Prologue to the Praxis Journal
What we mean by “the ideas, models, practices, and people powering today’s redemptive ventures.”
Praxis is a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship, and the Praxis Journal is our platform for stories of the ideas, models, practices, and people powering today’s redemptive ventures.
Ideas like the theological implications of artificial intelligence; the role of technology in launching and preserving healthy marriages; the unique challenges and opportunities for Millennial and Gen Z entrepreneurs; or how a biblical view of money reframes the role of the startup investor.
Models like the creation of local entrepreneurship ecosystems and NGO partnerships in the developing world; job creation for workforces displaced by technology and globalization; the evolution of impact investing; or the emergence of new funding schemes for entrepreneurial artists.
Practices like the essential rhythms of rest during the startup journey; the cultivation of an alternative imagination for conceiving startup ideas; or the reinforcement of habits of prayer, accountability, and generosity in the context of the local church.
People like the hundreds of exceptional fellows, mentors, investors, and students in the Praxis community.
But what do we mean by “redemptive entrepreneurship,” anyway?
Writing new scripts of redemptive entrepreneurship
A generation of high-capacity leaders stands, bold but lonely, at the intersection of the Christian and the entrepreneurial worlds. “Bold” because they are faithfully following their vocation; and “lonely” because they know so few who share their serious faith and understand the joys and challenges of the startup journey.
Praxis has become a place of expertise and encouragement for these founders — these “redemptive entrepreneurs” — as they chart a course away from the flawed narratives of both their faith and startup communities.
For example, churches often imply that the most faithful vocation is pastoral ministry; that “Christian entrepreneurship” means Christian workers providing Christian products and services for Christian audiences; that nonprofit structures are necessarily more virtuous than for-profit ones; or that business is primarily a way to fund the work of God in the world rather than a way to do it.
Similarly, though they might never say so out loud, startup communities often suggest that whatever technology makes it possible for us to do, we should do; that naked personal ambition is the best motivational engine for organizational impact, and near-burnout is an admirable sign of the right kind of commitment; that financial success is a validator of purpose and impact; that “crushing it” and “killing it” are appropriate ways to describe the endgame of the entrepreneur.
What does redemptive entrepreneurship look like, by contrast?
It starts with this. If the Christian narrative about the world is true, then founders and teams who operate in alignment with it should be the best-equipped to create ventures that everyone should want to see more of in the world—whether they share that Christian faith or not.
What kinds of ventures? Companies and nonprofits tackling hard problems that are worth solving at any scale. Ventures conceived in starkly realistic lament over what’s wrong with the world, and pursued in confident hope that the world can be repaired—because that’s what the Christian narrative is, in the end, isn’t it? Ventures that, throughout their entire value chain, dignify instead of objectify people—because human dignity is most valued by people who believe it’s received, not conferred. Ventures that compete and grow financially strong because they solve real problems, ingeniously and with excellence at scale. Ventures that are designed to renew and strengthen industries, not only to disrupt or exploit them for personal or tribal gain.
What kinds of founders would lead those ventures? We think founders who follow Jesus Christ ought to have a kind of unfair advantage in the marketplace. They’d have the highest risk tolerance, because true audacity comes from knowing your success (or failure) doesn’t ultimately depend on you anyway. They would be committed to absorb way more suffering than they create, and generate more flourishing than they consume. Their identities would be bulletproof, because they would have the peace and contentment that comes from being known and loved unconditionally, world without end.
They would be about excellence over perfectionism, integrity over expedience, wisdom over technique, long horizons over premature exits, stewardship over ownership, service over self.
They would be the most cheerful competitors and the most indomitable survivors. The humblest in victory and the most gracious in defeat.
And they would be embedded in high-support communities that would hold them accountable to all of the above (a.k.a. the Church).
We invite you to step into their stories … and maybe add your own.
To engage further with the Praxis Journal:
Read and share. Subscribe below to the Praxis newsletter, and we’ll send you monthly updates on new Journal pieces as well as what’s going on around the Praxis community. Or just follow Praxis on Medium, Facebook, or Twitter and you’ll be notified about new Journal pieces.
Contribute. We’re always looking for pieces on redemptive ideas, models, people, and ventures. We’d love to help you “influence how other people think and behave in relation to your cherished topic” (John Butman on Idea Entrepreneurship, HBR, May 2013).
About Praxis
Praxis is a NYC-based, global-reach nonprofit that equips and resources entrepreneurs motivated by their Christian faith to build organizations of social and cultural impact. Since our first gathering in 2012, we’ve become a community of over 1,000 founders, mentors, investors, and students pursuing this vision.
We focus on the formation of the founder (professional, personal, spiritual) as well as the formation of the venture (market, model, scale, impact).
Praxis operates through five program areas:
Praxis Accelerators: This immersive six-month program resources and educates founders of high-impact businesses and nonprofits. We work with groups of twelve founders at a time, offering teaching & spiritual formation, expert counsel & mentoring, and access to capital. Over 100 ventures have entered our community through participation in an accelerator.
Praxis Academy: This pathway of experiences inspires and prepares aspiring entrepreneurs. Our one-week summer event brings together 200 undergraduates and recent graduates for teaching, community, and workshops; while our Emerging Founders go through a nine-week learning intensive and apprenticeship program.
Alternative Imagination Summit: This annual ideas conference brings together founders, academics, and investors to explore redemptive ideas, models, and ventures at the intersection of theology, culture, and entrepreneurship.
Praxis Venture Lab: The Venture Lab is a process to help create redemptive ventures from scratch. We convene thought leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs-in-residence to develop, test, and launch ventures that address high-potential opportunities for renewal in multiple sectors.
Praxis Content: The “mindsets and practices” layers of our programs are available through the Praxis Journal, the Praxis Course, and the From Concept to Scale book.
