A New Partnership Is Born.
Business relationships come in all forms at MBA networking events.
After meeting Free 3D Hands founder Mat Bowtell earlier this year, SOM Blinds owners Fiona and Bernie Sombekke pledged to donate and install voice-activated blinds at his factory.
Having worked with special needs clients in their own line of work, Fiona said she and Bernie were in awe of Mat’s company, which 3D-prints hands and assistive devices for free. Speaking at an MBA networking breakfast, Mat had shared his journey from retrenchment to running a global charity.
‘We were just completely in awe of his commitment and passion and his journey to get there,’ Fiona said. ‘It was a bit of a no-brainer for us.
‘When we first started (SOM Blinds), I thought; does anyone really need motorised blinds? Then we did some work for the TAC for people who’d had accidents and were in wheelchairs and I realised what we do for some people is really life-changing. It gives them independence just to be able to put their own blinds up and down.
‘We just really felt a connection with Mat.’
Within weeks of meeting Mat, the SOM Blinds team visited his Phillip Island factory to measure up, returning this month to install the blinds. Fiona said the relationship was unlikely to end there.
‘We were there for hours and Mat showed us through the centre,’ she said. ‘It was unbelievable. Mat is very good at what he does. We will hopefully do more for him when we can.’
Pictured top left: Bernie Sombekke of SOM Blinds (left) and Mat Bowtell of Free 3D Hands at the Phillip Island factory.