I mean, Free Software is basically communism (think of software as "the means of production" and the ideological similarities become obvious). But the reason m

I mean, Free Software is basically communism (think of software as "the means of production" and the ideological similarities become obvious). But the reason most startups are not worker-owned is simple: most founders are capitalists and VCs prefer investing in profit-driven or growth-driven companies, not socialist cooperatives. EDIT: In other words, companies compete in the arena of the "free" market and "success" is defined by size, growth and profit, neither of which cooperatives have any reason to focus on. Cooperatives are generally interested in reliably providing an income to their employees and solving a community need. Two things that become more difficult at scale and two things that present an economical disadvantage compared to a VC-funded startup looking to be acquired that's fine with laying off every single employee at a whim. Also of course techies have it relatively easy: it's easy to find a well-paid job so there's no need for collectivist thinking.