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<p>This is not mere theory. <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Zero is a real-time experiment in building a totally new kind of digital organization—one designed from the ground up to fix the system misalignments holding back progress on the SDGs. Here we present the core architecture of a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr>.</p>
<p>The <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Hypothese is a set of rules, processes, workflows and tools that together form an operation system designed to have large group of people work together efficiently, transparant and mission-driven on tools that should help people drive the SDG’s forward. In essence we are trying to build a better toolkit for future generations. The operation system is described below as a living oranganism. We’ll dive in it’s it’s natural habitat, it’s anatomy, it’s metabolism and In a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr>, “citizens” work collaboratively and interchangeably on ideas that have the potential to break old paradigms and show new ways forward. It is an organization designed to create tools for people to work both on and within their communities.</p>
A <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> creates trustworthy digital tools that help people—and the communities they form—become more resilient, resourceful, and effective in advancing the SDGs.</p>
<p><strong>At its core, every <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> is built like a rocket: a solid foundation, three structural pillars, and a sharp point of execution.</strong></p>
Every tool we create is grounded in facts, evidence, and tested knowledge. The problems we tackle are science-proven, and solutions must stand up to real-world scrutiny.</li>
<li><strong>Democracy:</strong><br/>
Our process and decisions are open and participatory. Everyone has a voice and a vote; no gated hierarchies, no closed rooms.</li>
We are smarter together. All skills and ideas are pooled so we solve more, faster, and with better results than any one person or small group could alone.</li>
<p><strong><abbrtitle="Equal and inclusive ownership model based on contribution, not hierarchy or investment.">Collective Ownership</abbr></strong><br/>
Everyone who joins and contributes is an equal owner. There are no founders, investors, or external shareholders—just people "in it" together.</p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong><abbrtitle="Core value emphasizing meaningful, merit-based distribution of work and reward.">Collective Craftsmanship</abbr></strong><br/>
All work and effort are shared—teams build, improve, and sustain everything the <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> delivers. Value is earned by doing, not by owning capital.</p>
</li>
<li><strong><abbrtitle="Transparent and democratic oversight of all operations, including deliberation and voting.">Collective Governance</abbr></strong><br/>
Decision-making and oversight are for everyone. Every contributor holds both rights and responsibilities for what the <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> does and how it does it.</li>
While we are democratic in nature, we are military in execution. When the General Forum sets a target, the <abbrtitle="The centralized collaboration platform where workers manage objectives and tasks.">Workplace</abbr> hits it with precision. Clear chains of command, proven processes like the buddy system, and professional discipline ensure we don't just talk about change—we deliver it.</li>
<p>A <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> is a vehicle for change. The foundation powers us, the pillars keep us stable, and military execution cuts through obstacles. Together, these elements create an organization that can actually reach its destination: a world where digital tools serve collective human needs.</p>
<p>Every <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> grows through four clear, community-driven phases. This rhythm—from first idea to real-world launch—ensures that only validated, sustainable, and well-governed solutions reach the market. At every step, the decision to move forward belongs to the entire <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> community.</p>
<li>[ ] <abbrtitle="Living document recording strategy, decisions, assessments, and design. Transparent to all owners.">Official Smartup Business Plan</abbr> ready</li>
<li>[ ] <abbrtitle="Strategic core of Smartup creation phases. Composed of all Team Captains and the initiating entrepreneur.">Leadership Team</abbr> formed</li>
<li>[ ] <abbrtitle="Provides scientific oversight, peer review, and sustainability validation. Can halt advancement if standards aren't met.">Science Team</abbr> review passed</li>
