What is at stake?
❓ What is the difference between “raison d’être” and mission?
The mission is the company’s purpose, along with the commitments that allow it to be put into action.
- Purpose: Why does the company exist?
- Commitments related to the purpose: What does the company do to achieve its purpose?
- Mission = “raison d’être”+ Commitments
Why is it important?
After formulating an initial purpose (see: Aligning cofounders around a purpose and core values ) it is essential to associate it with strong and measurable commitments as well as an operational action plan.
During the Pre-seed phase, formalizing the mission allows you to:
➡️ Define a coherent strategic development plan along with relevant operational actions both internally and externally
➡️ Set the startup in motion and progress measurably towards fulfilling its purpose
➡️ Engage/motivate its employees on a daily basis and to ensure that all stakeholders contribute to the startup's purpose.
Three actions to take right now
1️⃣ Formulate the startup's raison d’être
→ We addressed this topic in the note Aligning cofounders around a purpose and core values )
Using the above-mentioned note, the founding team can clearly and coherently explain the purpose of their startup to all stakeholders.
2️⃣ Define the commitments associated with the purpose, and considering the impact of the startup on its stakeholders
- Take into account all stakeholders affected by company activities: clients, users, employees, suppliers, investors, the planet...
- Define specific and measurable objectives by focusing on key operations that have a direct impact on the capacity to achieve the mission.
3️⃣ For the most committed, include these elements in the startup's articles of association - Become a "Mission-Driven Company"
The Mission-Driven Company status is a legal form of company created in France in 2019 by the PACTE law. It allows for a company to define a specific social or environmental mission that is inscribed in its articles of association and guides its activities, decisions, and investments. In this way, the startup commits formally to its mission.
To acquire Mission-Driven Company status, the startup promises to:
- Inscribe a mission (”raison d’être”+ social or environmental commitments) within its articles of association
- Ensure governance of its mission through an internal mission referent or mission committee (composed of individuals external to the startup) for more advanced startups
- Maximize the resources to achieve the objectives set. This is subject to verification by an independent third-party organization (OTI).
As entrepreneurs, it was essential for us to address a subject that has a strong impact. We chose to include the commitment to the financial autonomy of employees right from the start in the company's articles of association, rather than treating the subject superficially. This guides us daily in all our actions, providing us with a clear direction. Every strategic decision we make is measured according to this objective, like a compass.
Louis Ajacques, Co-founder of Spayr
📚 Further information
🔍Example: Alenvi, Mission-Driven Company and Social Solidarity Enterprise (ESUS)
📝 4 questions à se poser pour formaliser sa mission
📖 Formulating the Mission: What Commitments? (Communauté des Entreprises à Mission)
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