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    The Guide to Responsibility in Startups

    MVP

    Project Definition Stage: founding team, MVP building, initial funding

    Pre-Seed

    Pre-Seed Stage: marketable product (PoC) in search of business model, first round of funding (€0.3-1M), first hires

    Seed

    Seed Stage: Second round of financing (€1-5M), business model iteration, team expansion

    Structure & Governance

    How is the startup structured and how will it finance its growth? How can all stakeholders be involved in decision-making processes?

    ⭐ Protection of the company’s purpose

    ⭐
    By what means will the startup fulfill its purpose?
    ‣
    Aligning cofounders around shared founding values
    ‣
    Defining a corporate «why»
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    Aligning operating model with purpose
    ‣
    Monitoring progress towards achieving the companyʼs purpose

    ☝️ Decision-making

    ☝🏼
    How is the management team structured? How do they make operational decisions?
    ‣
    Defining the relationship between cofounders
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    Board Composition
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    Integration of employees in decision-making
    ‣
    Business Ethics
    ‣
    ESG Strategy

    💰 Funding

    💰
    How does the startup fund its growth?
    ‣
    Non-dilutive funding
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    Choosing investors & ESG audit
    ‣
    Transparent relationship with investors

    🤝 Community Engagement

    🤝
    How can the startup improve its impact on the communities in which it operates?
    ‣
    Relationships with stakeholders
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    Open Innovation
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    Pro bono
    ‣
    Philanthropy policy
    ‣
    Measuring impact on communities

    Team

    How does the startup build a complementary team capable of accomplishing its mission? How does the startup contribute to the financial, physical, professional, and social well-being of its team members?

    🫂 Recruiting & Management

    👥
    How does the startup build the right team to achieve its mission?
    ‣
    Building the founding team
    ‣
    Defining values & culture
    ‣
    Inclusive recruitment process
    ‣
    Onboarding of new employees
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    Monitoring diversity & inclusivity
    ‣
    Team follow-up
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    Co-defining values and culture with employees

    📪 Compensation & Training

    📪
    How does the startup contribute to the financial, physical, professional, and social well-being of its team members?
    ‣
    Fair compensation for interns and freelancers
    ‣
    Fair and transparent salary policy
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    Value-sharing
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    Encourage career development and training
    ‣
    Parental leave policy

    ⛰️ Well-being & Work Environment

    🏔️
    How does the startup create a responsible work environment?
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    Mental health and well-being of founders
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    Work flexibility policy
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    Mental health and well-being of employees
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    Work environment
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    Commuting mobility plan
    ‣
    Measuring of the effectiveness of the work environment

    Products & Services

    How does the startup create value by addressing the needs of targeted customers and users? How does the startup take into account the impact of the entire value chain?

    ⚒️ Design & Iteration

    ⚒️
    How does the startup take into account the environmental and social impact of products and services ?
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    Iteration of the value proposition
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    Eco-design
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    Inclusive design
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    Training teams in responsible design
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    Iteration of responsible design
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    Impact measurement and monitoring
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    Life cycle assessment

    ⛓️ Value Chain Management

    ⛓️
    How does the startup take into account the environmental and social impact of the entire value chain?
    ‣
    Building the value chain
    ‣
    Sustainable management of IT equipment
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    Sustainable choice of suppliers and service providers
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    Sustainable choice of hosting provider
    ‣
    Carbon footprint measurement
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    Regular audit of partners

    Customers & Users

    How does the startup continuously improve the value it creates for its customers and users?

    📣 Marketing, Communication, and Transparency

    📣
    How does the startup communicate transparently to its target audience?
    ‣
    Transparent customer information
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    Sustainable marketing
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    Inclusive marketing
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    Promoting responsible consumption

    📞 Quality & customer support

    📞
    How does the startup manage post-purchase follow-up?
    ‣
    Building strong customer relationships
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    Warranties and certifications
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    Building an efficient and responsible customer support
    ‣
    User satisfaction

    🔐 Privacy and Protection of Customers & Users

    🔐
    How does the startup handle the data it collects?
    ‣
    Data collection and protection (GDPR)
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    Physical security
    ‣
    IT risk management & cybersecurity
    ‣
    Optimization of data management
    🤝

    🤝 Responsible by Design

    EDHEC is committed to fostering a generation of socially responsible startups.

    Discover the initiative

    🗣️

    📣 Giving feedback

    An opinion? A suggestion? Our EDHEC Entrepreneurs team is here to listen to you!

    Send a feedback

    💡

    💪 Get involved

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