Richard Harry: Why I Joined Passionfruit

Business is much like sport: competition, variety, success, and lessons (not losses - we only lose 100% of the opportunities we don’t take!).

One of the best things I love about being a sports (particularly football) fan, is spotting talent early, and watching that talent develop from a rising star, to a true pioneer of the game.

When I was approached to join Passionfruit, I was at the stage in my life where I was just taking things as they came. I enjoyed being at my former workplace, but I was no longer being stretched to the point where I could sustainably grow my skillsets, and still out-perform my targets. In the process, I didn’t realise it, but I was losing my passion for business, because I was no longer able to draw the same parallels I love about sport in the business I was involved in. I could liken this phase to a football player being paid hundreds of thousands of pounds at a big club, only to sit on the bench.

I knew that I was not made to sit on the bench, but made to score 20+ goals a season.

Upon seeing the opportunity to join Passionfruit, I had actually turned it down in my mind, but because I had learnt to always cultivate an open mind, I decided to give ear to the business as a concept. I found it interesting that the co-founders were extremely confident in their initial business model - a managed marketplace, for vetted marketing talent - and found their growth even more intriguing; given that they had been growing impressively for 9 months already without any funding or marketing spend (ironically), before getting in touch with me.

But first, let's back track a little...

It’s no secret - the world of work is changing drastically, and with the great resignation in full swing, employers are losing ground to the transitional power that Gen Z possesses. It is becoming more apparent that a greater proportion of Gen Z are looking for new ways to run their professional lives.

Anecdotally, I have seen more of my friends beginning side hustles, opening their own businesses and developing high-income skills, all with the intention of growing their businesses into full-time commitments. On the flip-side, I also have multiple friends who have chosen the freelance route; looking for opportunities to grow their portfolio, earn salary-like packages and become leaders in their respective industries.

The themes across both scenarios are identical - my generation has shifted their priorities away from materialistic goals and desires, to a much more sentimental-based mindset. This shift has seen Gen Z’ers turn down 6-figure pay rises, in favour for more time with their newly-formed families, their friends, but most importantly, their freedom.

So the trend is crystal clear: more and more employees are ditching their full-time comforts, for their riskier side hustles, with a sprinkle of freedom... and there is no sight of this trend slowing down either.

This means that the market is seeing an increase in the supply of freelancers. Simple right?

“Why can’t employers simply adapt their policies to keep their workforce?”, you may ask, but the truth is that they cannot keep the employers if there was no recognition of their value in the first place. During one of the toughest periods in recent history - the COVID 19 Pandemic - rather than demonstrating their appreciation for their employees, many companies instead shown a disregard, with many companies laying off staff, and giving pay cuts to those who remained.

Ultimately, there is a disconnect between the employee, and the traditional employer, and most of Gen Z have had enough of this. The big companies, due to their size, cannot change how they run things overnight...

...but a start-up business can, making them the prime micro-climates for harbouring this new wave of talent.

Funnily enough, in a way, I knew all this, prior to joining Passionfruit. I had observed this phenomenon on the sidelines of the Emirates Stadium, when I spotted the quality of 20 year old Folarin Balogun in the u23’s for Arsenal (I am an Arsenal Fan - cry for me later!), before he broke the record for the most goals scored in Premier League 2 history.

How does this relate to me and Passionfruit specifically?

In my first meeting, with Raffi - the co-founder here - the realisation of what I could be a part of dawned on me. Here I was: staring at a perfect storm happening around me, with an open door into it’s very centre. The love I had for business was re-ignited. I had re-discovered what it was that attracted me so strongly in the very beginning: my love of making something from seemingly nothing. The conditions were optimal to take full advantage of the what is about to take place.

Passionfruit is the Emile Smith-Rowe of start-ups. We have a bright future ahead, and without a doubt, this will not be the last you hear of me, or us...

By Richard Harry