RMB continues its efforts to support initiatives in line with its sustainability strategy. In 2023, the agency had already established a partnership with Balnzthe only app that encourages young people to reduce their screen time on mobile. Today, RMB is moving up a gear by increasing its stake in the young start-up, bringing with it ‘Ventures by delaware‘, the group’s investment fund delaware.
Limit excessive use of screens
Young people spend around 6 hours a day on their smartphone, or 15 years of their life! However, it has been proven that the abusive use of screens and, by extension, social networks has harmful consequences on the physical and mental health of individuals and, particularly, on that of the youngest.
Balnz, a mobile app created by Sebastien Haasis a solution that aims to make young people responsible for their screen time through the gaming angle. The app relies on reward mechanisms to maintain motivation over time and induce a change in behavior in the face of smartphone addiction.
A first partnership with RMB in 2023
When the tool was created, RMB decided to support Balnz in its efforts to monetize the application. The business model is in fact based on the integration of partners within the rewards catalog. The interest for advertisers lies in the visibility they enjoy within the application,
but it is also an opportunity for them to join in a crucial societal approach around the universal problem of screen time.
« It is crucial for a national media agency to offer advertisers alternatives to traditional media and innovative solutions in line with their sustainable commitment, » confides Yves GerardCEO de RMB.
Fundraising for the launch
After helping Balnz to define a viable model, and despite an uncertain global economic context, RMB is now supporting the effective launch of the app by entering into the capital of the Brussels start-up.
Ventures by delaware, investment fund of the delaware group, a key global player in digital transformation and the deployment of ICT solutions, was also attracted by the Balnz project and the societal issues it defends. “ Beyond a strategic investment in a high-potential project, the Balnz project is in line with our investment strategy in the health and well-being sector, » welcomes Michael PenninckxPartner chez Ventures by delaware.
« This fundraising is a very symbolic step in the Balnz project because, beyond financial considerations, there is real consistency in the added value of RMB on media issues and of Ventures by delaware on technological challenges. We are approaching a B2C market with a unique solution and a high acquisition cost. It is therefore essential that the choice of investments is made in a balanced manner between marketing, developments, resources to guarantee the adoption, use and retention of users in the app,» explains Sebastien Haas, Founder of Balnz.
