Many of the world’s most successful businesses began as someone’s good idea. But the path from startup to conventional financial success typically involves going public, prioritizing shareholders’ interests, and ultimately selling to a giant conglomerate whose intentions are far from the original mission of the business’s founders. In this episode, Laura interviews guests who say this conventional path of success is desperately in need of an overhaul. Why must new and innovative ideas come to market through old and undemocratic platforms? What if rather than selling out, successful businesses became community assets that put ownership and governance in the hands of workers and even consumers? Could a startup become a means of building community wealth, economic justice, and accountability over our technology? Our guests explain how. Music in the Middle: Nickodemus and PJT remix of “Ain’t My Fault” by the Gulf Aid All-stars from the Turntables on the Hudson ‘Lost & Found in the Frying Pan’ collection.

Guests:

Pia Mancini, Co-Founder & CEO, Open Collective

Lauren Ruffin, Co-Founder, Crux

Nathan Schneider, Assistant Professor of Media Studies & Director Media Enterprise Design Lab, University of Colorado Boulder

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