<p>Each phase ensures what’s being built is wanted, sound, and fully owned by the community before advancing. Built-in checkpoints—majority votes and scientific reviews—keep momentum aligned with trust and quality at every step.</p>
<p><strong>Next:</strong> See how <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> teams, roles, and workflows make collective building a reality.</p>
<p>To create real, relevant technology, a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> can’t just be a loose network—it needs to be a productive, living system. But if nobody has absolute power—not even a CEO—how do decisions get made and meaningful work actually happen? The answer: the <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> is a new kind of “organism” built for collective intelligence and self-organization.</p>
<h3id="democratic-by-nature-military-in-execution">Democratic by Nature, Military in Execution<aclass="headerlink"href="#democratic-by-nature-military-in-execution"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>A <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> is a unique sociotechnical organism that combines democratic governance with military-precision execution. This hybrid design solves a fundamental challenge: how to maintain collective ownership while actually getting things done.</p>
<p><strong>We are democratic where it matters most</strong>: In the General Forum, every citizen has equal voice, equal vote, equal responsibility. Here we decide WHAT we build and WHY—our mission, values, and strategic direction.</p>
<p><strong>We are disciplined where speed matters</strong>: In the <abbrtitle="The centralized collaboration platform where workers manage objectives and tasks.">Workplace</abbr>, we apply military-inspired command structures and proven operational processes. Here we decide HOW we build—with clear roles, accountability, and chains of command.</p>
<h3id="smartup-anatomy"><abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Anatomy<aclass="headerlink"href="#smartup-anatomy"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>If you could slice a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> open, you’d see something that looks more like a living ecosystem than a traditional corporate pyramid. Instead of strict hierarchy and top-down control, power and responsibility are distributed through a holacratic structure: <strong>nested groups, each supporting the whole.</strong></p>
<p><em>“Holacracy is a new way of structuring and running your organization that replaces the conventional management hierarchy. Instead of top-down, power is distributed throughout, giving individuals and teams more freedom to self-manage, while staying aligned to the organization’s purpose.”</em><br/>
<p>In a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr>, these circles are groups—each one crucial for the whole, each one depending on—and empowering—the next.</p>
<h2id="the-six-groups-of-productivity"><spanclass="twemoji"><svgxmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"viewBox="0 0 24 24"><pathd="M12 0 3 7l1.63 1.27L12 14l7.36-5.73L21 7zm7.37 10.73L12 16.47l-7.38-5.73L3 12l9 7 9-7zm0 5L12 21.47l-7.38-5.73L3 17l9 7 9-7z"/></svg></span> The Six Groups of Productivity<aclass="headerlink"href="#the-six-groups-of-productivity"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h2>
<p>A <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> is designed so that all ownership, work, and governance flow through six nested groups.<br/>
<p><strong>The heart of the <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr></strong></p>
<p>All citizens (owners) gather here to discuss, propose, vote, and oversee everything. It's the public square for collective direction and accountability.</p>
<p><strong>Members:</strong> All <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> owners<br/>
<strong>Moderated by:</strong><abbrtitle="Strategic core of Smartup creation phases. Composed of all Team Captains and the initiating entrepreneur.">Leadership Team</abbr></p>
<strong>Moderated by:</strong><abbrtitle="Strategic core of Smartup creation phases. Composed of all Team Captains and the initiating entrepreneur.">Leadership Team</abbr></p>
<strong>Moderated by:</strong><abbrtitle="Elected leader of a Team. Manages roles, budgets, tasks, and represents the team in Leadership.">Team Captain</abbr></p>
<p>In each team, workers apply for roles that fit their talents—UX designer, developer, communicator. <abbrtitle="Functional positions within Teams (e.g., Frontend Developer). Define skillset, tasks, and compensation.">Roles</abbr> define responsibility and access.</p>
<strong>Moderated by:</strong><abbrtitle="Elected leader of a Team. Manages roles, budgets, tasks, and represents the team in Leadership.">Team Captain</abbr></p>
- General Forum contains → <abbrtitle="The centralized collaboration platform where workers manage objectives and tasks.">Workplace</abbr><br>
