Our Story
“Good & Well” has its roots in the parting comments given by one of my most inspiring college professors. When his mother, a Jewish immigrant from Eastern Europe, sent him off into the world, she said “Do good, son.” “Mom, after all these years in the U.S., you still don’t know that it’s “do well”,” he responded. “No son, I mean “do good”,” his mother repeated. It was this same message that he left us with as he darted out of the room. Growing up, I received two clear, but distinct messages: “do well” and “do good”. Throughout my life, I jumped back and forth between these two messages, struggling to integrate them. While at Harvard Business School, I volunteered for non-profits. At Bain & Company, I sought out “pro-bono” projects. After the Berlin wall fell, I moved to Poland as part of a UN project advising the Government on the transition from “communism” to capitalism, but my work evolved into commercial consulting, venture capital and entrepreneurship. “Good & Well” is my effort to intentionally and harmoniously integrate these two messages in my life. I firmly believe that combining passion, values, and a social mission with the dynamism, efficiency, and potential to scale found in the most successful companies can play a key role in addressing many of the greatest challenges we face in the world today.Picking tomatoes one of Fresh City Farm's greenhouses at Downsview Park.
Public Inc. is helping progressive businesses prove that they can, and should, profit with purpose.
Alice + Whittles works with Fair Trade projects in Sri Lanka to support rubber workers in the production of their footwear.
“I feel honored and privileged to support such inspiring entrepreneurs as they build their social purpose businesses and help establish a more conscious form of capitalism.” James Van Bergh,
Our Philosophy
Our future depends on a more humane form of capitalism – one where business plays a critical role in overcoming social challenges sustainably, and at scale, and in which entrepreneurs “do good” and “do well”. We believe:- Considering a broader set of stakeholders in business decisions is simply good business, not just the right thing to do;
- There is a growing market, and need, for companies that seek to solve social problems through a business lens;
- Consumers and employees are increasingly demanding that companies act responsibly and sustainably across all aspects of their operations;
- Purpose must be embedded in the DNA of a company to be a true partner with profit;
- A new investment mindset is needed to drive the purpose economy – one with mission alignment, longer time horizons and a commitment to safeguarding purpose as companies grow;
- We can all create change by bringing our humanity to work.
Two of Kotn’s three founders, Mackenzie & Rami, sourcing cotton in the Nile Delta region of Egypt.
Sisal baskets handmade by the Kaisgau Weavers, a co-operative of 800 women near Mt. Kasigau, Kenya and one of Far + Wide Collective’s artisan partners.
Football for Good's U14 academy squad celebrate a last-minute game-winning goal in Gulu, Uganda.
“We see ourselves as true partners, investing for the long-term and working collaboratively with investees to help identify and unlock opportunities for and barriers to scale. It’s this desire to be their partner in realizing both social impact and business success that I think differentiates Good & Well.” Alexandra Baillie,
Our Portfolio
Get to know some of the incredible people and businesses we are proud to partner with in creating a more fair, prosperous and sustainable world.Kristi, founder of Encircled, speaks about the inspiration and process behind creating the newest reversible design.
The Lucky Iron Fish is a small iron cooking tool that infuses your meals with a healthy amount of natural iron to help prevent iron deficiency.
Founders of X Movement, Kaela and Emile, at an X Movement event in Kingston, Ontario.
Seeking Investment
We make equity investments of $100,000 - $500,000 in early stage social purpose businesses, providing founders with strategic advice, operational support, and a network of inspiring and likeminded entrepreneurs. If you...- Bring exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, passion, experience and humility;
- Own a registered Canadian business with at least basic proof of concept;
- Have an innovative or disruptive business model;
- Believe that profit and purpose can and should be mutually reinforcing; and
- Need capital to help start or scale your business
"Each of our investments is unique, but all of our entrepreneurs share a belief that business can and should be a powerful force for good." Thulasi Suntharalingam,
Student Engagement
As part of our work to catalyze a more equitable and sustainable market, Good & Well is investing in the next generation of thoughtful, values-driven leaders. By engaging in the work of businesses that do good and well, undergraduate students experience firsthand how values like fairness, compassion, resourcefulness, collaboration, and accountability can function as critical business values. Our aim is to inspire young leaders to bring their humanity to work throughout their careers — whether in the impact sector or beyond.
SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM | Through this program, students have the opportunity to work at dynamic, high-potential social enterprises in our portfolio, participate in robust personal and professional development sessions led by social impact leaders, and connect with a community of like-minded peers. Applications for Summer 2025 will open in December 2024/January 2025.
IMPACT CHALLENGE | The Impact Challenge invites undergraduate students to tackle real-world business problems with input from experienced professionals in the impact sector. Company leaders share their business context and a specific challenge directly with participants, who then compete in teams to develop thoughtful solutions with guidance from mentors with relevant expertise. The next Impact Challenge will take place in November 2024.
Lucky Iron Fish's 2018 Partnerships for Social Impact Intern, Madeleine (right), in Benin helping deliver implementation training to CARE.
Marketing intern at Ulula in 2019, Sana (top row, third from the left), with members of the Ulula team on her last day.
Several 2019 interns learning about urban and organic farming at Fresh City Farm's Downsview Park farm.
The Good & Well Internship Program was by far one of the best things that happened to my professional career. Not only did it affirm my decision to work in the social enterprise space, but it exposed me to different areas of business impact, and allowed me to learn far more than any textbook could teach. Catherine Goncalves,
Contact Us
Please direct all partnership, media and other inquiries to info@goodandwell.ca.
Uptown Office | 4773 Yonge St., Suite 5E, Toronto, ON M2N 0G2
Downtown Office | 317 Adelaide St. W., Suite 1005, Toronto, ON M5V 1P9