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.

Julie Menter, Program Director at Transform Finance, advocates for businesses that prioritize people and the planet. She dives into alternative ownership enterprises like employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and cooperatives, using examples such as New Belgium Brewing and Tony’s Chocolonely to illustrate their societal benefits. Julie emphasizes how these models address wealth inequality and promote community engagement. The discussion also touches on innovative funding strategies and the necessity for business structures to align with founders' values, shaping a more equitable financial future.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Venture capitalist David Pakman discusses non-consensus investing in crypto, NFTs, regulatory challenges, tokenizing real-world assets, decentralized AI training, and data value in web3 investments.

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.

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.