Browsing Tag
sustainability
30 posts
How Startups Can Balance Social Impact and Profit
Professor Henrietta Onwuegbuzie of Lagos Business School claims, “Being purpose-driven helps companies grow faster and make more money.” But what exactly does it mean to be a purpose-driven business, and how can startups balance social impact and profit? StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here Why social impact is...
These 2 Founders Share Their Inspirational Business Journeys on StartupNation Radio
On today's episode of StartupNation Radio, Jeff interviews two entrepreneurs with Michigan-based businesses: Ali Rose VanOverbeke of Genusee and Zach Berg of Mongers’ Provisions. StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here Tune in to the full StartupNation Radio show with Genusee and Mongers' Provisions here: First up is VanOverbeke,...
7 Midwest Sustainability Startups to Know About in 2021
We’re so happy that more startups than ever are founded on a mission of sustainability. If you’re looking for a great job at a Midwest sustainability startup, you have so many choices. We rounded up some great companies doing good work in the environmental space in the Midwest. Here are a few of the awesome...
How Startups Can Achieve B Corp Status (and Why it’s Important)
The idea of starting and running a business for any reason other than profit may seem counterintuitive to some. But a growing number of businesses around the world are turning that idea on its head, and showing that business can — and should — do more. During 2020, a 23% growth in global submissions to become...
Why a Certified B Corporation is the Secret to a Sustainable Business
In 2019, the Business Roundtable issued an open letter called “Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation,” in which 181 CEOs signed the letter, stating that they pledged to lead their companies to the benefit of all stakeholders. Who makes up all stakeholders? This group compromises more than just a corporation’s shareholders; it also includes...
Building a Sustainable Brand: Why Going Green is Good for Business
Today, consumers care more about where their products come from than ever before. With many brands reaping the rewards of a more socially and environmentally friendly approach, it’s time for startups to follow suit in building sustainable brands. StartupNation exclusive discounts and savings on Dell products and accessories: Learn more here The market for ethical...
Why Sustainability Matters in Business
As you’re building your business, you’ll find yourself juggling many essential tasks. Product design, website management, bookkeeping, marketing and more may initially come to mind as crucial components to starting a business. There's also no better time to weave sustainability into your business than when you’re getting started. Going green is more than just a...
Should the E-Commerce Industry Scale Back Two-Day Shipping?
Once a consumer purchases an item online, the clock starts ticking. Their expectations have aligned with the two-day shipping standard set by large corporations like Amazon. According to a Clutch study, 48 percent of online shoppers surveyed said they typically receive deliveries within two to three days after making a purchase. While the quick turnaround...
How Entrepreneurs are Shaping the Future of the Food Industry
Did you know that consumer demand for alternative foods, including meat substitutes and plant-based ingredients, increased by 17 percent in 2018? While we often hear about big-name companies launching new products to appeal to changing consumer tastes (hello, Burger King), there is also an army of innovative startups that are more quietly working alongside existing food companies...
The Road Less Traveled: Why More Entrepreneurs are Choosing Measured Profitability Over Fast-Paced Growth
Venture capital investment shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. In 2015, VC funding for U.S startups was at $60 billion; by July of 2019, $62 billion had already been invested. By the end of 2018, VC backing soared to $131 billion, the highest spend since 2000, and more than double the figures of 2015....
How to Make Your Startup Sustainable Over Time When Hiring
One of the many challenges entrepreneurs experience when starting a new business is building their first team. It can seem overwhelming at first, but upon understanding that a C-Suite lineup of executive-level managers is not necessary at the validation stage, the stress dissipates. At the beginning of a company’s journey, workers are needed more than...
Hustle Overdrive: Start Sustaining Your Business Instead
In today’s entrepreneurial culture, hustling is a source of pride for many. But the question must be asked: Should we be proud of hustle? Is there any other way to maintain success? And if hustle is a good thing, at what point does it go overboard and become workaholism? It’s not that we haven’t yet...
How This Entrepreneur Bounced Back From Near Bankruptcy to Build a 7 Figure Business
By the end of 2014, I had two options: either declare bankruptcy or find someone crazy enough to approve a business loan to the tune of $100,000. I’d spent my whole life hoping to own my own business. I wanted to be my own boss in order to have the freedom and autonomy to raise...
Buy the Change You Want to See: Navigating Personalization and the Quest for Individuality
The following is excerpted from "Buy the Change You Want to See" by Jane Mosbacher Morris with Wendy Paris, published by TarcherPerigee, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Copyright © 2019 by Jane Mosbacher Morris. Many people feel increasingly compelled to establish and assert their own personal brand,...
Making the Transition from Freelancer to Entrepreneur
From the outside looking in, running a business and freelancing can appear quite similar. Both freelancers and entrepreneurs can set their own schedule, work from just about anywhere, and decide what projects interest them. From the perspective of someone stuck in the 9 to 5 grind, both a freelancer and an entrepreneur can seem like...
Shark Tank: A Case Study in Patent Protection for Startups
Many startups struggle to determine when to obtain a patent, or whether to obtain one at all. Here, we’ll examine the show, “Shark Tank,” to demonstrate that it is important to first determine the marketability of a product and sustainability of the corresponding business before applying for patent protection. “Shark Tank” features a panel of...
5 Preconceptions That May Be Preventing Your Side Hustle From Becoming Your Full-Time Gig
Entrepreneurship has always been the soul of the American economy. A recent survey revealed that 21 million people in the U.S. already have a side hustle, another 7.5 million plan to start a new one in 2018, and one in two millennials moonlight. It’s been said millennials are the most entrepreneurial generation yet. But the...
6 Ways to Profit With a Purpose as an Entrepreneur
Doing well is hard enough for most entrepreneurs. How on earth are they supposed to make their business a force for good, too? Six altruistic members of The Oracles share how you can make the world a better place while building a wildly successful company for profit. 1. Start today, no matter what The best advice is: start...
What Should New Entrepreneurs Pay Themselves?
With entrepreneurship comes freedom, and along with that freedom comes interesting decisions you may have never faced before. One of those decisions is what to pay yourself as a startup owner. There are a wide variety of opinions on this subject, and a lot of factors weigh in. Suddenly, being your own boss isn’t quite...
Veteran Entrepreneur Stephanie Breedlove Shares Essential Business Advice
Veteran entrepreneur and angel investor Stephanie Breedlove founded Breedlove & Associates (a household payroll and tax firm) and sold it to Care.com in 2012 for more than $50 million. She’s now active as a mentor to other female entrepreneurs and a sought-after speaker. Her book, “All In: How Women Entrepreneurs Can Think Bigger, Build Sustainable...