Better business, faster: why leaders should support purpose-led SMEs

Darryl Cooke, founder, gunnercooke, considers how business leaders can share their experiences and resources with purpose-led SMEs to build a better world – faster.

When I speak to successful founders and leaders, an oft-expressed sentiment is their gratitude to those who helped them ‘on the way up’. Sadly about 90% of start-ups fail within the first year. Last month, new research revealed that the number of companies expected to go bust this year will be the highest since 2009. 

You might think ‘so what’? But to me, and many others who follow the philosophy of Conscious Capitalism, it matters. Given the opportunity to grow, SMEs that focus on profit through purpose will help re-shape the world we live in, making it more sustainable, fairer and a better place for us all.

But being a founder can be a lonely experience, punctuated with massive highs and dispiriting lows. This is why I’m inviting businesses to join gunnercooke’s subscription based platform, gcCrescendo, to connect purpose-focused SME founders with experienced business leaders, coaches and lawyers who are committed to giving back.