Comments on: Missioneurs #4: Missioneurs are entrepreneurs with both eyes open

By: Blake Jennelle (The Blog) » The Missioneur Series #2: The one-eyed startup entrepreneur

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:26:33 +0000

[...] Part #4: #4: Missioneurs are entrepreneurs with both eyes open [...]

By: Blake Jennelle (The Blog) » The Missioneur Series #1: Our startups and non-profits don’t have to die

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:23:15 +0000

[...] Part #4: #4: Missioneurs are entrepreneurs with both eyes open [...]

By: Blake Jennelle (The Blog) » The Missioneurs Series #5: Building the missioneurs community, together

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:58:27 +0000

[...] they are struggling. Together, they can become unstoppable mission-driven entrepreneurs (or missioneurs for [...]

By: Muhammadatt

Muhammadatt — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:59:28 +0000

This series has definately peaked my interest, but I am going to back Brian up about the word “missioneur” sounding a bit like it is one frenchman short of a menage-a-trois.

Blake, you might be interested in this piece, which offers a slightly different take on the subject of mixing entreprenership and social mission: http://www.ssireview.org/articles/entry/all_ent...

By: Muhammadatt

Muhammadatt — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:17:11 +0000

Brain –

I would be happy to talk more about this with you. I am relatively familiar with the B-corp, and hybrid structures like the L3C, as well the corporate/fiduciary legal issues involved. I do question whether there is a need for a baby B-corp, or even a standand B-corp, but would be happy to talk through some of thie issues. (I'm a corporate attorney, btw)

By: Gregory Kohs

Gregory Kohs — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:27:04 +0000

You have quite a few things wrong about Wikipedia and the "lean" Wikimedia Foundation.

http://www.tinyurl.com/WMF-myths

By: Blake Jennelle

Blake Jennelle — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:43:09 +0000

I love the idea of a Baby B-Corp (or maybe a “B Startup?). Since a startup is generally at the stage of what they intend to do rather than what they have already done, maybe the B Startup survey could focus on intentions. After all, the earlier a venture starts to think about these things, the easier they will be to implement.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:42:54 +0000

Thanks so much Blake! We've been talking about this for a few weeks now, and it's great to see the ideas developing and taking shape! (Though I still prefer the original coinage, Missionpreneurship, if only because in contrast to Moneypreneurship, Moneyeurship just doesn't work, ans besides, Missioneurship sounds too much like prosthelytizing to natives or a sexual position ;-} )

I'm also glad to see a call to action here, because similar ideas have been gestating in my head for the last 8 months, since I learned about BCorporation.net and their “for benefit” corporation model… As a startup founder, and one with a mission that I hope is definitely “for benefit” of artists and the communities that form around them, I want to make a commitment to being “for benefit” both so that users and artists know we're serious about it, and to commit us to working with the right kinds of investors who share our values.

Unfortunately, whether because of success, underfunding, understaffing, etc, BCorp is not currently able or willnig to spend any effort to encourage or enable start BCorps… their measures and certifications are all aimed at the impact and legal DNA of established coprorations, and when I spoke to them a few weeks ago about trying to create a path for startups, they basically said it sounds good, but we can't do it.

I'm not a lawyer and I don't understand the complex set of potential liability concerns that some people have about making officers and board members beholden to stakeholders rather than shareholders, though I have an inkling of the potential conflicts of interest, but presumably BCorp's attorney's feel they've resolved this concern reasonably well. I'd like to work with someone to understand and copy their structure to make some kind of “Baby B-corp” or “wanna-B-corp” certification or commitment that's light weight, easy for startups to adopt and commit to, difficult to abandon casually by themselves or future owners (2/3 or 4/5 shareholder majority needed? I dunno), and puts startups on a path to BCorp certification, and that existing BCorp's have some incentive to recognize and grant equal status to BCorp's for in dealings, so there's some incentive to make the commitment (as I understand part of the BCorp model currently enables or requires for certified BCorp's in dealings with other BCorp's).

I have no idea where or how to start this process, but anyone else interested, please contact me to discuss