Co-op in the works: "The People's Tech"

News and announcements
1

Hi! I posted here some time ago referencing the not-for-profit limited company I was hoping to convert into a co-op.

Now, given the demand I’m getting to help folks use technology away from Big Tech – at the intersection of privacy, security, sustainability, and inclusivity – I’m aiming to start from scratch and set up something called The People’s Tech (not just because I want it to be democratically controlled by its workers and even members, but because the people and not governments and corporations should have control over their own tech, amiright?)

I’m a graduate of the School for Social Entrepreneurs and have nearly 25 years of experience in non-profits, and would still want to run (Covid-safer) community workshops (predominantly WFH while caring for my Disabled partner) so I’m leaning towards a limited company with co-operative rules, or maybe a CIC (thanks to all the helpful tips I received at Monday’s Own the Future drop-in!)

Beyond that (if I’m permitted to mention here), I’m interested in connecting with like-minded people who might even be interested in working on such an initiative with me (whether knowledgeable about tech or not, enthusiasm is what matters, and I myself have little experience in co-ops or finance/accounting and such!) as perhaps a very part-time, small (yet potentially scaleable!) tech co-op.

5 Likes
2

One group of people worth getting in touch with is The Coop Cloud:

It’s a project run by a range of people, from both co-operatives, and independent organisations/individuals.

All the technology is fully FLOSS. :smiley:

They would have a lot of advice, as well as looking for potential contributors. :smiley:

1 Like
3

Hi Billy! Thanks so much for this, much appreciated. I’ll drop them a line!

1 Like
4

Hey Jay, I’m a coop development advisor and would be happy to chat to you about your co-ops and how to start one etc. Drop me an email - caleb@principlesix.coop

Also here’s an article about CICs and why the co-op sector is suspicious of them - 20 years of the CIC

Summary of its points:

“● CICs have an origin story that is at odds with all the other legal forms used by social enterprises

● Initial legislation forced social enterprises and co-operatives adopting it to compromise on some of their core defining values and identities

● The Regulator is not transparent and seems intent on not talking about what we can learn from when things go wrong

● There appears to be a reluctance amongst CICs to engage in trading activity to help sustain their impact

● And there is a pervasive myth about how they can help social entrepreneurs to access grants.”

3 Likes
5

There is a newish group called DiSCo (Digital Sovereignty Collective) focused on similar topics. They have an active Matrix space. I believe many of the founders are based in Norway.

I’m working with a cofounder on a coop startup building software for coops, but I don’t know if this is interesting for you.

3 Likes
6

That is a different disco from this one?

1 Like