2025: The Year of the Entrepreneurial Activist
A prediction and a proclamation: 2025 will be the year of the entrepreneurial activist.
Here is why...
The challenges ahead demand a new kind of leadership, one that blends the innovative drive of the entrepreneur with the moral courage of the activist. The world doesn’t need more passive spectators; it needs builders, dreamers, and doers who are willing to confront injustice head-on and transform obstacles into opportunities. This moment—this year—is ours to define.
Entrepreneurial activism is not about token gestures or shallow branding exercises. It’s about recognizing that businesses are power structures—and wielding that power responsibly. Why now? Because the systems we’ve relied on are broken, exploited by those who prioritize greed over humanity. The second Trump administration’s policies threaten marginalized communities, democracy, and the planet itself. If you’re not resisting, you’re enabling. But resistance doesn’t have to look like traditional activism. Entrepreneurs have a unique toolkit: creativity, resourcefulness, and the ability to scale solutions quickly. That’s where we come in.
Terry Patten, author of "A New Republic of the Heart", captures this ethos perfectly: “The word ‘activist’ conjures images of sit-ins, people circulating petitions and raising money and marching and organizing and meeting, and getting people to the polls. But it also means doing research, starting businesses, making loans, and changing one’s diet. When people creatively act on their moral intuition, all kinds of things happen. The world of activism is very big, diverse, and dynamic. And it requires—and helps us along in—transcending the collective trance.”
The collective trance is real: the false belief that entrepreneurs should stay in their lanes, focused solely on profit. That trance is killing us. It’s time to wake up, take risks, and lead. The entrepreneurial activist doesn’t just envision a better world—they build it, brick by brick, product by product, policy by policy.
But here’s the good news: we already have the tools, the creativity, and the networks to make a difference. Entrepreneurial activism is not about abandoning hope; it’s about embracing it with action. It’s about showing up in every way possible to build a better world. And for those looking for a framework, Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals offers timeless wisdom. Though written in the 1970s, the book remains a masterclass in grassroots organizing and power dynamics. Alinsky’s work teaches us how to resist effectively, sustain movements, and build strategies that matter.
Alinsky’s Framework for Today’s Activists
Rules for Radicals is often mischaracterized as a blueprint for chaos, but in reality, it’s a manual for creating meaningful, strategic change. Alinsky’s central premise is that power comes from the people—and that to challenge oppressive systems, you need to organize, plan, and act with precision. His rules emphasize pragmatism, creativity, and persistence—qualities every entrepreneur already knows.
For instance, Alinsky’s rule, “Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have,” is a reminder of how perception shapes influence. As entrepreneurs, we know how to leverage branding and storytelling to shift narratives. Another key rule, “Keep the pressure on. Never let up,” underscores the importance of persistence. Success rarely comes from one-off actions; it’s the result of sustained effort and adaptability—something both activists and entrepreneurs understand deeply.
Alinsky’s work is particularly relevant to entrepreneurial activists because it champions resourcefulness. He knew that those with fewer resources could still outmaneuver those in power by thinking differently, staying nimble, and building coalitions. These principles align perfectly with the entrepreneurial mindset: work with what you have, iterate quickly, and focus on results.
So, what does entrepreneurial activism look like in the real world? It’s not about ditching your business for a picket sign. It’s about integrating activism into every decision, every product, and every strategy. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Turn Up the Volume
Every entrepreneur has a platform. Use it. Your shop, your website, your socials—these are your megaphones. Speak out against harmful policies. Educate your customers. Amplify voices that need to be heard. Sure, you’ll lose some people. Let them go. The ones who stay? They’re your tribe, and they’re in it for more than just your product.
Example: A local coffee shop could dedicate their social media to highlighting community organizations fighting voter suppression or climate change. They can also use in-store displays to educate customers on these critical issues.
2. Build to Solve Big Problems
Don’t just resist—create. Build businesses that tackle the issues head-on. If the government’s shredding climate policies, launch a business that reimagines sustainability. If voting rights are under attack, develop tools to protect them. Every innovative solution you create shifts the balance of power.
Example: A tech entrepreneur could develop an app that helps marginalized communities navigate voting restrictions, providing resources on polling places, ID requirements, and voter rights.
3. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
Capital is influence. Don’t hoard it—deploy it. Fund grassroots efforts. Support organizations doing the work. Offer microloans to those who need them most. Alinsky reminds us, “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.” Sustained financial support keeps movements alive and dynamic.
