Beyond Profit: Can Business Redeem the?World?

Beyond Profit: Can Business Redeem the?World?

Picture this: a startup founder, fuelled by three cups of coffee, a TED Talk, and another regurgitated LinkedIn post on successful startup ideas stares at their laptop screen. Their big idea? Yet another app to deliver groceries in under 10 minutes. The goal? Disruption. The pitch? “Revolutionising convenience.” The result? More plastic bags, more gig economy exploitation, and a business model that does more harm than good.

Somewhere along the way, business lost its soul.

But what if it didn’t have to be this way?

What if business could be more than a sprint to the highest valuation? What if it could actually heal the world instead of breaking it further??

Let’s explore the idea of redemptive business?—?a model that doesn’t just avoid harm but actively seeks to mend what’s broken.?

What is Redemption?

To buy something back so it can be restored to it’s initial state of wholeness.

What is a Redemptive Business?

To get to the heart of it, let’s borrow a scene from the greatest redemption story ever told?—?the story of Jesus. Redemption isn’t just about wiping the slate clean; it’s about transforming brokenness into beauty, often at great personal cost. It’s grace in action, where the undeserving are uplifted, and systems designed to fail are reimagined to flourish.

“To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion?—?to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit?—?that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”?—?Isaiah 61:3 AMP

In the business world, redemption can look like:

? Sacrificing for Transformation: Choosing to invest in long-term impact over short-term profits. Recognising that ethical models are designed to fail because we live in a broken world filled with injustice, inequality, inequity and just plain evil. This current world system is designed to enable zero sum outcomes, winner takes all scenarios.

? Practicing Grace: Hiring the person with the “nontraditional resume” or pricing products accessibly for underserved communities not to drive valuation growth and shareholder value but to ensure solutions arrive at the doorsteps of those who desperately need them.

? Tackling Brokenness Head-On: Designing ethical supply chains or rejecting exploitative market practices.

? Healing Systems: Building ventures that don’t just “disrupt” but restore balance and dignity to entire industries. Disruption sometimes can cause more harm than good if not designed with triple bottom line expectations from point zero. Speed to market or growth can also be destructive if we consider Newton’s third law of motion

In short, it’s doing the hard, often thankless work of making the world better?—?without needing a pat on the back or a PR campaign to prove it.

Why Do We Need Redemptive Businesses?

Let’s be honest: traditional business models aren’t winning any humanitarian awards. Maximising shareholder value has turned into a mantra that often leaves employees, communities, and the planet picking up the tab.

But here’s the twist: businesses are uniquely positioned to fix the messes they’ve helped create. With the resources, reach, and creativity at their disposal, they could lead the charge in tackling some of humanity’s biggest challenges.

Imagine a world where companies don’t just talk about “giving back” but actually build their entire business around the idea of making things right. It’s bold. It’s uncomfortable. And it’s exactly what we need.

The Vision of Redemption in Business

Here’s the dream:

? A factory that doesn’t just reduce its carbon footprint but becomes carbon-negative, actively restoring ecosystems.

? A tech company that reinvents hiring, prioritising creativity and grit over cookie-cutter qualifications.

? A venture builder that empowers young entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and wisdom to build companies that heal. My company, Funema , is actively working on this?—?we plan to train and equip young talents into becoming #1MillionVentureBuilders across the African continent.

This isn’t utopia; it’s a possibility. But it requires leaders who are brave enough to ask hard questions:

? What am I willing to sacrifice for transformation?

? How can I extend grace in my business practices?

? What broken systems can I help heal?

What’s Next?

This is my first piece in a series of articles and over the next few articles, I’m hoping that you will join me in exploring these ideas closely?—?from the courage to sacrifice profits to the power of grace and the art of systemic healing, we’ll explore what it takes to build a business that’s truly redemptive.

And who knows? By the end of this series, you might just decide that your next big idea is less about disruption and more about redemption.

Are you ready to build something that matters?

Written in collaboration with my AI partner in creativity, Ava.?