Business for a Sustainable Future
Businesses have an enormous environmental impact, but can—and should—be catalysts for positive systems change. Every business, regardless of whether it’s a tiny startup or a giant multinational, has the power (and the obligation) to re-think how its practices can build a better world.
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Course Content
Total content: 41 activities
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Lesson 1: The Sustainable Business Landscape
What are the models, standards, and trends for sustainability in business?
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Lesson 2: Driving Change in Business: the Entrepreneurial Mindset
How do entrepreneurs design business models that open up new opportunities for scaling environmental initiatives?
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Lesson 3: Building a Sustainable Venture
How do I pitch, run, and grow my own business or initiative?
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Explore More
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Lesson 3: Additional Resources
Next Steps for Entrepreneurs: this curation of resources that will guide you through the next steps for taking business ideas beyond the initial stages and pitch.
- Build on the roadmap activity we did in class with this more detailed version: Roadmap for Success (Design Kit) and build a more detailed Funding Strategy (Design Kit)
- Build on your 8 word mission statement: Create A Logic Model (Design Kit) or read a recap of Kevin Starr’s approach to turning the 8 Word Mission Statement into a full logic model in this great post. To hear more from Kevin Starr, explore The 8 Word Mission Statement and How not to save the world.
Other helpful resources:
- The Lean Startup by Eric Reis
- Sam Altman’s “How to Start a Startup” and Startup Playbook
- The Balance: Entrepreneurs Resources and Advice and Becoming a Small Business Owner
- Founder Library
- Stripe: Atlas Guides to Starting a Real Business
- Business design playbook (Board of Innovation): Great, in-depth resource with many more activities to explore your business design
- Acumen’s Business Models for Social Enterprise Course
- Acceleration by Ryan Roberts (and the associated site) offer a guide to the often-confusing world of startup law, incorporation, and how to protect your startup.
Social impact investors and incubators:
- 44 Social Impact Investing Ventures Changing the World Through Finance
- Impact Garden: Network | Incubators | Accelerators
More tips on pitching, as well as templates to use, are in this Pitch Deck Guide. More examples of real pitches from environmental organizations are here: Conservation entrepreneurs are ready to get down to business.
Lesson 2: Additional Resources
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