4 ms·
Have you thought about adding a section on different ownership and control models, such as co-operative models?
by wcerfgba 3y ago
Have you thought about adding a section on different ownership and control models, such as co-operative models?
- swampthing 3y agoOoh, that's a good idea. I'm a huge fan of co-ops (not for any principled reason, I just think they're cool). They aren't common for startups of the type we're writing about, but I think it does make sense to discuss that topic. Thank you for the suggestion!
- JumpCrisscross 3y ago> aren't common for startups of the type we're writing about You may have a greenfield market in the trades.
- swampthing 3y agoIndeed! The main difficulty is that while we are experts on startup law, we're not in other things, such as co-ops. But we are working on a way to allow others to combine their expertise with our software to serve other markets :)
- talkingtab 3y agoUpvote. Even just a review of alternative models and some basic implications would be extremely helpful. It seems like worker owned software companies could be very effective.
- swampthing 3y agoYea, it's a topic of interest for me personally, even if they aren't common with the types of startups we serve. Do you know of any successful worker-owned software companies? The co-ops I'm familiar with are mostly REI and grocery store types (both of which I enjoy a lot as a customer).
- obelix150 3y agoNot the OP but a quick search reveals: https://github.com/hng/tech-coops https://github.com/hng/tech-coops
- swampthing 3y agoThanks!
- wcerfgba 3y agoAnd here's one network of tech co-ops in the UK: https://www.coops.tech/ https://www.coops.tech/
- bbor 3y agoAlso reccommend https://www.usworker.coop/clinic/startups/ https://www.usworker.coop/clinic/startups/
- talkingtab 3y agoNot a software company, but the cheese board collective in Berkeley seems very interesting. They have survived for a very long time through the pandemic, etc. Impressive. Not quite an answer either, but one reason for my interest in alternative models of operation is the IETF. It is, and has been a remarkably effective organization. Thanks to them I am typing on my computer at home and sending this out. They do _not_ have members. I understand that they are not a business, but they are more effective than any software company I worked for. https://www.ietf.org/about/participate/tao/ https://www.ietf.org/about/participate/tao/
- swampthing 3y agoDidn’t realize Cheese Board was a co-op! I’m not surprised though :) And I agree, we all owe a lot to IETF!