Episode 043 - Challenges In Structuring And Scaling Early Cooperatives: A Deep Drive On Seed-Stage Asset+Labor Cooperative Marketplace With Alissa Orlando The Ownership Economy podcast

1:01:34

Building a purpose-driven business isn't for the faint of heart. In this episode, Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia, provides a candid account of the challenges he faced in transforming his company into a steward-owned entity. We'll hear about the unexpected legal hurdles he encountered in Germany, the complexities of finding a structure that balanced impact with operational flexibility, and the surprising moment when an early investor, Tim, honored a verbal agreement despite the potential for a massive windfall. Christian's story reveals the real-world complexities of prioritizing purpose over profit and offers valuable insights for any entrepreneur seeking to build a company that's truly committed to social and environmental good. Get your ticket to see Christian speak live at the Ownership Economy Summit, December 4th 2024 in NYC: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-ownership-economy-summit-registration-920820347447 use the code EXCLUSIVE30 for 30% off, just for podcast listeners.…

The Ownership Economy

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Episode 078 - From Chocolate to Co-ops: Real-World Examples of Alternative Ownership in Action, with Julie Menter of Transform Finance 55:46

há 15 weeks55:46

55:46

What if there was a better way to do business — one that prioritizes people and planet while delivering profits? Join us as we talk to Julie Menter, Program Director at Transform Finance, about alternative ownership enterprises (AOEs). Julie breaks down complex concepts like ESOPs, worker cooperatives, and golden shares with real-world examples like New Belgium Brewing and Tony’s Chocolonely. We’ll explore the benefits of AOEs, how they address societal challenges, and what role investors can play in supporting this growing movement. Get your ticket to see Julie live in New York at the Ownership Economy Summit at 101 Park Ave: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-ownership-economy-summit-registration-920820347447 use the code EXCLUSIVE30 for 30% off, only for podcast listeners.…

The Ownership Economy

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Episode 077 - Building a Shopify for Marketplaces: Juho Makkonen on ShareTribe and Steward Ownership 1:00:45

há 15 weeks1:00:45

1:00:45

In 2008, Juho Makkonen and his co-founder built what was essentially Facebook Marketplace before Facebook Marketplace. Their student-focused platform at Aalto University in Helsinki quickly morphed into ShareTribe, a company that empowers entrepreneurs to create their own online marketplaces. ShareTribe offers a powerful yet user-friendly software solution that allows entrepreneurs to launch marketplaces without coding and provides no-code customization options for more complex needs. They even have a network of developers to help with advanced customization. But ShareTribe's journey wasn't without its challenges. Early on, Juho and his team realized the misalignment between traditional venture capital and their purpose-driven mission. In 2018, they made the bold decision to transition to a steward ownership structure, buying out their investors and raising €1.1 million through crowdfunding. This shift ensured ShareTribe remained true to its values of sustainability and impact, prioritizing the needs of its customers and employees over hypergrowth. Tune in to hear Juho's story and learn about the challenges and rewards of building a purpose-driven, sustainable business in tech. Juho will also be speaking at the Ownership Economy Summit next week, December 4th, 2024 in New York. Get your ticket now, with a 30% discount for listeners (use EXCLUSIVE30 at checkout). https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-ownership-economy-summit-registration-920820347447…

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Episode 076 - Beyond Demonstration Projects: Scaling Shared Ownership for Impact with Nathan Schneider 50:59

há 17 weeks50:59

50:59

Nathan Schneider returns to the Ownership Economy Podcast to discuss strategies for building a more equitable economy through shared ownership. He argues that we need to create new "destinations" for cooperative businesses to thrive. While there's a lot of energy focused on supporting co-ops in their early stages, he believes we need to think more strategically about how to enable these businesses to achieve significant scale.Drawing on examples like the Rural Electrification Act and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Nathan highlights how targeted policy changes can help unlock the potential of shared ownership. He points out that the current venture capital model, focused on rapid growth and exits, often leaves shared ownership ventures behind. To counter this, Nathan calls for new financial structures and policy frameworks that align with the goals of shared ownership and prioritize long-term sustainability and community well-being.This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in the future of work, economic justice, and building a more equitable economy.…

