Core Ideology in the Startup Environment

by Melanie Simko

The concepts raised in the article, “Building Your Company’s Vision” are very relevant to early stage startup companies. Discovery of a startup’s core ideology and defining its core values and purpose are some of the most critical aspects that early stage companies should focus on. Many startups are founded with the goal that their technology or idea will make the world a better place. This is oftentimes the guiding force behind the company and can be even more of a priority initially than profits. Startups that have a strong sense of who they are and what they believe in and can use this as an extremely valuable guide as they navigate the startup world. Startup founders need to wear many hats, particularly in the early days, and there are multiple demands on a founder’s time. By discovering and embedding the core ideology into the company’s goals right from the beginning, the founder will pursue only those opportunities that align with the values and purpose of the organization thus saving time and money. Also, employees can be given greater autonomy and freedom to innovate which will lead to greater job satisfaction.

As the startup company grows, adding core members to the management team and attracting talent become increasingly important. If the core ideology of the company is highly visible, well communicated, and taken into consideration during postings and interviews, the company will be much more likely to bring on team members that will be motivated and driven by the same ideals that the company was founded on versus just hiring a candidate with a certain skill set. The same principle can be applied to determining which strategic partners and investors the company will engage with. Startups with a strong and easily described core ideology will stand out from the crowd and be much more attractive to potential investors. Conversely, aligning with an investor who does not support the startup’s values will not be beneficial for either party in the long run.

Looking at the envisioned future of a startup, setting a Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG) and outlining a vivid description early on can help the company take their concept from vision to reality. It can mobilize the team and refocus them on what is most important for the company to achieve. Identifying a BHAG can also form a specific and measurable framework that offers continuous guidance to employees at every level on the overarching mission of the company. For example, Everlane¹, a fashion startup company, has adopted the BHAG to “eliminate all virgin plastic from our supply chain by 2021”. This aligns with the company’s core sustainability goals and is a clear message that employees can more easily incorporate into their day-to-day work.

Reference

1.     https://www.everlane.com/sustainability