How can an impact-driven startup hardwire a culture of accountability into its business from the start? For Public founder Judah Armani, becoming a Certified B Corporation was the answer.

Armani set up Public as a not-for-profit social enterprise but was surprised to find that existing legal forms for social enterprises do very little to make companies truly accountable for their impact. B Corp solved that problem, giving Public a straightforward path to better accountability and better decisions.

Becoming a B Corp has helped Public to think, feel and behave more interdependently as a business, whether that’s by taking part in the B Corp community or making tangible changes to how it sources its suppliers.

When we started to make merchandise for InHouse, I knew that there was no way I’d choose a T-shirt manufacturer just on price,” Armani says. “I needed full traceability, confidence in provenance and a clear demonstration of ethics. That narrowed my choices dramatically, but it means that all of our apparel aligns with our values, and that’s something we’re all really proud of.”

Feeling aligned with other B Corps across sectors also contributes to this sense of pride — and the strong governance underlying Public’s B Corp certification has impressed potential investors.

“I’ve found that many business investors are aware of the B Corp movement and immediately make positive assumptions about our governance and the outcomes we create,” Armani says. “Angel investors increasingly see B Corp certification as a way to reduce risk.”

Read the full article about becoming a B Corp by Oliver Holtaway at B the Change.