Co-op Stack

The platform co-op stack is a set of tools that may be well-suited for platform co-op development.

Accounting

• CoBuy – “an app that makes buying groups/co-ops easy to start, maintain, and grow”
• Coop Accounting Patronage Allocation – by the Data Systems Co-op
  
• Mastly – “A system that lets you split equity with your team, tracks their progress and takes care of legal to boot”
• Open Collective – allows projects to take in membership fees and pay expenses within a shared incorporation

Dev co-ops

• Awesome Tech Cooperatives
• Co-operative Technologists [UK]
• hng, “Tech coops list” on GitHub
• Tech Co-op Network [North America]

Finance

• Cooperative funds
  • COOPRINCIPAL – investment club network
  • Start.coop – equity accelerator for cooperative startups
  • The Working World – lending for worker cooperatives
• Cooperative capital strategies
  • Limited Cooperative Association – allows for limited investor participation
    • Colorado example
    • Jason Wiener PC information page
  • R.P. Burrasca et al., An Introduction to Financing for Cooperatives, Social Enterprises, and Small Businesses, Community Wealth Building Network of Metro Denver (June 2015)
•  Crowdfunding
  • Goteo – “crowdfunding the commons”
  • Liberapay – non-profit crowdfunding platform
  • Open Collective – attract backers for non-incorporated collectives
  • Seedbloom – blockchain-based crypto-equity
  • Snowdrift – “crowdmatching for public goods”
• Social enterprise capital strategies
  • “Calm companies and investors“
  • Class B Non-Voting Shares
    • Equal Exchange experience
    • Loomio experience
  • Demand Dividend – “a debt vehicle designed to improve the repayment cycle for impact investors and ease capital access for social enterprises”
  • Purpose Ventures – venture fund for sustainably self-owned companies
  • Revenue-based financing
    • Luni Libes, The Next Step for Investors: Revenue-based Financing (2017)

Governance

• Encode – aids in developing “for-purpose” enterprises
• Kantree – “collaboration & work management platform” developed by Digicoop, a worker co-op
• The Lean Marketplace – a guidebook for building platform marketplace communities
• Loomio – open-source decision-making tool created by a worker cooperative

Hosting and servers

See the directory of Co-op Clouds

Incubator co-ops

• Enspiral – “a virtual and physical network of companies and professionals working together to create a thriving society”
• Hackers/Founders Co-op – “coaches startup founders through a personalized 100+ item checklist. The agenda points founders toward product and pitch development to prepare them for fundraising”
• Uptima Business Bootcamp – “an innovative network of member-owned business accelerators dedicated to providing entrepreneurs with greater access to hands-on education, resources and community to create thriving businesses”
• Work Hard PGH – “a #cooperative of digital workers. Our #coop supports businesses of all sizes by providing access to talent, capacity, & capital”

Platform platforms

• Co-op Clouds page at The Internet of Ownership
• CMNTY – “amplifies your ability to connect with people, create meaningful experiences and inspire interaction”
  • Used by Savvy.coop
• Drutopia – “Drupal distributions built cooperatively”
• Noosfero – “A free web-based platform for social and solidarity economy networks”
• Sharetribe – “The easiest way to create your own marketplace”