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Episode 075 - Bridging the 40X Renter Wealth Equity Gap: How Viva Benefits is Disrupting the Housing Market, with Dr. Michael Barnes CEO at Viva Benefits 58:15

há 18 weeks58:15

58:15

Can you build wealth without owning a home? Dr. Michael Barnes, founder of Viva Benefits, believes you can. In this episode, we trace Michael's journey from teaching in under-resourced communities to starting a tech company that's tackling the housing crisis head-on. Discover how Viva Benefits is providing renters with access to financial tools, benefits, and even cash back on rent , all while improving the economics of multifamily properties. This is a must-listen for anyone interested in social impact, entrepreneurship, and the future of housing. Mike will be joining us as a speaker at this year's Ownership Economy Summit as well - grab your ticket below, use the code EXCLUSIVE20 to get 20% off, just for podcast subscribers : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-ownership-economy-summit-registration-920820347447…

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Episode 074 - Beyond Mega Funds: Democratizing Clean Energy Investment, with Adam Silver, CEO of Plural Energy 52:51

há 19 weeks52:51

52:51

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Silver, CEO and co-founder of Plural, a company that's revolutionizing the way we invest in renewable energy. Adam explains how Plural is using blockchain technology to make these investments more accessible and efficient, allowing anyone to own a piece of the clean energy future. We explore the benefits and challenges of this innovative approach, and Adam gives us a sneak peek at an exciting project involving Bitcoin mining and solar energy. Plus, we get a preview of what he'll be discussing at the upcoming Ownership Economy Summit. Join us as we explore the future of renewable energy finance with Adam Silver.…

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Episode 073: Frameworks for Responsible Crypto Regulation, with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce 28:02

há 39 weeks28:02

28:02

In this episode of the Ownership Economy, we're joined by SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, who dives into crypto regulation in the EU vs. the US, how she is thinking about regulation for entrepreneurs building in crypto, and what 2024 might bring. Note: This episode was recorded in January 2024.

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Episode 072 - Investing to Build the Ownership Economy in web3, with David Pakman, Partner at CoinFund 1:04:38

há 1 year1:04:38

1:04:38

How do the worlds of cryptography, privacy, and AI relate? What is the promise of NFTs for building a user- and creator-owned economy? We dive into these topics and more with Ownership Economy Summit speaker David Pakman. David started his career in tech at Apple, and has been in venture capital for 20+ years at prominent funds Venrock and Coinfund, and was among the first VCs to realize what was coming in crypto and moved in early to back teams such as Dapper Labs, 3Box (Ceramic Network), and Rarible. David has been on the bleeding edge of the thinking in this space concerning user ownership of data, creator ownership and IP, and the building of an ownership economy.…

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Episode 071 - Business Model and Stakeholder Innovation to Scale the Creator Economy, with Maz and Eiman of Crowdmuse 1:11:00

há 1 year1:11:00

1:11:00

In this episode, we are joined by Maryam Mazraei (“Maz”) and Eiman Soliman of Crowdmuse, a web3 protocol that brings together creators, fashion designers, suppliers, brands, and consumers, while redefining the incentives within the fashion industry to address its externalities. What sets Crowdmuse apart is its unique approach—it doesn't merely position itself as the "ethical choice"; rather, it integrates ethical considerations into the system's design. The platform delivers what consumers desire: remarkable, one-of-a-kind fashion and collectibles from their favorite designers. Simultaneously, it ensures that contributors and their contributions are transparently recorded on their smart contract system, granting suppliers the distribution they seek and affording brands the representation they crave. The result? A win-win situation where everyone involved is content. Tune in to discover the unexpected connection between a notorious apparel factory disaster in Bangladesh and an Art Basel fashion drop. Explore how web3 protocols, like Crowdmuse, contribute to making value chains more transparent and understandable.…

