High-flyer Cas Geven of ABR: "Dare to dream abroad"

Abroad Business Rules (ABR) is an online training program that imparts knowledge in theoretical or practical form aimed at SMEs, self-employed workers and employees. Cas Geven and Nikesh Mandrekar are the founders of ABR. In doing the ABR training, several points are raised that offer insight about an unfamiliar market. This process of development looks at the needs, opportunities and obstacles of the business across the border. ABR is especially for Dutch companies that are not yet in a specific country. MASTERS talks to one of the founders, Cas Geven, for the Highflyers section.Text: Mical Joseph
Image: ABR

What is your USP?

"ABR distinguishes itself in several ways. For example, we are accessible to SMEs and ZZP companies. Accessible because we keep the rates low to enable personal development and business development for everyone, but also by giving the opportunity to develop without compromising the business core. ABR's trainings are scheduled according to the client's wishes. These are easily scheduled allowing you to continue your business activities in a good way. On the content level, we offer basic legal advice, which is necessary for the first steps of the entrepreneurial journey across the border. And in the process, all cultural differences are translated into intercultural business situations. A positive contribution is made to opportunities that would otherwise remain unexploited or never be created. Whereby training, achieving business success or development on a personal level promotes."

What can the older generation of entrepreneurs learn from you?

"The older generation of entrepreneurs has the knowledge and experience that is crucial for today's generation of entrepreneurs and employees. However, ABR sees great online opportunities to be able to offer this knowledge in a user-friendly and accessible way. This with an eye on the financial possibilities and time management of our participants. The online platform provides a greater reach to make knowledge and experience more accessible."

Who is your teacher or inspiration in the entrepreneurial field?

"Rinke Pels has been one of our teachers. Pels gave us the self-confidence to eventually develop our idea further and also indicated that you should not be put off by the fact that you may be young and not be taken seriously. The founder of Snapchat, Evan Spiegel, showed us the importance of gamification. People learn best and get used to a new innovation most easily when a game element is added. The information given also sticks with participants better. Gamification is therefore a goal we want to implement big in the online training course(s)."

What is your motto or quote?

"Our motto is that business expansion on the international market should be accessible to any entrepreneur or employee. The person should not depend on lack of time or financial resources: 'Dare to Dream Abroad'."

What is the biggest entrepreneurial risk you have taken so far?

"Offering a product on the national and international market without aellenic entrepreneurial experience."

Where will you be in three years?

"In three years, Nikesh and I want to have accomplished a number of things. We want to have a broad training offering in at least three different countries, establish a feedback community so we can keep our product increasingly precise and appropriate up to date, collaborate with different consultants to be able to support the entrepreneurial journey from A to Z from ABR, and have contributed to at least a hundred business success stories and deals across the border."