Example: A successful e-commerce business could pledge a percentage of profits to support nonprofits focused on climate justice or racial equity. They might also start a grant program for activists working in underfunded areas.
4. Build Networks That Matter
Entrepreneurs are wired to connect. Use that superpower to unite people who give a damn. Host gatherings, spark collaborations, and create spaces where activists and business leaders can join forces. Alinsky’s organizing principle—that relationships build power—is just as crucial in boardrooms as it is on the streets.
Example: A coworking space could host monthly events that bring together local activists, nonprofit leaders, and small business owners to share resources and brainstorm joint initiatives.
5. Clean Your Own House
Look at your supply chain. Audit your vendors. Question your partnerships. Are you unintentionally fueling the very systems you’re fighting? As Patten says, “Changing one’s diet”—literal or metaphorical—is activism. Align your choices with your values.
Example: A fashion brand could commit to sourcing only from ethical suppliers and educate its audience on the importance of fair labor practices.
6. Tell Stories That Shift Minds
Stories change everything. They make issues real. They connect people to causes. Use your brand to share the stories that matter—the ones that put a human face on policies and inspire action. And don’t be afraid to wield a little humor or satire. Alinsky’s “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon” reminds us that a well-timed laugh can dismantle even the most entrenched bullshit.
Example: A marketing agency could create a viral campaign using humor to call out greenwashing by corporations pretending to be eco-friendly while harming the environment.
7. Stay Agile, Stay Relentless
Entrepreneurs know this game: pivot, adapt, persist. Resistance is no different. Keep creating, keep pushing, and keep finding ways to outsmart the status quo.
Example: A tech company could adapt its platform to protect users’ data from government overreach or censorship, staying ahead of evolving threats.
8. Risk It for What Matters
You didn’t get into business because it was safe. Don’t let fear stop you now. Speaking out might cost you customers. Challenging the system might draw heat. But silence costs more. Complacency costs more. And nothing about this fight is safe anyway.
Example: A prominent CEO could publicly challenge harmful policies, even if it risks alienating investors, knowing that leadership means standing for what’s right.
A New Generation of Entrepreneurial Activists
The United States has a long history of entrepreneurial activists who used their ventures to drive meaningful change. From Madam C.J. Walker empowering African American women through business in the early 20th century, to Andrew Carnegie’s libraries and Jane Addams’ Hull House revolutionizing social support systems, this legacy is deep and enduring. Today, we are witnessing the rise of a new generation of entrepreneurial activists. They are the spiritual heirs of leaders like John Mackey, who revolutionized conscious capitalism at Whole Foods; Jessica Alba, who built The Honest Company on the foundation of ethical consumerism; Daniel Lubetzky, who championed social entrepreneurship with KIND Snacks; and Yvon Chouinard, who turned Patagonia into a global beacon of environmental stewardship.
This next wave will be even more bold, leveraging technology, networks, and purpose-driven innovation to tackle systemic challenges. They are the founders of climate-tech startups developing carbon capture solutions, the creators of equitable fintech platforms that serve the underbanked, and the builders of supply chains that prioritize human dignity over bottom-line efficiency. These entrepreneurial activists don’t just want to succeed in business—they want to change the world.
Their vision is clear: profit is not the enemy, but it is not the goal either. They understand that business can be a force for good, and they are proving it every day. They are not afraid to take risks, challenge norms, and lead with purpose. And as they rise, they inspire the rest of us to step up, to see our businesses as platforms for justice, and to build the future we know is possible.
A Moral Imperative for 2025
This isn’t just a strategy playbook; it’s a spiritual calling. It’s about tapping into the entrepreneurial spirit—the grit, the ingenuity, the drive—and aiming it toward justice. Patten says, “When people creatively act on their moral intuition, all kinds of things happen.” This is the year to trust that intuition, to rise above the noise, and to build something better.
The policies coming down the pike are designed to divide us, disempower us, and distract us. But entrepreneurial activists aren’t playing by those rules. We’re making our own. We’re turning obstacles into opportunities, challenges into catalysts, and despair into determination.
The world doesn’t need more spectators. It needs entrepreneurs with backbone, vision, and heart. It’s time to build businesses that embody the world we want to live in. That’s entrepreneurial activism. That’s how we resist. And that’s how we win.