ZEBRAS?

WHAT ARE ZEBRAS?

What is Zebra?

In 2013, venture capitalists in Silicon Valley coined the term “unicorn” to refer to privately-held startups valued at over US$1 billion.

This term symbolizes the current state of capitalism, which prioritizes short-term gains, exclusivity, and shareholder interests. “zebras” refers to a concept proposed by four female entrepreneurs in the US who were concerned about this trend.

Zebras Unite, the organization they formed, has grown into a significant movement with over 25 chapters and more than 20,000 members worldwide.

ZEBRAS UNITE co-founders (https://zebrasunite.coop/)

Characteristics of Zebra Companies

1: Zebra companies prioritize both social and economic goals and value mutalism within their communities.

2: Zebra companies challenge socially complex problems that require greater awareness and understanding.

3: Zebra companies do not fit into existing financial systems and are in search of new financial models that fit them.

E2C: University of Colorado Boulder

※The above three points refer to what Zebras Unite believes.

We further organize the personas of the Zebra companies in this way.

1

The goal of zebra companies is to create a better society through business growth. Maximizing revenue and profits is not the end goal; rather, they focus on addressing societal issues as the purpose of our business.

2

Zebra companies require diverse assets such as time, creativity, and community to succeed, instead of relying on a narrow-minded business strategy that could lead to short-term success.

3

Zebra companies prioritize long-term and inclusive management strategies, working to ensure the happiness of all stakeholders over maximizing shareholder value in the short term.

4

The vision of zebra companiesnis shared and consistently executed, as they balance trade-offs between diverse factors and strive to achieve specific goals.