Donating money should feel good. But too often, it leaves people wondering: Where did my money actually go? That uncertainty combined with high overheads and vague updates is exactly what led Simon “Siim” Konks and Erika Wager to build DigiDonate, a blockchain-based fundraising platform designed to restore trust.
In this episode of Business Built Freedom, we are not just talking about crypto or charity. We are diving into something bigger: how trust, technology, and transparency can shape the way we run our businesses.
Key Takeaways
- Transparency is a value, not a buzzword, and blockchain proves it.
- When you remove unnecessary layers, you unlock more value for your clients or beneficiaries.
- The way you tell your story matters. People back people before they back products.
- Purpose-led businesses can scale if they get the structure and trust piece right.
From Frustration to Function: Where DigiDonate Began
For Siim, the idea started with a gut feeling. Years ago, he dropped $100 into a donation tin, only to be told that half of it was going into the collector’s own pocket. That frustration simmered. For Erika, the story started two decades earlier, when she first explored ways to reduce fundraising overheads and nearly got blacklisted for it.
Those stories became the DNA of DigiDonate. They had both seen the flaws in the system, so they decided to fix it.
The Transparency Tech Stack: What Blockchain Actually Does
Let us be clear: this is not a blockchain hype story. It is a trust story.
Siim breaks down how DigiDonate uses public blockchains to make donations verifiable. When someone donates, that transaction is recorded on a public ledger, visible through what is called a “block explorer.” There are no names, just wallet addresses, but the key is that the record cannot be altered or deleted.
This offers something many businesses struggle to achieve: proof. Forget the sales talk and fancy PDFs. This is proof you can actually see. And, for anyone building a business on transparency, that level of verifiability sets a new standard.
Building trust starts behind the scenes. If your tech foundation is shaky, your clients will feel it. We help businesses set up reliable, secure systems that support transparency from the ground up.
Designing for Efficiency: Cutting the Overhead
Traditional fundraising platforms can lose anywhere from 45% to 80% of the funds raised before they even reach the cause. DigiDonate is flipping that around and aiming for at least 85% to go directly where it is needed.
How? By rethinking the technology and trimming the layers. It is a lean model backed by strong compliance, including KYC (Know Your Customer) and KYB (Know Your Business) processes—all automated through AI-powered tools. Donors can even stay anonymous using a zero-knowledge proof token, maintaining privacy while still proving compliance.
For business owners, the lesson is simple. When you reduce friction and build for clarity, trust follows.
Want your tech to work harder (and cost less)? We can audit your stack and spot where you are bleeding time and money.
Scale Without Sacrificing Trust
DigiDonate is not just for big causes. Erika and Siim made sure the platform works just as well for individual situations, such as raising money for a friend’s medical treatment or community project. The key difference is that every fundraiser must be verified, and the funds are traceable.
That level of accountability allows DigiDonate to scale without creating new risks. For business owners thinking about growth, your systems need to scale without compromising the trust that earned you your customers in the first place.
Fighting the Skepticism Around Crypto
Siim is the first to admit: crypto has a trust problem. From dodgy ICOs to rug pulls, the early days of blockchain created just as many scams as they did solutions, but that is why platforms like DigiDonate matter. They put people out front, offer transparency by default, and prove there is a better way. It is a lesson in how to take control of your narrative and build trust by design.
Whether you are using AI, automation, or blockchain, the right tech partner keeps it all running smoothly. If you are growing fast and need systems that scale with you, we are here to help.
Values That Drive Business
Both Erika and Siim have the word “freedom” tattooed on their bodies, and that is no coincidence. For them, business freedom means more than time or money. It means having the freedom to create, to help others, and to build something with purpose.
That sense of mission is embedded in DigiDonate. From making it easier to donate, to creating space for small causes, to rejecting high-pressure sales tactics, their business model reflects their personal values. It is lean, ethical, and unapologetically impact-driven.
For those of us running businesses, the takeaway is clear: alignment matters. When your systems, structure, and story align with your values, business gets easier and more fulfilling.
What DigiDonate Teaches Us About Trust and Growth
DigiDonate is still early. The platform is in development, and the waitlist is open. But what Siim and Erika are building is more than a tool for donations. It is a case study in how to:
- Build trust with transparency
- Remove friction for your users
- Tell stories that connect
- Stay lean without cutting corners
- Scale with integrity
Whether you are in tech, finance, retail, or services, those lessons apply.
If you are interested in supporting DigiDonate or just want to see what trust-first tech looks like in action, you can visit digidonate.com.au to join the waitlist.
