Have you ever wondered how companies become B Corps?  B Corps—like Ben & Jerry’s, New Belgium Brewing, and Patagonia—are “for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.”  For the last four years, the NC State B Corp Clinic, a multi-school collaborative program has helped North Carolina companies achieve B Corp certification by working with teams of graduate and undergraduate students from universities across the state.

Companies are matched with a team of students (intentionally designed to include students from multiple schools and disciplines) to go through the assessment process and identify strategies they can take to improve their B Corp scores.  Students gain hands-on consulting experience and the chance to learn about social and environmental impact assessment and sustainable business models.

To learn more about the timeline, process, and companies involved, students can:

• attend in person at HQ Centennial Campus
• participate virtually via Zoom videoconference from anywhere (see Zoom details below)
• can’t make any of the above but still interested in learning more (there’s an option for that too, we’ll follow up with a recording of the kickoff)

After the kickoff, we’ll send everyone a recording of the kickoff and an invitation to apply to participate in the Clinic.

Over the last four years, the B Corp Clinic has worked with over 300 students on 46 projects and helped companies make progress on 2,200+ points towards certification, including 6 companies that have become B Corp Certified.  You can read more about our past B Corp Clinic projects and hear from past students participants in our new B Corp Clinic video. The B Corp Clinic launch event will feature an introduction to B Corporations, an opportunity to learn more about the Spring 2020 B Corp Clinic projects, student expectations and how to get involved.

Spring 2020 B Corp Clinic Kickoff Agenda:

10:30 – 10:45 – Welcome to the B Corp Clinic Kickoff

10:45 – 11:00 – About B Corporations, the B Economy and the movement of business as a force for good

11:00 – 11:15 – All About the B Corp Clinic

11:15 – 11:50 – Pitches from the Participating Companies

11:50 – 12:00 – Questions & Next Steps

12:00 – Grab lunch & Meet the Spring 2020 B Corp Clinic Companies (networking with company representatives)

B Corp Clinic Timeline – Spring 2020

• 1/31 – Deadline for company applications by 5pm
• 2/7 – Kickoff event, HQ Centennial (10:30 – 12:30)
• 2/14 – Student applications due by 5pm
• 2/17 – Teams announced
• 2/21 – Orientation
• 3/20 – Interim presentations (virtual event)
• 4/24 – Closing presentations, HQ Centennial (10:30 – 12:30)

Join via Zoom Videoconference

Join Zoom Meeting
https://ncsu.zoom.us/j/697610453
Dial +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 697 610 453

Join in Person

For those joining us in person at HQ Centennial Campus, 1017 Main Campus Drive, Suite 1650, in the Entrepreneurship Garage Classroom. Attendees without an NC State parking sticker, who are driving can park in the pay lot across from the James B Hunt Library.

Join us for lunch and a chance to learn more about the Spring 2020 B Corp Clinic. We look forward to seeing you (in-person or virtually) on Friday, February 7th, at 10:30 AM!

Best,

Jessica Thomas
Director, Business Sustainability Collaborative
Lecturer, Department of Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Poole College of Management, North Carolina State University