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Last week I was talking about how awesome it would be if some of the people who have been laid off recently from 'Big Tech' jobs decided to form #coops.

There seemed to be a need for more info around this, so I had a meeting with CoTech colleagues @BillySmith@chrislowis & @Graham_Mitchell to figure out something practical.

Pleased to show MVP site as a result of this at https://start.coops.tech

There are five of us - including @KingMob - volunteering initially. Please share widely!
Screenshot of MVP 'CoTech Digital Candle' service. Text reads:" Interested in starting a co-op? Get some help from CoTech" Underneath is an embedded Google Calendar form.

Interested in starting a co-op? | CoTech

start.coops.tech
#coops @Graham @Billy Smith @Chris Lowis @John ~Space Tube~
This entry was edited (1 year ago)

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Doug Belshaw
Doug Belshaw  
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@Literally@KingMob There is now! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dajbelshaw_cotech-coop-activity-7026187504663846913-J8qg

Doug Belshaw on LinkedIn: #cotech #coop

With all of the tech layoffs, some #CoTech members wanted to do something to help. Interested in setting up a #coop? Book a call! https://start.coops.tech
Doug Belshaw (www.linkedin.com)
@Literally @John ~Space Tube~
Trevor Bramble
Trevor Bramble  
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Did I miss some explanation as to why someone would consider starting a co-op?
Doug Belshaw
Doug Belshaw  
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@TrevorBramble We're at the stage after that. But what's not to like about worker ownership?
@Trevor Bramble
Trevor Bramble
Trevor Bramble  
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Nothing I'm aware of?
Merc
Merc  
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@TrevorBramble

It would probably be good to have some background on what you mean by a co-op. I understand co-ops in terms of housing and retail businesses, where the often there's a requirement that customers are members. But, what does it look like in the tech space?
@Trevor Bramble
Doug Belshaw
Doug Belshaw  
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@merc@TrevorBramble Take a look at https://coops.tech - basically worker ownership

CoTech « Cooperative Technologists

Building a tech industry that's better for its workers and customers through co-operation, democracy and worker ownership.
CoTech « Cooperative Technologists
@Merc @Trevor Bramble
tutormentor1
tutormentor1  
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@KingMob

I encourage you to take a look at the ChiHackNight civic tech group in #Chicago. http://www.chihacknight.org

Join their Slack channel; or their Tuesday on-line events. One sub group focuses on co-ops.

This has been going for 10 years and many projects have been launched from the working groups. Looks similar to your goal.

Chi Hack Night

Chicago's weekly event to build, share, and learn about civic tech.
Chi Hack Night
#chicago @John ~Space Tube~
Old Fucking Punk
Old Fucking Punk  
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@tutormentor1@KingMob

I was going to look into this further, but doesn't seem all that FOSS serious with GitHub, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube links.
@John ~Space Tube~ @tutormentor1
Aral Balkan
Aral Balkan  
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Best of luck!

PS. Would be awesome if the coop model also adopted ethical standards with regards to what was permissible as the business model, etc. (e.g., not allowing businesses that monetise people’s data space under the banner, etc.) After all, a more equitable arrangement isn’t necessarily a win if everyone in an organisation is equitably benefitting from an unethical business model.

I’m sure you’re already discussing such things.

@BillySmith@chrislowis@Graham_Mitchell@KingMob
@Graham @Billy Smith @Chris Lowis @John ~Space Tube~
Matt Noyes
Matt Noyes  
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@KingMob Great idea! Please check out https://geo.coop/articles/how-create-solidarity-enterprise the emphasis on starting not with the business plan, or tech project, but with the solidarity group is crucial. I wonder how it might apply in this context?

