Mission: Aktiga

Where we begin.

If there is one thing I've learned about starting a business, it is the importance of the mission statement. It sets the tone for the organization, lays the groundwork for the entire value system and culture that will grow (hopefully) as the business starts to take shape. When I started Aktïga, I wanted to create a mission statement that included the foundation in such a way that it might become so deeply ingrained in the organization and bones of the business, that it would have a life far beyond my own.

I'm sure it will iterate, but right now our mission statement reads as such: Our mission at Aktiga is to revolutionize the virtual reality industry by creating software for immersive experiences that empower people to connect, learn, and experience the world in new and meaningful ways. We are committed to building a triple bottom line business that balances social, environmental, and financial considerations in all of our decisions. Our goal is to create a more inclusive and equitable future by decentralizing access to virtual reality experiences, enabling accelerated learning, and unlocking the potential of immersive content.

One question I get regularly about our mission statement is "why triple-bottom-line?" - and my answer is pretty simple: because that's what is important to me. I believe in the creative power that humans inherently possess and the only way we can build a sustainable future is if we recognize the toxicity that is deeply ingrained in our current model of capitalism. I recently heard it described as an "extractive" model where investors, founders, and potential acquirers of the business are seeking to extract as much value as possible. The focus on growth at any cost for the sake of profit has become the weak link in our system - we see the results from this toxic approach almost everywhere we look. From Enron to Uber and WeWork, investors pump money into business with the single hope of massive returns. This model represents the heart of an unsustainable system and there have to be alternatives if our civilization is to survive itself. 

So, this is our attempt to support a new paradigm in business - growth and profit are only 1/3 of our equation and metric for success. The impact our business has on our people and the planet are the other key parts of that equation. To put it simply: triple-bottom-line means our business is equally focused on profit, people, and planet. And to make this new approach the foundation for a high-growth potential software business feels like we might actually have a chance to have a real impact on all three.