Organic Business Initiative (OBI)
2009 Organic Initiative Progress Report
The Organic Business Initiative (OBI) began in 2007 to promote education and entrepreneurship in the increasingly important area of natural and organic products and services, a key industry sector in the Boulder community and a highly entrepreneurial one. Boulder is world-renowned for its leadership in the natural and organic industry. Natural products and services have a significant impact on the Boulder area economy, contributing approximately $2 billion annually.
The OBI Steering Committee, consisting of leaders from Boulder’s natural and organic industry, identified the importance of a two-way street that offers both the opportunity to build leadership in the natural products industry and the opportunity for entrepreneurial businesses to draw on student talent to achieve their on-the-ground goals. The Committee also envisioned the Initiative as helping to create a platform for all business to move in a more sustainable direction. Out of these directives came the Initiative’s mission and goals:
Mission To foster entrepreneurial leaders, world-class scholarship and research in natural and organic business that result in sustainable business models and innovations that inspire transformation across all sectors.
Goals
• To provide the natural and organic industry a laboratory for fresh business models, product innovations and technological solutions -- and be a source of future talent and empowered entrepreneurs.
• To provide Leeds students a connected learning environment by building bridges with the natural and organic business community through case-based coursework, sustainability curriculum, mentorships and internships.
Value PropositionWe create value for businesses, students and the community through:
• Inspired and hard-working student interns who bring fresh ideas and talent.
• Support and expertise for entrepreneurs launching natural and organic businesses.
• Class projects and research that lead to solutions for tough business challenges.
• Development of business models and product concepts that add value to natural and organic ventures and help solve environmental and social challenges.
• Mentorships that allow natural and organic leaders to give back to their community and advance the next generation of innovators.
Successes to Date• MBA students completed the groundbreaking Boulder Natural Business Community Audit. It captured for the first time the scope and scale of Boulder’s $2 billion natural business industry.
• Leeds students wrote business plans for Bhakti Chai and Reel Lawn, two sustainable product startup companies.
• Five students shared their talents and motivation as interns with Naturally Boulder, Pixie Mate and White Wave.
• Distinguished speakers from the industry shared expertise in classrooms and workshops, including leaders from White Wave, Celestial Seasonings, Rudi’s, Izze, Greenmont Capital, Aurora Organics Dairy and more.
• Five students mentored with industry experts and attended Expo West.