500) courier APIs. </li>
<li>Owners can give access (via mobile app) to everybody sharing unique QR codes (once or recurring), knowing that every delivery is notified on their smartphone. </li>
<li>The box can also easily be shared with multiple users.</li>
</ul>
5. What challenges have you encountered in bringing Custo to market, and how have you addressed them?
We have developed the product from scratch, building the PCB, infrastructure, and app.
 It took us 3 years and a few million to build and test it. 
 Once this was done the real test started as we didn&#39;t know how it would be used by couriers. Today we know, having tested it in 4 countries with 20 couriers and having received thousands of parcels that it works. So now it&#39;s time to increase the pace and start integrating in large European parcel box manufacturers. 
6. How do you see Custo&#39;s growth?
We have signed Belgian contracts with big mailbox companies. We aim to sign 2 more (International) by the end of the year which means that volumes will quickly increase to thousands of pieces. We have the ambition to work with the top 3 manufacturers in the coming 3-5 years. We aim to roll out 1 piece of hardware (cassette) that is integrated with the old car radios from the nineties. This hardware costs less than 150€ and has a recurring revenue-sharing model for the manufacturers. This will certainly boost sales, as this is unique in the market.
7. What are potential exit scenarios for investors supporting Custo, and how do you plan to ensure long-term growth?
We aim to be able to sell the company in 5-7 years based on the wramp up. After Europe, the US is certainly a market we want to quickly look at (max 24 months) as the parcel theft issue is a big problem over there.
8. Why should investors consider being part of Custo&#39;s journey?
We believe that CUSTO will become a unicorn based on its unique position and the demand from the logistic market for a structural solution. We have a global patent on the technology!
<a href="https://investors.seedblink.com/invest/custo-box/276">Invest in the opportunity on SeedBlink.</a>

Discover more about the inspiration behind Custo, the challenges of integrating advanced technologies, and Francis's vision for the future of secure deliveries.

Redefining parcel delivery: an interview with Francis Delplanque, CEO & founder of Custo

Mark your calendars for September 23rd, 2024, at 4:00 PM Bucharest time, for an inspiring session with Mester Catalin, Founder of I Love Failure. This week&#39;s Fire Pitch, powered by SeedBlink, introduces a transformative voice in personal development, on a mission to create a global platform for sharing and learning from failure.
I Love Failure is redefining personal growth by building a community where individuals can openly share their failures and the lessons learned. With a track record of over 50 successful events across Romania, Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands, I Love Failure is breaking down barriers and fostering emotional resilience on a global scale.
In this session, Mester Catalin will delve into the startup&#39;s growth strategy, market potential, and how I Love Failure aims to change the narrative around failure in personal and professional development.
<h2 id="why-participate">Why participate?</h2>
<ul>
<li>Discover I Love Failure&#39;s unique market approach and expansion plans.</li>
<li>Engage directly with Mester Catalin to gain insights into the future of personal development.</li>
<li>Learn how I Love Failure is poised to tap into the growing demand for authentic personal growth experiences.</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0of-mupz4tEtUhYm63DyjwQNfDNRLxCJIV">REGISTER HERE</a>
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