At swanbase, we love entrepreneurs who dare, who test fast, and who innovate. Cédric O'Neill, founder of Bricks.co, is the perfect embodiment of that mindset. After a formative first failure as an entrepreneur, he launched Bricks.co, an innovative platform that lets anyone invest in real estate starting at just 10 euros. Here's a look back at a journey full of lessons.
Contents:
- From pharmacy to real estate: an unconventional path
- Raising funds and keeping control: Cédric's lessons
- How to overcome major regulatory challenges
- Why community sits at the heart of it all
- Practical advice for entrepreneurs
swanbase: Hi Cédric, can you give us a quick overview of 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, things didn't go as planned, especially with some difficult investors. After that, I moved into real estate to secure my future and to simplify a very complex field with Bricks.co.
swanbase: Why did you choose real estate specifically after that first venture?
Cédric O'Neill: After my first company, I found myself with nothing. Real estate was the obvious choice for building a financial safety net. But I quickly saw just how difficult financing was. The idea of letting anyone invest easily starting at 10 euros felt 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 meet their expectations. It forced us to hit pause, but it was a good thing. We used that time to automate and optimize the platform, which is what makes it so high-performing today.
swanbase: What are the big lessons you took away from these experiences?
Cédric O'Neill: The biggest lesson is really resilience and cash management. Every crisis teaches you an enormous amount, especially about being more careful and structuring the company to avoid the mistakes of the past. Raise funds, yes, but only to seize opportunities, not simply to survive.
swanbase: Why is it so important to have the upper hand when you raise funds?
Cédric O'Neill: Keeping the upper hand is essential to staying free. You negotiate better, you keep control, you secure your project. I always advise entrepreneurs to first prove they can live without investors' money. That changes everything.
swanbase: Community is central to your model. Why?
Cédric O'Neill: Community is everything to us. Opening up our capital to our users showed just how much it truly matters. It turns your customers into ambassadors: they get more involved, they love the brand more. It's crucial to the long-term durability of the model.
swanbase: What practical advice would you give French entrepreneurs today?
Cédric O'Neill: My advice is this: test fast, listen to your community, be ready to pivot quickly, and above all, become profitable as soon as you can. Never wait for investors to solve your problems. First show that you can stand on your own.
At swanbase, we love real stories, full of twists and turns, but above all full of hope. Cédric's is exactly that: an inspiration for every entrepreneur ready to take the leap, fail fast, learn, and come back stronger.