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Episode 070 - OpenAI: An $85 Billion Dollar Governance Failure, and How it Could Have Been Anticipated, with Dr. Michael Zargham and Amber Case 58:11

há 1 year58:11

58:11

Over the last 120 hours, a governance crisis the likes of which we may never see repeated happened at world-leading artificial intelligence company OpenAI, culminating in the firing (and rehiring!) of Sam Altman, with a tectonic shift in their governance in the space of a few days. In this episode we explore what led to this situation, how it could have been simulated ahead of time, and what you should do with your governance design if you’re thinking of starting a world-changing technology company, to ensure maximal flexibility and make governance an asset and not a liability. Joining us for this episode are Dr. Michael Zargham, board member and PI at the Metagovernance Project, and Amber Case, entrepreneur, author, and founder of Superset, DAODAO, and other ventures. Both guests are principal investigators at the Metagovernance Project, a nonprofit foundation focused on building open-source tooling and protocols for a governance layer around the internet.…

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Episode 069 - Innovating on Organizational Structures at Every Segment of the Capital Stack, with Dr. Astrid Scholz of Armillaria and Zebras Unite Co-op 1:06:24

há 2 years1:06:24

1:06:24

In episode 069, Jahed sits down with Dr. Astrid Scholz, ecological economist and social entrepreneur, to discuss how her career arc has cut across governance and ownership, and the resulting innovations she and her teams have delivered. Along the way, we cover ecological economics and how it values ecosystems and people in addition to profits, why the current org structures were not a fit for her and how she and her co-founders innovated on the Zebras Unite Co-op, and the innovation they’ve spurred to deliver more capital to social enterprises at every level, from idea to seed to Series A and beyond. It’s a valuable episode for any entrepreneur considering how to start a new venture outside of the traditional VC model.…

The Ownership Economy

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Episode 068 - Leveraging Digital Communities as an Investment Strategy, with Sarah Drinkwater of Common Magic 44:45

há 2 years44:45

44:45

In this episode, Martin and Jahed chat with Sarah Drinkwater, Founder and General Partner at Common Magic. Common Magic invests in European and US start-ups at the pre-seed and seed stage. In the conversation, Sarah walks us through her experience working with early stage founders who are using community engagement and incentive design as a core pillar of their growth. She makes a strong case for aligning returns with community health and growth. It’s a fascinating look at a fund manager building an edge across multiple sectors including open source software, developer tools, fintech, and more by focusing exclusively on the digital community. Please rate and review the episode if you enjoyed it.…

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Episode 067 - Economies Full of Meaningful Work and Competitive Companies with Dr. Ellen Frank-Miller, Founder and CEO of WORC 52:21

há 2 years52:21

52:21

In this episode of the Ownership Economy, Martin and Jahed sit down with Dr. Ellen Frank-Miller, the Founder and CEO of WORC. A social scientist by training, Dr. Frank-Miller details her research on how investing in people as assets is proven to build more profitable, competitive companies. This episode will be of particular interest to private equity investors, managers, and anyone who is trying to find a meaningful place to work. We hope you enjoy the episode.…

The Ownership Economy

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Episode 066 - Policy Innovations and Impediments in the Ownership Economy with Anthony Cimino, Head of Policy at Carta 58:20

há 2 years58:20

58:20

In this episode of the Ownership Economy, Martin and Jahed connect with Anthony Cimino Head of Policy at Carta. The conversation discusses challenges and opportunities in the US policy arena to advance broad-based ownership. Anthony walks us through the history of current rules on the books at the SEC and IRS, why they need updating for the world today, and how his past as an operator in Washington, D.C. informs his current work and approach. Investors, start-up founders, and policy workers will all enjoy this episode.…

The Ownership Economy

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Episode 065 - Governance and Possibilities: A Political Economy of the Commons, with Jenn and Ilia Murtazashvili 1:18:12

há 2 years1:18:12