Mission Statement
Our mission is to create a partnership of like-minded individuals dedicated to developing innovative technology and services. We believe in equal rewards for all members, collective ownership of all technology created, and equal voting rights for every member. Together, we strive to foster a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone’s contributions are valued and recognized.
01
History of Cooperatives
The history of cooperatives is rich and varied, dating back to ancient times when communities would collaborate for mutual benefit in agriculture and trade. The modern cooperative movement began in the 18th century with the Fenwick Weavers’ Society in Scotland, and gained significant momentum during the Industrial Revolution. The Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, established in 1844 in England, laid down the “Rochdale Principles,” which became the foundation for contemporary cooperatives. Over the 20th century, the cooperative model spread globally, adapting to various industries such as agriculture, banking, housing, and retail. Today, cooperatives are recognized for promoting economic democracy, social equity, and sustainable development.
02
Principles of the Cooperative
All members are rewarded equally:
Everyone in the group either succeeds together or fails together. No individual will receive money unless everyone in the cooperative votes to disperse funds. If a vote to disperse funds is approved all members of the cooperative will receive an equal share.
All technology created belongs to the co-op:
All technology created will be the property of the cooperative, and all patents filed will include the names of the inventors on the applications. Any proceeds generated from licensing or selling the patents will benefit all cooperative members.
All members have equal voting rights:
The voice of all cooperative members (even members that are not fully vested) can vote. While individual members can make simple decisions independently, any member may call for a vote on any subject at any time. A two-thirds majority vote is required to pass any motion.
03
Equity Stake
Equity stake determines each member's compensation if a technology is sold or licensed. Equity stake can be earned in two ways:
Investment and Time: A member can invest $10,000 and contribute 360 hours of work to earn a full equity stake.
Work Contribution: Alternatively, a member can earn equity by contributing 1,000 hours of work, valued at $100 per hour, without any monetary investment.
Combination: Members may also combine monetary investment and work hours to achieve their equity stake.
Performance Impact: If a member demonstrates an exceptional contribution to the cooperative, the cooperative members can vote to grant that member a faster accrual rate or full equity stake.
04
Projects
Skills:
The cooperative must possess the necessary skills to implement the idea. For example, if the project involves developing a phone application, we need a cooperative member who understands the process and relevant coding languages.
Schedule:
All projects should fit within a 6 - 12 month timeline to create a patent or an MVP (minimal viable product). If a project extends beyond a practical time horizon, it may be shelved until a new approach can be found to enable its completion in the timeframe.
Cost:
The project's financial cost needs to be balanced against all active projects at that time, which may limit the cooperative’s ability to respond.
ROI (Return on Investment):
The cooperative will need to review the market and determine the potential value the project will bring before committing any resources.
These and other factors will be used as the basis for determining if a project is worth pursuing. The cooperative vote is the final deciding factor.
Cooperative Overview
