This week we enter the world of investing. What is shareholder activism and why is it an important part of individual action when it comes to combating the climate crisis? We sat down with Chief Marketing Officer at Tulipshare, Jenna Armitage to hear all about it. During this Q&A we delve into what shareholder activism is, how Tulipshare is empowering individuals, businesses and investors to take control of their investments and more.
Q: How would you define Shareholder Activism?
A: Shareholder activism is the act of investing money into publicly-traded companies and then using your shares to influence the company’s corporate governance. Traditionally, activist investing has been a tactic used by wealthy hedge fund managers to increase the value of their portfolios.
"We believe that traditional activism can only go so far. For companies to commit to real and lasting change, the pressure needs to come from within. Individuals have the power to influence companies - publicly held companies are obligated to listen to the concerns of their shareholders."
Q: Why is Shareholder Activism an important aspect of instilling change?
A: We believe that traditional activism can only go so far. For companies to commit to real and lasting change, the pressure needs to come from within. Individuals have the power to influence companies - publicly held companies are obligated to listen to the concerns of their shareholders. At Tulipshare, you can invest as little as £1.
Q: Background on Tulipshare: How did it start and what was the inspiration?
A: Tulipshare started in July 2021 off the back of the momentum from protest movements like Black Lives Matter and School Strike for Climate. There’s been a lot of anger and outrage coming from grass roots movements wanting more accountability from leadership. On top of that, we’re in the midst of a retail investment boom, and we’re starting to see a shift in power away from the big institutions and back into the hands of the individual (see what happened with Reddit and Gamestop, for example). ESG topics are big in the financial industry right now, but still there needs to be more accountability for big corporations to stick to their promises, which is where we come in.
" Within minutes, you can create an account, add money to the platform, and begin backing campaigns that are aligned with your ethical beliefs. "
Q: What campaigns do you have currently?
A: This year we’ve submitted four proposals and we believe that three will come to a vote. We’ve had confirmation that our Johnson & Johnson and Salesforce campaigns will be on the proxy for the AGM. And we’re waiting to hear back from Amazon, but feel with the SEC’s new guidance announced in November that this too will be included this year. For us this is incredibly important as it's the first time a retail investing platform has submitted proposals - we believe this opens up so much potential for individuals to get involved in corporate governance.
Our Johnson & Johnson campaign seeks to stop the sale of its talc-based powder globally. Shockingly, Johnson & Johnson continues to say that their product is “safe” even though long-term use of talcum powder has been linked to multiple cancers including ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
Our Amazon campaign seeks to ensure fair and safe working environments for Amazon warehouse workers through applying more governance by requesting an independent audit of warehouse workers wages and working conditions.
Our Salesforce campaign looks to fight for racial equity at Salesforce, who has consistently failed to improve its U.S. workforce diversity numbers, and underrepresented employees in prominent positions have left the company due to “rampant microaggressions and gaslighting”.
Q: Could you take us through the process of how someone would use Tulipshare?
A: The activist investing industry is notorious for developing campaigns based on financial missteps at public companies or enhancing short-term returns. That’s not the vibe we’re going for. Our campaigns are based on impact - either through research our team is doing around specific issues or through campaigns our community has submitted for us to advocate for. Through Tulipshare, investors are able to have the potential to have a say in the way public companies are conducting their business in a way that was previously not possible.
Within minutes, you can create an account, add money to the platform, and begin backing campaigns that are aligned with your ethical beliefs. After you place your initial investment, we'll keep working to achieve each milestone so we can continue to advocate on your behalf to achieve the goals of our campaign. Through your in-app newsfeed, you monitor the progress of your campaign over time. We will regularly publish campaign updates, including campaign milestones like responses from the company, news coverage, and campaign completion alerts.
"Through Tulipshare, investors are able to have the potential to have a say in the way public companies are conducting their business in a way that was previously not possible."
Q: What’s next for the platform?
A: We’re hoping to reach 100,000 investors in the UK investing a minimum of £1 and hungry for change. Then we’ll start building momentum to launch in the US and throughout Europe.
Interested to learn more? Signing up with Tulipshare is simple and only takes a few minutes. No complicated paperwork is required to set up or fund your account
1. Tell us about yourself so we can verify your details 2. Add funds to your account and convert them to USD 3. Select a campaign you’re passionate about and invest as little as £1
Disclosure As with all investment, your capital is at risk. Tulipshare is an Appointed Representative of RiskSave Technologies, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN:775330.) This stock trading platform is facilitated by Tulipshare. Tulipshare does not provide investment advice. Individual investors should make their own decisions or seek professional independent advice if they are unsure as to the suitability/appropriateness of any investment for their individual circumstances or needs, including potential tax treatment. The value of investments can go up as well as down and you may receive less than your original investment or lose the value of your entire initial investment. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Currency rate fluctuations can adversely impact the overall returns on your original investment. Learn more by reading the Tulipshare full Risk Disclosure and FAQs.
