Anthropocene and the evolution of Capitalism

We have lived a new era on Earth. In one hand, we have people, money, technology as we have had ever before. In other hand, global challenges have been even more complex. Urban mobility, chronic diseases and climate changes have affected humanity on daily basis in different aspects and effects. Scientific studies have called it as the anthropocene: the era when human activities have had a significant impact on Earth's ecosystem.

One of the keys accelerators of this era is the Capitalism. Since the start of the anthropocene, during the Industrial Revolution, the GDP per capita have been multiplied by 10. The capitalism is definitely the most successful production and consumption model and wealth generator. However, although the number of people living with less than US$ 1.00 have dropped since then, what we have seen globally is even higher concentrated and cumulative capital. In order to overcome so many complex challenges, we do have to evolute the model.

The private sector is the most influential and impactul sector on society. Companies have the potential to change behaviors, create new culture and habits contacting directly billions of people. That said, increasing global movements have used this impact sector as a vector to change.

One of them, the Conscious Capitalism, co-founded by Raj Sisodia and John Mackey (Whole Foods' founder), believes that companies will reach a new grade of counsciousness when four perspectives are incorporated:

• Purpose: the usage of core-business and organizational mission for something significant;
• Stakeholders: a broader view of value creation: not only focused on shareholders;
• Leadership: responsible leaders to conduct the change;
• Culture: a new way to think and act.

Another global movement was created by people using business as force for good. The B Corporations are redefining success in business. There are over 1,050 certified companies in 35 countries using their core-business to both make profits and make difference, competing to be not the best companies in the World, but the best for World.

B Corps have proven competitive advantage, high exposure and access to new markets. Also:

• Attract new impact investors: according to JP Morgan and Aspen Institute of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), there are about US$ 16 trillion in asset for investment. Only 0.01% is currently for impact investing. That's a huge important to grow this new class of investment. Through the B Analytics platform, the movement organized data from over 1,200 companies and over 80 fund manager have used the platform for best decision taken. There currently US$ 3 bi under management for investment in B Corps.
• Compare performance: The B Impact Assessment (BIA) is free, confidential and useful tool measure B Corps impact - what really matters. It allows companies to compare themselves against more than 7,000 other businesses and get quick ideas for how they can improve their performance;
• Continuing development: B Corps have to recertify each 2 years and the bar raises periodically. The BIA is a great roadmap for companies to identify gaps and develop their business model considering externalities;
• Attract and engage talents: The millennial generation will be the 50% of the workforce in 5 years. "We" are moved by much more than just financial return. We are focused on building a purpose-driven career and B Corps are the best environment to attract, engage and retain talents;
• Network: The global community of B Corps has created a B Marketplace: B Corps making business with other B Corps. B Corps also have access to new markets, which a great business value proposition;
• Community: Who leads an organization nowadays knows pretty much dilemmas and challenges. It's quite a lonely journey. Building a strong and powerful community supports entrepreneurs on facing so many questions. It's a supportive group that shares best practices, knowledge and such a great information.

An example of B Corp is CDI, the hybrid (non+for+profit) organization I lead. In 20 years we have impacted over 1.5 mm people in 10 countries and 715 low income communities with the mission to use technology to transform lives and develop communities.

In march 2014, we partnered with Startup Weekend and created the Startup Weekend Rio Favela, the very first edition of this event in a slum. We identified four main challenges in favelas in Rio de Janeiro: education, garbage, income generation and culture. We worked with community leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, designers and developers and, in 54 hours, 31 ideas came up, 9 prototyped and 1 winner: a 71-year old Sir partnered with other 2 young talented entrepreneurs and developed 17 medical protocols to diagnose chronic diseases in low income community. Chronic Diseases will cost US$ 47 trillion to global economy by 2030 according to Clinton Foundation. That's a huge impact. Using technology and entrepreneurship we inspired the community to develop disruptive business models that solve social and environmental problems.

Initiatives as Conscious Capitalism and B Corporations take time to succeed. It's about a major shift and generational change, which may not be worth and effective as the system is perverse. We do have to change the rules of the game. .

On the one hand, a great highlight of the global movement of B Corps is that over 25 american states joined the movement and created a new type of company: The Benefit Corporation. This requires legally and formally a new grade of accountability, governance and transparency of companies. The father of the civil rights, Martin Luther King, said: "A movement that moves only people is a revolt. A movement that changes people and institutions is a revolution".

On the other hand, B Corps have worked with universities to create new mindsets, systematize businesses cases and develop academic programs. The successful companies in the future are to be created by this current generation of youth.

Having these perspectives, I'd say that the evolution of capitalism is unavoidable. That may sound like a very ambitious vision, but being at the mountaintop and looking back we see so much progress and, at same time, so much to do in this journey. We are all cathedral builders and absolutely aligned with this long term goal to use the most impactful sector as a vector to change our society, rescuing values and exemplarity.