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Maike Kauffmann

Team: Purpose Foundation

Role: Co-Lead Nonprofit

Maike is co-leading the nonprofit work of Purpose, a network of organizations working to make the alternative ownership structure of steward-ownership more known and more accessible. With activities to inspire and enable actors around steward-ownership, support them in their transition and fund them, Purpose reduces the hurdles to steward-ownership. And in this, contributes to an economy that serves people, planet and society. Maike has been with Purpose for four years, with a focus on research and education and policy change. She has a background in the organic food sector, Ecological Economics and international business.

WELCOME TO PURPOSE!

 

At PURPOSE, we work for, with, and around steward-ownership every day. Since we first defined and named the steward-ownership model in 2016, we have been at the heart of the ecosystem – inspiring, enabling, and supporting key players on their journey to steward-ownership.

PURPOSE is best viewed as a network of various entities. Each of our Purpose entities is dedicated to breaking down the barriers to steward-ownership, making it accessible to everyone.

We are convinced that steward-ownership contributes to an economy fit for the 21st century.

A look behind the scenes

We want to enable steward-ownership globally for all key players: entrepreneurs, founders, investors, advisors, legal experts and more. This vision requires a multidimensional approach. We identify the most effective levers to support the entire ecosystem around steward-ownership, aiming to inspire the world with our work. The idea and concept have gained more recognition and have become more implementable than they were a few years ago. Today, we see ourselves as the core of a growing global movement centered around steward-ownership, which is expanding every day.

As a network of various entities, PURPOSE brings together diverse activities and focuses on steward-ownership, uniting unique perspectives and expertise. Together, we work to increase awareness and accessibility of steward-ownership worldwide. We share knowledge, explore suitable financing models, and directly support companies in transitioning to steward-ownership.

Do you have more questions? Then check out the FAQs below!

Q:

When and by whom was PURPOSE founded?

A:

PURPOSE was founded in 2015 by Adrian and Achim Hensen, Alexander Kühl, and Armin Steuernagel. Through their experiences as entrepreneurs and employees, they witnessed the impact conventional ownership structures and shareholder-maximizing business models can have on companies and people. They aimed to support companies in choosing ownership and financing forms that prioritize purpose and values over short-term profits. After more than a year of development based on their experiences, they created the concept of steward-ownership and began assisting companies in implementing this structure and securing alternative financing.

Today, PURPOSE operates as a network of various entities with different activities and focuses around steward-ownership. The core team of PURPOSE comprises around 30 people dedicated to steward-ownership.

Q:

Where in the world is PURPOSE active?

A:

Through our work on steward-ownership, we identify the most effective levers to strategically support the entire ecosystem around steward-ownership and inspire the world with our efforts. Since the founding of PURPOSE, the idea and concept have become more well-known and implementable – globally. We see ourselves as the heart of a worldwide movement around steward-ownership, which is growing daily. Together with the Purpose partner organizations Purpose LatAm, Purpose US, and Purpose Switzerland, as well as regional partnerships in the Netherlands, Greece, Belgium, Scandinavia, Rwanda, and Spain, we are building an international ecosystem around steward-ownership.

Q:

What about the different “entities”?

A:

PURPOSE can best be viewed as a network of various entities. With different activities and focuses, we work together to make steward-ownership more well-known and accessible worldwide. We engage with suitable financing forms or directly support companies in transitioning to steward-ownership. As individual Purpose entities, we operate independently but are organizationally connected.

The Purpose Foundation engages in non-profit work around the topic of steward-ownership and alternative ownership and financing forms. Its mission is to make steward-ownership – the international term coined by the foundation in 2016 – and Steward-Ownership Aligned Financing more accessible and well-known worldwide. The focus is on international field building, which includes activities related to cultural, research, and educational work. The Purpose Foundation sees itself as the heart of a global movement around steward-ownership.

Purpose Ventures is dedicated to start-up financing, investing in start-ups that prioritize the purpose and mission of their business and aim to remain autonomous in the long term. As a financing partner, Purpose Ventures supports start-ups in finding financing forms that suit their needs and values, while preserving their mission and independence.

Purpose Evergreen Capital (PEC) finances small and medium-sized enterprises with patient, values-oriented capital. The goal is to support as many medium-sized companies as possible in remaining independent and true to their values through financing and advising on succession solutions in steward-ownership.

Purpose Consulting assists entrepreneurs in finding tailored ownership solutions for their companies and provides advice on founding, business succession, financing (in steward-ownership), and process support for individual ownership and governance solutions.

The non-profit Purpose Foundation based in Basel, along with its 100% subsidiary, Purpose Stiftung gGmbH based in Hamburg, are particularly committed to the topic of steward-ownership in the fields of science and education. Additionally, the veto share solution was developed to simplify the implementation of steward-ownership. The background here is that, as long as there is no dedicated legal form for steward-ownership, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups need an alternative to existing foundation models that enables them to implement steward-ownership. The Purpose Foundation offers a solution through the veto share model, where a so-called controlling shareholder, e.g., the Purpose Foundation, oversees and secures the principles of steward-ownership. The Purpose Foundation holds veto shares of companies worldwide, while the Purpose Stiftung gGmbH is responsible for companies based in Germany.

The minds behind PURPOSE

PURPOSE

PURPOSE LATIN AMERICA

PURPOSE SWITZERLAND

PURPOSE US

DO YOU WANT TO GET IN TOUCH? THEN REACH OUT!

  • Purpose Foundation

    hallo@purpose.ag
  • Purpose Ventures

    ventures@purpose.ag
  • Purpose Evergreen Capital

    pec@purpose.ag
  • Purpose Consulting

    consulting@purpose.ag
  • Veto Share

    info@purpose.ag
  • Purpose Latin America

    hola@purpose.ag
  • Purpose Switzerland

    lukas@purpose.ag
  • Purpose US

    us@purpose.ag

Become part of the movement

Do you want to gain insights into steward-ownership or our work?
Get inspired and learn more on our Open-Content page.

Would you like to meet the PURPOSE team in person? Meet other entrepreneurs thinking about steward-ownership? Or do you still have questions after browsing our Open-Content materials?
Then join our open info call. The PURPOSE team is available to answer all your questions every first Thursday of the month at 3 PM CET. No registration is necessary; just join the call using the following link. Alternatively, you can also email us at consulting@purpose.ag.

Are you an investor or financing expert?
Then we look forward to hearing from you – depending on your focus – at Purpose Ventures (Start-ups) or Purpose Evergreen Capital (SMEs).

Are you interested in working with us?
Then visit our Workwith page to check for open job postings or contact us at workwithpurpose@purpose.ag.

Do you have any other questions or concerns?
We are looking forward to hearing from you! Write to us directly at hallo@purpose.ag.