If the 18th century can be defined as the age of industrialization and competitive advantage of the nation state, the 19th century by the power of the corporation, and the 20th by corporate financialization, then, I believe, the 21st century will be defined by ownership.
Cooperative founders often shoulder outsized risk, including unpaid labor, personal cash, and emotional strain, without clear guidance on fair compensation. In this plain-language guide, Jason Wiener and Jenny Kassan explore how dynamic equity can reward real contributions over time while staying true to cooperative principles. They outline practical, coop-friendly models that balance fairness, legality, and long-term mission.
The SEC has released its 2025 Staff Report from the Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation, offering a data-driven look at how small businesses raise capital today. The report highlights persistent funding gaps, the outsized role of Regulation D, and how crowdfunding and mentorship networks support early-stage companies, especially outside traditional financial hubs.
In this Members Only video, Jason Wiener speaks with Kate Smith and Claire Christensen of Gimme Coffee about the company’s transition to worker ownership. They share lessons from converting a 25-year-old coffee business into a cooperative, including governance challenges, cultural shifts, and how centering workers has strengthened Gimme’s mission, workplace, and connection to the Ithaca community.
In our 3rd Members Only video, Jacqueline Radebaugh interviews Gwen Pasquarello of EMMA Technology Cooperative, a worker-owned consultancy of creative technologists. Gwen reflects on EMMA’s origins, why the founders chose a cooperative model over a traditional LLC, and how shared ownership supports stability, collaboration, and stronger decision-making in creative, experimental work.
A Fairer Society (AFS USA) is reimagining how businesses are owned, governed, and sustained. Operating at the intersection of ethical business acquisition, shared services, and cooperative governance, AFS builds a growing network that replaces extractive ownership with shared prosperity. This coop spotlights consent-based decision making, real worker ownership, and a scalable alternative that helps businesses and communities thrive for the long-term.
In Part 2 of this two-part series, Jenny Kassan examines newly adopted federal regulations that shape how founders may communicate about investment opportunities, particularly during pitch events and when “testing the waters.” Building on the foundation laid in Part 1, this installment clarifies common misconceptions, highlights ongoing legal risks at showcases and demo days, and explains how recent SEC rules affect early-stage companies exploring potential offerings.
Thinking about raising money for your business? Even a simple “I’m looking for investors” can unintentionally trigger complex securities laws. Whether you’re offering equity, loans, SAFEs, or notes, you may be making a regulated securities offering without realizing it. In Part 1 of this two-part series, learn what actually counts as an offering, where the legal lines are drawn, and why choosing the right compliance strategy is essential before speaking with potential investors.
The TRANSFER Data Trust Cooperative is redefining how experimental media art is preserved and valued. Founded by a global group of artists and supported by dedicated caretakers, the co-op champions decentralized stewardship, artist-owned data, and long-term cultural preservation. By blending innovative infrastructure with a supportive creative community, it offers a new model for sustaining digital artworks and the artists shaping the future of contemporary art.
In this reflective piece, Jason looks back as the firm approaches its 12th anniversary, tracing the leap that sparked its creation, the values that shaped its growth, and the impact built along the way. He shares how a belief in practicing law differently evolved into a thriving, mission-driven practice and why he’s more optimistic than ever about the future.
As the SEC rolls out EDGAR Next, businesses face a shift in how they manage and submit regulatory filings. With new login requirements, designated authorized individuals, and stricter account maintenance rules, the updated system is designed for stronger security and smoother access and requires timely compliance. This blog breaks down what is changing, who is affected, and what every filer needs to know before the legacy system shuts down at the end of 2025.
