At swanbase, we love entrepreneurs who dare, who test quickly, and who innovate. Cédric O'Neill, founder of Bricks.co, perfectly embodies this mindset. After a formative first entrepreneurial failure, he launched Bricks.co, an innovative platform that lets anyone invest in real estate starting at 10 euros. Here is a look back at his journey, full of valuable lessons.
Table of contents:
- From pharmacy to real estate: an unconventional path
- Raising funds and keeping control: Cédric's lessons
- How to overcome major regulatory challenges
- The central importance of community
- Practical advice for entrepreneurs
swanbase: Hi Cédric, can you briefly walk us through your background?
Cédric O'Neill: I did a doctorate in pharmacy, but I quickly realized it wasn't for me. I loved discovering the entrepreneurial spirit in the United States, and when I came back to France, I launched a marketplace for pharmacists. Unfortunately, it didn't go as planned, particularly because of difficult investors. After that, I moved into real estate to secure my future and to simplify this very complex field with Bricks.co.
swanbase: Why did you specifically choose real estate after that first venture?
Cédric O'Neill: After my first company, I found myself with nothing. Real estate was the obvious choice to build a financial safety net. But I quickly saw how difficult financing was. The idea of letting anyone invest easily starting at 10 euros was obvious to me.
swanbase: You ran into regulatory challenges with the AMF. How did you get through that?
Cédric O'Neill: We worked very closely with them to be compliant and to match their expectations. It forced us to pause, but it was beneficial. We used that time to automate and optimize the platform, which makes it very high-performing today.
swanbase: What major lessons did you take away from these experiences?
Cédric O'Neill: The biggest lesson is really resilience and cash management. Every crisis teaches us a lot, especially about being more cautious and structuring the company to avoid past mistakes. Raising funds, yes, but only to seize opportunities, not just to survive.
swanbase: Why is it so important to have a favorable balance of power when you raise funds?
Cédric O'Neill: Keeping a favorable balance of power is essential to stay free. You negotiate better, you keep control, you secure your project. I always advise entrepreneurs to first prove they can live without investors' money. It changes everything.
swanbase: Community is central to your model. Why?
Cédric O'Neill: Community is everything to us. Opening our capital to our users showed how much it really matters. It turns your customers into ambassadors, they get more involved, they love the brand more. It's crucial for the long-term sustainability of the model.
swanbase: What practical advice would you give today to French entrepreneurs?
Cédric O'Neill: My advice is: test quickly, listen to your community, be ready to pivot fast, and above all, be profitable as soon as possible. Never wait for investors to solve your problems. First show that you can survive on your own.
At swanbase, we love real stories, full of twists, but above all carrying hope. Cédric's is exactly that: inspiration for every entrepreneur ready to take the leap, fail fast, learn, and start over stronger.
