The Story Behind Sprout

Hi, I'm Marc!

I’m the maker of Sprout — and the guy behind Explore Beyond Limit. My story goes back a long way, but for the sake of brevity, let’s start in 2012. I was 24 years old, dreaming of adventure. I wanted to travel all the way from Istanbul to Japan without taking a single flight — crossing borders on foot and using only public transportation, a bicycle, or a motorbike. To make that dream possible, I had to save enough money to support myself through the whole journey. I was stepping into the unknown, taking a leap towards an adventure that would shape me into who I am today.

At the time, I was finishing my Bachelor’s thesis while working part-time at a chocolate factory museum in Broc, Switzerland. I didn't earn much but I was eager to go. If I waited too long, maybe I would never go. So I did my best to save as much as possible from the money I earned working there. I learned how to budget — becoming aware of my spending patterns and building the discipline to save for my dreams. I set off on a shoestring, with funds many would have thought insufficient for a year of travel. Yet I did it. I crossed Asia overland, all the way from Turkey to Indonesia.. The route evolved as I went — and so did I. By the time I emerged on the other side of Asia, I was more resilient, open-minded, and experienced. I repeated the same process for the expeditions that followed. Set myself a goal. Budget intentionally. Commit.

Financial freedom and the ability to do great things with little are achievable. That’s my mission here: to help you figure it out for yourself. Sprout Budget is a tool designed to help you take control of your money, so money doesn’t control you. Once you become aware of your spending patterns, you naturally begin to make adjustments. And when you set a goal to save a fixed amount each month, the process becomes enjoyable. You start reaching your target consistently. That’s when the door opens to realizing some of your wildest dreams. My wish with Sprout is to help you take one more step toward the life you truly want.

You don’t need more money to start building the life you want.
You need awareness, intention, and consistency.
If Sprout can help you take even one step toward your own adventure – big or small.
Then it’s doing its job.

— Marc Surchat