- <abbrtitle="The centralized collaboration platform where workers manage objectives and tasks.">Workplace</abbr> contains → Teams <br>
- Teams contain → <abbrtitle="Functional positions within Teams (e.g., Frontend Developer). Define skillset, tasks, and compensation.">Roles</abbr><br>
- <abbrtitle="Functional positions within Teams (e.g., Frontend Developer). Define skillset, tasks, and compensation.">Roles</abbr> work on → <abbrtitle="Defined missions or sprints within Teams, breaking vision into actionable missions.">Objectives</abbr><br>
- <abbrtitle="Defined missions or sprints within Teams, breaking vision into actionable missions.">Objectives</abbr> break into → Tasks<br>
This creates clear accountability chains while maintaining democratic oversight at the top.</p>
<h2id="the-metabolism-how-a-smartup-lives-and-breathes"><spanclass="twemoji"><svgxmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"viewBox="0 0 24 24"><pathd="M1 21h22L12 2"/></svg></span> The Metabolism - How a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Lives and Breathes<aclass="headerlink"href="#the-metabolism-how-a-smartup-lives-and-breathes"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h2>
<divclass="admonition info">
<pclass="admonition-title">What is this?</p>
<p>If the 6 Groups show a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr>'s anatomy (structure), the metabolism shows how it actually functions—how we communicate, make decisions, and get work done through the <abbrtitle="Attacker–Defender–Midfielder triad. Ensures initiation, review, and automation are always present in work processes.">ADM Triangle</abbr> system powered by the buddy system.</p>
</div>
<p>When we examine a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> as a living organism, we need to understand not just its structure, but how it sustains itself. Just as a body needs circulation and digestion, a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> needs processes for communication, decision-making, and documentation. This is where we discover the <abbrtitle="Attacker–Defender–Midfielder triad. Ensures initiation, review, and automation are always present in work processes.">ADM Triangle</abbr>—the metabolic engine that powers every interaction.</p>
<h3id="the-buddy-system-never-work-alone">The Buddy System: Never Work Alone<aclass="headerlink"href="#the-buddy-system-never-work-alone"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>At the core of our metabolism lies a simple but powerful principle borrowed from military operations: <strong>you never work alone</strong>. In a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr>, every task, every decision, every action involves at least two people working in partnership.</p>
<divclass="admonition tip">
<pclass="admonition-title">Why Buddies Matter</p>
<p>The buddy system serves multiple vital functions:<br>
- <strong>Accountability</strong>: Freedom with responsibility<br>
- <strong>Support</strong>: Help when stuck or overwhelmed <br>
<p><strong>The 90/10 Split</strong>: When a task is completed:
- Worker (Senior) receives 90% of the budget<br>
- Assistant (Junior) receives 10%<br></p>
<p>This isn't just payment for monitoring—it's investment in developing the next generation of senior contributors.</p>
<h3id="the-adm-triangle-our-operating-system">The <abbrtitle="Attacker–Defender–Midfielder triad. Ensures initiation, review, and automation are always present in work processes.">ADM Triangle</abbr>: Our Operating System<aclass="headerlink"href="#the-adm-triangle-our-operating-system"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>Building on the buddy system, every interaction in a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> follows the <strong>Attacker, Defender, Midfielder</strong> (ADM) pattern:</p>
D[Defender/Junior<br/><sub>Learns while ensuring quality</sub>]
M[Midfielder/Bot<br/><sub>Coordinates & documents</sub>]
A <--> M
D <--> M
A -.->|Mentors| D
</code></pre>
<h4id="how-it-works-in-practice">How It Works in Practice<aclass="headerlink"href="#how-it-works-in-practice"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h4>
<divclass="admonition example">
<pclass="admonition-title">ADM in Action: <abbrtitle="Atomic unit of productive work. Defined, assigned, logged; triggers SC payout upon completion.">Task</abbr> Execution</p>
<p><strong>Scenario</strong>: A senior developer takes on the task "Deploy emergency mesh network prototype"<br>
The junior isn't just watching—they're actively learning deployment processes, understanding architectural decisions, and preparing to lead similar tasks in the future.</p>
</div>
<divclass="admonition quote">
<pclass="admonition-title">Learning by Doing</p>
<p>"The assistant learns how the worker solves a specific task and gains knowledge and skills. Defenders are literally learning to become seniors."</p>
