This collaborative guide is designed to assist every entrepreneur, particularly those in the startup phase, in integrating responsibility into the core of their project right from the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey.
Methodology and Approach
This guide, led by the EDHEC Entrepreneurs teams, especially Yasmine Machwate, Chloé Jouve, Justine Soudier, Ludovic Cailluet, and Maylis Gillet, was developed through in-depth interviews with 15 founders, 30 experts, 5 professors, as well as drawing from existing literature. A significant portion of the research used for this guide is publicly available through articles and open-access journals.
Discussions on responsibility, particularly in the context of early-stage startups, are still relatively recent. The goal of this guide is to offer a starting point for founders in their considerations of responsibility, without aiming to establish a normative set of rules to follow.
Subsequently, it is up to startups to adapt these recommendations to best meet the specific needs of their employees, customers, investors, and society as a whole.
The guide focuses on a journey to follow rather than a specific outcome to achieve. We've chosen to structure the guide around important questions to ask oneself at each stage of a startup's development, rather than striving to promote an exhaustive list of all possible actions.
The topic of responsibility is addressed, but not in isolation. Indeed, responsibility cannot be thought of in isolation; it must be inherently woven into the startup's development across all aspects. Thus, the guide generally provides practical advice to young company founders to create the conditions for the success of their project.
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This guide is a living document. If you have suggestions, additions, or corrections, feel free to contact us here.
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Disclaimer
This guide on responsible entrepreneurship is published open-source by EDHEC Entrepreneurs. The information, recommendations, and advice presented in this guide are based on research and experiences gathered by our team. However, this information should not be considered as professional legal, tax, or financial advice. Users of this guide are advised to conduct their own research, verify the information presented, and consult qualified professionals before making decisions that could have significant implications for their business.
This guide does not aim to create a ranking or assign a label. It also does not claim to be exhaustive or suitable for all industries. It encourages each entrepreneur to reflect on their commitment.
The EDHEC Entrepreneurs incubator cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions in this guide, nor for the consequences of using this information. By using this guide, users agree to do so at their own risk and not to hold the incubator liable for any loss or damage arising from its use.
The "guide" is the exclusive property of EDHEC. In accordance with Article L122-4 of the Intellectual Property Code, the guide cannot be subject to any representation or reproduction, in whole or in part, in any medium whatsoever.