"Understanding the difference in purpose Unlike private businesses, which exist to make a profit, public institutions are designed to create impact - especially social and economic outcomes that benefit everyone, not just paying customers. A public agency doesn't measure its success in revenue or margins, but in how much it improves lives, builds equity and maintains public trust. This doesn't mean budgets and spending don't matter - they absolutely do - but money is not the goal. It's the tool."
"If entrepreneurs want to work with the public sector (and they should), they need to adjust their lens, which means seeing beyond short-term wins and looking toward long-term impact. They must stop pitching purely in business terms and start connecting to public outcomes. They must ask better questions, show up differently and build relationships as contributors to something larger than themselves."
Public institutions prioritize social and economic impact, equity and public trust rather than profit. Success is measured by improvements in lives and access to essential services, not revenue. Entrepreneurs seeking public-sector work must adopt a longer-term lens, emphasize public outcomes over short-term business gains, and change how they present value. Effective engagement requires asking better questions, showing up with different expectations, and building relationships as contributors to broader public goals. Government offers opportunities when its distinct mindset is understood, even though procurement and processes can be slower and more risk-averse than private markets.
Read at Entrepreneur
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