Leading With Purpose: Why We’ve Joined a Global Movement to Do Good
Many businesses say they want to make a positive impact on the world, but not many are walking the talk. Those who want to march for a better tomorrow are now seeking a B Corp certification through B Lab. B Lab was founded in 2006 and is a nonprofit that serves a global movement of people using business as a force for good.
Certified B Corporations are leaders dedicated to creating a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. B Corps meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability and aspire to use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Simply put, B Corps are akin to LEED or Fair Trade certification, but for an entire business.
EPOCH Pi is proud to join the likes of Patagonia, Ben & Jerrys, Warby Parker and Hootsuite as change-makers who are striving to make an impact. We are the first financial services firm in Ohio and one of five companies in Cleveland to achieve B Corp status. As of 2017, there are only 16 certified B Corps in Ohio and about 2,200 worldwide.
Why is EPOCH Pi a Certified B Corp?
We joined this growing movement of trailblazers who are using business as a force for good because we believe businesses are created for a purpose beyond profit and because we intend to create value for all of our stakeholders. Becoming a B Corp affirms our mission, values and beliefs and we felt it was important to build them into the fabric of our company.
In an industry that is often focused on the short term and getting deals done, EPOCH Pi believes that the long-term, sustainable success of a transaction – for a business, its employees and its unique culture – is the result of several value-driven steps:
Identifying the best strategic option based on the business’s mission, vision, and goals
Evaluating the best financial or strategic partner, from the perspective of alignment around the business’s values and mission
Structuring the transaction to best protect these values and mission going forward
Establishing a thorough and thoughtful integration plan
We recognize financial terms are critically important. But so, too, is evaluating the alignment of values, structuring the transaction to best protect or enhance them, and creating a thoughtful integration plan.
Our clients are looking for more than just capital, an exit, or a transaction; they want to make a difference and find a partner that aligns with their values. Achieving B Corp Certification is just one way to show the world our values and show our clients that what matters to them, matters to us, too.
A Catalyst for Positive Social Good
At EPOCH Pi, we envision a future where every company believes that transactions are about getting the right price and terms, but also about people, values, culture and being good stewards of the businesses we build, lead and transfer – for our employees, customers, suppliers, communities, and environment.
Business can be a powerful catalyst for positive social good. Becoming a B Corp is a key step in EPOCH Pi’s ongoing effort to demonstrate that we’re not just a company that talks about doing good, but one that actively pursues and embraces every opportunity to be better, to do better and to continuously learn and evolve along the way.
EPOCH Pi is a Certified B Corp and investment bank that serves purpose-driven companies, companies that exist to provide both financial and social returns. Impact companies range from providers of clean technology and sustainable agriculture to old-line manufacturing companies that create meaningful work environments, have positive cultures, and treat suppliers and other stakeholders equitably. Our services range from capital formation for growth companies to generating liquidity for existing shareholders. In every case, one of our criteria is the alignment of our client’s purpose and vision with those of the financial stakeholders. At EPOCH Pi, we have developed a set of unique, proprietary assessment tools that facilitate cultural alignment in mergers and acquisitions. Learn more about us here.