How to Build Your Startup With Your Values First
Startup founders face immense pressure to move quickly, make clear decisions, and now more than ever, build their businesses with thoughtfulness and intention.
Daily headlines about the unethical behavior of tech companies spotlight the risks of failing to operate with a strong foundation of purpose. When a founder is clear about their vision, and their intentions on what is inbounds and out-of-bounds for how they will operate their company, not only do they mitigate this risk, but their company just operates better. They can hire the team that brings their whole selves to work; they can establish a culture of trust, accountability and alignment; they can create a product that reflects and responds to the complexities of its use cases; they can better navigate fundraising conversations and bring to the table investors who are truly aligned.
It is for this reason that Company Ventures established our North Star Program whereby founders can establish their vision, mission, values, and stakeholder accountability plan. We have partnered with the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth to share with you a range of perspectives from entrepreneurs in our network who have gone through this training to share their stories and practical tactics on how they build with intention. Our goal in sharing this content is to help aspiring entrepreneurs create a similar outlook towards their own sense of purpose, and understand fully the value of baking that into the core of their companies. It is never too early to embrace this work, and it remains relevant through all stages of growth.
Featured Startups:
CNote is a women-led impact investment platform that uses technology to unlock diversified and proven community investments that increase economic mobility and financial inclusion. CNote makes it easy for institutions and individuals to invest in the economic prosperity of financially underserved communities across America.
Elektra Health is on a mission to smash the menopause taboo by empowering women with evidence-based education, care & community. We’re creating a movement to reimagine menopause as the beginning of a new chapter, one that is powerful & transformative. In addition to clinical care via telemedicine, Elektra offers a proprietary “Meno-morphosis” program — currently in private beta — featuring evidence-based pathways for managing symptoms, as well as community cohort support and 1:1 access to a dedicated menopause expert.
Jannine Versi, Co-founder and COO of Elektra’s recommends founders invest time (and money) in working with a coach who is used to partnering with startups. Also, come together with the rest of the team periodically, to reassess values and identify what feels valuable as things shift over time.
From proactively planning your end-of-life wishes to navigating what to do after experiencing a loss, Lantern has got your back — for you, your family, and the people you love. Lantern’s planning tools will walk you through everything from pre-death planning for yourself to tying up the loose ends for someone else. Lantern, a public benefit corporation, is a single source of guidance for navigating life before and after a death.
Lantern CEO Liz Eddy’s recommended reading: Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia
LISNR is the leading ultrasonic proximity platform, enabling secure and seamless data transmission. Via a secure and scalable software solution, LISNR sends micro-communications using sound between devices on standard speakers and microphones.
Onaroll is a rewards app that inspires, incentivizes, and celebrates shift workers in order to help employees and businesses thrive.
Onaroll founder Pete Ginsberg finds inspiration from Setting the Table by Danny Meyer and both Pour Your Heart Into It and Onward from Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks
