Applying Business Improvement Principles to Early-Stage Social Enterprises

about this project

PBI partnered with We Make Change, a global platform connecting businesses and their employees with social enterprises and startups in need of skills, expertise, and guidance. This initiative allowed PBI coaches to act as ChangeMakers, supporting early-stage founders to shape and refine their business strategies, strengthen operational plans, and identify actionable steps toward long-term success.


Over several weeks, PBI coaches worked directly with multiple startup founders, providing guidance on developing Business Model Canvases, building short-to-long-term strategic frameworks, and converting these into clear, prioritised action plans on Milestone Boards. With many PBI coaches being business owners themselves, the advice extended beyond tools and templates - covering practical experience, pitfalls to avoid, and strategies to overcome common start-up hurdles.


The coaches and PBI as a business are more commonly having these discussions around business improvement and development with blue-chip organisations that may have 10,000+ employees and operate globally, but the same principles apply at the startup or SME level, no matter the size of the business.

Key Project Summary "At a glance"

Project Scope


  • Define their business models using Business Model Canvas


  • Identify and prioritise strategic objectives using PBI Strategic Frameworks


  • Turn strategic ideas into actionable, time-bound tasks



  • Build confidence in running and growing their businesses


Improvement Strategy


  • Apply proven business transformation and strategy frameworks to early-stage start-ups.


  • Deliver tailored coaching sessions in a supportive, collaborative environment.


  • Introduce digital collaboration tools like MURAL to visualise, share, and refine plans.



  • Focus on practical advice and real-world lessons from experienced business leaders.


Benefits Delivered


  • Startup founders left with structured, documented plans they could continue developing beyond the programme.


  • Access to digital collaboration boards in MURAL for ongoing refinement and teamwork.


  • Increased clarity on short-, medium-, and long-term priorities.


  • Greater awareness of potential risks and challenges, with actionable strategies to address them.


  • A boost in confidence and direction for founders to either scale their business or take the first steps towards launch.

People Involved

  • Startup Founders: Leaders of early-stage social enterprises from diverse sectors.
  • PBI Coaches: Business transformation experts, many of whom are also entrepreneurs.
  • We Make Change Team: Coordinators and facilitators connecting volunteers with start-ups.



Focus Area

Supporting social enterprises and early-stage businesses to build strong foundations, strategic clarity, and the confidence to move forward - while developing collaboration between experienced business leaders and new entrepreneurs.



Process Taken

  1. Initial Matching: Founders paired with PBI coaches based on skills and business needs.
  2. Business Model Development: Use of Business Model Canvas to define value propositions, customer segments, channels, revenue streams, and cost structures.
  3. Strategic Planning: Applying PBI’s Strategic Frameworks to map out goals from 3 months to 3 years.
  4. Action Planning: Breaking down goals into manageable, actionable tasks.
  5. Tool Introduction: Setting up collaborative MURAL boards to document and share progress.
  6. Ongoing Coaching: Facilitating discussions, problem-solving, and knowledge sharing based on real-world experience.