The Growing of THE GROVE CRETE

As trivial as the metaphor may seem, the growing of a company equals the planting of a seed, the seed being an idea. In order for the seed to grow, and the idea to be realized, both need a lot of care and external inputs. The seed requires sunshine, rain, rich soil and nutrients as well as a patient and committed gardener. The business idea needs its own kinds of resources, such as money, time, a detailed plan for its implementation, administrative approvals, personal support networks and a patient and committed entrepreneur.

For many entrepreneurs, us included, the idea of making a change to the world is as much a motivating factor as is the prospect of being self-employed and increasing one’s own self-determination. And yet, we were also prepared to acknowledge that entrepreneurship comes in a package with new externalities. Quite obviously, we don’t have all neccessary resources at hand, and some externalities are even completely out of our control - such as legal frameworks, administrative decisions and the time it takes for them to be made. However, what is different to being an employee - and this makes all the difference - is that the motivation to overcome challenges is incomparably higher, since it is our own seed that we want to nurture, our own idea we want to realize, not someone else’s.

Looking back at two and a half years - from the birth of the idea for THE GROVE CRETE, the founding of our company a year ago, the long-winding purchase of the plot, until today - we are proud of what we have achieved. The latest news that we are happy to share is that THE GROVE CRETE was recently awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the GreenTecLab (GTL) project, which is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the European Climate Initiative, based on a decision by the German Parliament. THE GROVE CRETE is now officially one of the best green startups in Crete, and will be supported by mentors within the GreenTecLab network. The jury noted the following

Tourism needs to be rethought in many regions of Europe. The GTL start-ups are making a contribution to this. […] [T]he team of THE GROVE CRETE dares to interpret tourism in a completely new way, with the first Zero Energy Hotel in Crete. The project works consistently with the local community and gives tourists the opportunity to immerse themselves deeply in local traditions. There is a holistic sustainability concept that includes all aspects, from energy production to waste recycling and rewards for tourists who also choose to travel to Crete sustainably.

We are honoured by the award, and feel even more encouraged to keep going on the track that we have chosen. Successes like this work magic. They are the sunrays that grow the seed.

Another resource that we need is obviously financial in nature. Considering the geoeconomic situation, with disturbed supply chains as well as inflation rising through the roof - and along with it construction costs -, this particular challenge has not gotten any easier. In an environment in which banks are hesitant to lend money, and public funding is mainly guided to those companies that - on paper - seem to provide the largest quantity of jobs (even though small- and medium-sized companies are the backbone of European economies), we were lucky to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a silent investor in March 2022. However, MoUs are non-binding expressions of a mutual commitment, not more, not less. This means that THE GROVE CRETE is still looking for funding and, for now, continues to exist only on paper - particularly on the paperwork that is currently being assessed by the building authorities responsible for issuing the building license approval. This process can take quite some time and requires patience.

We have learned that patience and understanding is the quintessential trait entrepreneurs need to develop, while at the same time maintaining their determination and wits to overcome externalities. While the gardener has to hope for sun and rain, he also has at his or her disposal tools to reclaim control - such as a watering can and fertilizer. In the same vein, entrepreneurs need to find ways to take the fate of their ideas back into their own hands wherever possible. It feels good though that we can count on many goodwilled supporters who share our passion for THE GROVE CRETE. Plenty of people want to see our idea realized, and so we are joined by many metaphorical workers in the vineyard, or in the grove in our case.

THE GROVE CRETE will keep growing, bit by bit unfolding its leaves until it blossoms.