-Life as the Owner of a Crowdfunded Island in Paradise–
I would venture to say there are a handful of idyllic romanticisms people have the world over. They include things like owning vineyards, sports franchises, retiring at forty and so on.
Oh, and how about this one, owning your own picture-perfect island in paradise?
How many people have you met, who’ve actually achieved anything remotely close to executing on such kinds of dreams?
Not too many, right? Well, you are about to be treated to an episode in which one particular guest of the program has done something pretty spectacular. In fact, what he and his team have done is a world’s first. Think fantasy meeting a warm and ocean breezy reality.
Introducing
Marshall Mayer, is the NY based Founder and Co-Chairman, of IBG or “Island Buying Group, Inc.”. He is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis, with a degree in History and Chinese.
Skills & Background
Mayer has more than 14 years of entrepreneurship, emerging markets business and finance experience, and has lived and worked in five countries on three continents, and done business in over a dozen more.
He was also founder and COO of a US and Philippines-based non-profit disaster response company, specialising in typhoon-resistant construction on remote islands. Mayer is a lifelong traveller and lover of new languages, of which he has studied six.
Now all of that is impressive unto itself however this is where things get really interesting.
A World’s First Endeavour
Mayer is co-founder of Let’s Buy an Island, a world’s first project of its kind which used crowdfunding to purchase an actual island.
In 2019, a group of investors lead by Marshall banded together to make the crowdfunded island purchase ($180,000 plus tax) of Coffee Caye, a 1.2- acre, uninhabited island off the coast of Belize.
Aside from the crowd funded purchase being unique, this project also represents an unusual nation-building project too with Coffee Caye being reconstituted as the “Principality of Islandia,” complete with its own national flag, anthem and government.
In fact, through a small donation, you too can become an official citizen of Islandia.
While Coffee Caye still remains under recognized laws, borders and restrictions of Belize, unofficially to some, it has become the world’s newest “micronation”.
Worldwide Media Coverage
To date, this venture and story has been covered and devoured by readers from major news outlets and publications, not limited to the likes of CNN, New York Magazine, Lonely Planet, Mirror and Telemundo amongst others.
Reasons to Listen
Marshall explains this crowdfunded island purchase in its entirety including the reasoning for this business venture, hopes and aspirations for the project moving forward, as well as what it all means to him on a personal level.
Not only that, Marshall accomplishes all of the above in a highly entertaining manner through the mixing in of story, humour and facts which will undoubtedly leave listeners in an island breezy relaxed state! 😉
For those who have ever dreamt about owning an island —and really, who hasn’t?!–this is an episode you will truly enjoy from start to finish.
A Memorable Quote from the Episode:
“There was a pinch me moment in all of this. It happened when I was standing on the island and realized, oh right, this is ours.”
Marshall Mayer
Check out the Video Conversation:
For those who desire to view the full video conversation of this discussion, you can do so via Youtube.
Words of Wisdom:
Hear from Marshall as he shares advice to those looking to learn more about crowdfunded projects.
Discover More
For those interested in learning more about Marshall and his work, you can find and connect with him through his website or through the following social platforms:
Keep Listening!
I hope you enjoyed the episode. For more, check out additional episodes here!