Innovative companies that enter the market are - more often than before - met with societal and political headwinds. Governments are starting to act on a 'ban, pause and then slowly release' point of view regarding the rollout of technology, driven by increased scrutiny in the public debate.
At the same time, being ‘investor-ready’ is not just about financial viability: investors’ willingness also increasingly depends on being able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the societal and political landscape, and having proactive and lean (!) strategies in place to navigate potential challenges.
All of this means that your social license to operate (SLO) becomes business critical - and it comes with less room for error. How to operate in an arena with no real supporters in society yet to vouch for your company? What invisible dynamics are at play?
From our years of experience working with innovative companies, we have put together an interactive workshop on the social license to operate of - especially - startups that disrupt markets with new technologies.
We partnered with the Dutch Startup Association and The Next Web for this event, and on September 28, 2023, Considerati held a workshop at one of the TNW hubs. In this workshop for tech startups, Considerati consultants Paulien van der Lem and Judith de Lange shared the insights about developing and maintaining the social license to operate and why it matters.
Here are several key points that the audience learnt during this workshop:
- Whether your business model can survive without a SLO, or whether you are actually at high risk in this arena;
- How to take a 'lean' approach; what you need to work on regarding SLO without losing focus;
- What choices at the start can save you a lot of hassle and resources at a later stage.
The workshop was "truly eye-opening", in the words of one participant. It is a way of playing our part and contributing to the development of the bigger Amsterdam tech ecosystem.
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