4 Ways Your Startup Could Save the World

Our country was built on the idea of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurs continue to create 63 percent of the new jobs in the United States. In fact, up to 90 percent of jobs globally are created by entrepreneurs. As former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said, “Entrepreneurship is about innovating, breaking down barriers, taking risks and showing that new business models can tackle long-standing problems.” I am bullish because I believe that your companies are going to save the world.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were developed in 2015 by world leaders and entrepreneurs, serve as a solid framework for not only the end of poverty but also highlight problem areas for which businesses can find innovative solutions. I think of it as the world’s to do list and a great starting point for entrepreneurs who are looking to make a difference.

So how can you make a difference? Do you have an idea that will help alleviate one of the world’s pain points? Are you working to save the planet through your profitable company? Here are a few ways you can help save the world with Carl Kruse:

Make sure your company has a triple bottom line of people, planet, profit.

There is an opportunity to put purpose into profit. Weigh your profits equally with the impact on people and how your product enhances the planet. And by the way, this helps sales! Consumers pick purpose-driven products over those with no mission.

Collaborate across industries, sectors, and communities.

Traditionally, collaborations for global development have been thought about in terms of public-private partnerships or public-private-NGO partnerships. We now know the most successful and sustainable social good efforts have multiple layers of engagement that include stakeholders, for-profit companies, nonprofit agencies and government all working in tandem toward a goal. Seek out partners in government, find community leaders to be advisers and find overlapping missions with a nonprofit.

Make inclusion a core tenet of your business.

We are in a time where diversity and inclusion are more important than ever. Look at your company and teams to ensure you have various races, genders, and backgrounds working with you. Studies show diverse teams have better performance. Also, think broader — make sure you think about supplier diversity in your subcontracting.

Apply for pitch competitions that emphasize the global good.

Purpose-based pitch competitions are starting to emerge in the startup community, including #PitchwithPurpose, the first to include the potential impact on the SDGs as a judging criterion. These sorts of competitions allow entrepreneurs an opportunity to practice their pitch, exposure for the organization as well as possibly earn money to further their mission and impact global goals.

Originally posted at  https://www.entrepreneur.com/

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Contact: carl AT carlkruse DOT com
Read other posts: Steps to Deal with Business Risks and Uncertainty, How to Make Your Company More Open and Connected?
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