How to Create a Solidarity Enterprise: Unit I | Grassroots Economic Organizing

geo.coop
@John ~Space Tube~
tea (they/them) 🌺
tea (they/them) 🌺  
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@KingMob

I've been thinking about this alot and I think people need examples of successful tech companies pulling this off to truly understand this is possible. I'd love documentaries / interviews with founders, employees describing the differences from previous non co-op jobs. Blasting this message out is really important to adoption. It's really a different way of thinking about tech, funding, investing, ipo, all of it.
@John ~Space Tube~
Pope Bob
Pope Bob  
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I would really like to find people to work with to form a rural co-op ISP with a focus on teaching people in the community how to operate the technology. I'd like to see more skills exemplified over time, but ISP is my wheel house.

I will make a note of this resource, and hopefully find time and energy to pursue this further.

@BillySmith@chrislowis@Graham_Mitchell@KingMob
@Graham @Billy Smith @Chris Lowis @John ~Space Tube~
vitriolix
vitriolix  
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damn I wish this had existed when I started my sort of coop years ago
Irenes (many)
Irenes (many)  
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very exciting!!!! great to see this!
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾  
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sorry if I sound blur, but what does a co-op do?
Hubert Chathi
Hubert Chathi  
There are different types of co-ops, but this thread is mainly about worker co-operatives, which basically means that the organization is owned and run by the workers, rather than by someone else. A lot more can be said about it, but that's the simplified version.
Doug Belshaw
Doug Belshaw  
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@hubert@liztai Yes, as others have said it's an ownership model not a business model. Can be used in any sector but particularly fruitful at the moment in the tech sector for recently laid-off workers to continue working together.
@Hubert Chathi @Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾
Graham
Graham  
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Yes, in a nuts-and-bolts kind of a way it is about ownership, but to say it is just about ownership is to deny the hugely rich seam of opportunities that flow from the application of the underpinning values and principles. Cooperation is a radically different way to do business. @hubert@dajb@BillySmith@liztai@chrislowis@KingMob
@Hubert Chathi @Doug Belshaw @Billy Smith @Elizabeth Tai | 戴秀铃 🇲🇾 @Chris Lowis @John ~Space Tube~
clacke: inhibited exhausted pixie dream boy 🇸🇪🇭🇰💙💛
clacke: inhibited exhausted pixie dream boy 🇸🇪🇭🇰💙💛  
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i get alternative disney music in my head:

"do you wanna build a cöop?"
Derek Caelin 🌱
Derek Caelin 🌱  
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well, heck. that's cool!
Steven Deobald
Steven Deobald  
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i’ve tried a dozen times and can’t get past your recaptcha so it might be broken.

for folks in countries absent cooperative laws that support tech companies (namely india) you may want to reach out to the folks at nilenso.com about their coop structure. it’s open source:

https://github.com/nilenso/cooperative-agreement

good luck!

GitHub - nilenso/cooperative-agreement: Legal document to incorporate a cooperative in India (structured as a limited liability partnership)

Legal document to incorporate a cooperative in India (structured as a limited liability partnership) - GitHub - nilenso/cooperative-agreement: Legal document to incorporate a cooperative in India (...
GitHub
Dave Lane 🇳🇿
Dave Lane 🇳🇿  
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I wasn't laid off from Big Tech, but I'm thinking of doing this with a aside hustle here in Aotearoa NZ anyway.
Ray Kiddy
Ray Kiddy  
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good to see. thanx for posting. I know of https://colab.coop but more info is usually better.

We are nice people working to realize your dreams.

We co-create simple, purpose-driven web technology for a better world
CoLab
masukomi
masukomi  
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FYI I appear to be in an endless loop of proving I’m not a robot, having it do the green check and ask me again (from my iPhone).

Do you really human checking on that page?
Greg McVerry
Greg McVerry  
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We are turning a volunteer coalition here in CT into a co-op:

CW: it is #cybersecurity in Defense manufacturing

drafted our mission and vision statement.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bM5_BO2zxhqyU19ukdtsDKxtGnIy6ItNJMrVMAeQne0/ed

Going to do an S-corp or LLC in US.

Don't want to make money but members can charge if they facilitate trainings, any excess funds donated.

We needed way to have insurance and tax ID, co-op seem to make most sense
it
#cybersecurity
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