</div>
<h3id="beyond-surveillance-a-learning-organization">Beyond Surveillance: A Learning Organization<aclass="headerlink"href="#beyond-surveillance-a-learning-organization"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<divclass="admonition warning">
<pclass="admonition-title">This Isn't About Control</p>
<p>Traditional organizations use monitoring for compliance and control. In a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr>, the buddy system creates a learning environment where:<br>
- Juniors gain real experience with safety nets<br>
- Seniors develop mentoring and leadership skills<br>
- Knowledge spreads organically through the organization<br>
- No one carries administrative burden alone<br>
<strong>The defender role isn't a watchdog—it's an apprenticeship. This transforms what could feel like surveillance into an opportunity for growth.</strong></p>
</div>
<h4id="the-freedom-to-shift-horizontal-career-development">The Freedom to Shift: Horizontal Career Development<aclass="headerlink"href="#the-freedom-to-shift-horizontal-career-development"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h4>
<p>What makes <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> identity truly revolutionary is <strong>voluntary role shifting</strong>. Unlike traditional organizations where you're locked into your expertise, we embrace career fluidity.</p>
<divclass="admonition example">
<pclass="admonition-title">Role Shifting in Practice</p>
<p><strong>Marcus has been a senior backend developer for 5 years. He's excellent at it, but getting bored.</strong><br>
<strong>Traditional Organization</strong>: Marcus is stuck. His value is tied to his seniority in backend. Moving to UX means starting over, losing status and pay.<br>
<strong>In a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr></strong>: Marcus can:<br>
- Continue taking senior backend tasks when he wants (90% as attacker)<br>
- Join the UX team as a junior member<br>
- Take on UX tasks as a defender (10%, learning from senior UX designers)<br>
- Gradually build UX skills while maintaining backend income<br>
- Eventually take on senior UX roles as skills develop<br>
<strong>Result</strong>: Marcus expands his skillset, stays engaged, and the <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> gains a developer who understands both backend AND user experience.</p>
</div>
<divclass="admonition tip">
<pclass="admonition-title">Why This Matters</p>
<p><strong>For Individuals</strong>:
- Never get trapped in a single role<br>
- Learn new skills while earning<br>
- Find renewed passion through variety<br>
- Build cross-functional understanding<br>
<strong>For the <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr></strong>:<br>
- Retain talented people who might otherwise leave from boredom<br>
- Create bridges between teams through shared members<br>
- Build resilience—more people can cover more roles<br>
- Foster innovation through cross-pollination<br></p>
IV[Increased Value<br/><sub>To Individual & Smartup</sub>]
SE -->|Chooses to Explore| JL
JL -->|Learns Through Tasks| ME
ME -->|Creates| IV
IV -->|Enables More| SE</code></pre>
<divclass="admonition quote">
<pclass="admonition-title">Breaking the Specialization Trap</p>
<p>"Traditional organizations want you to stay in your box—it's easier to manage. But humans aren't meant to do one thing forever. A <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> embraces our natural desire to grow, learn, and evolve."</p>
</div>
<p>Why Identity Shifting Matters</p>
<divclass="admonition example">
<pclass="admonition-title">Identity in Action</p>
<p>Sarah is a senior developer who's curious about business development. Watch her fluid day:<br>
<strong>9:00 AM - General Forum</strong>: As a CITIZEN, she votes on strategic direction, her voice equal to everyone's.<br>
<strong>9:30 AM - <abbrtitle="The centralized collaboration platform where workers manage objectives and tasks.">Workplace</abbr></strong>: As a COLLEAGUE, she discusses overall progress in the OSBP.<br>
<strong>10:00 AM - Dev <abbrtitle="Focused group of workers responsible for specific domains (e.g., Development, Design, Media, Business, Operations, Science).">Team</abbr></strong>: As a senior TEAM MEMBER, she guides technical architecture decisions.<br>
<strong>11:00 AM - <abbrtitle="Atomic unit of productive work. Defined, assigned, logged; triggers SC payout upon completion.">Task</abbr> #42</strong>: As an ATTACKER, she codes a critical feature (earning 90% of task value).<br>
<strong>2:00 PM - <abbrtitle="Team responsible for business strategy, marketing, financial planning, and the Official Smartup Business Plan (OSBP).">Business Team</abbr></strong>: As a junior TEAM MEMBER, she joins market research discussions.<br>
<strong>3:00 PM - <abbrtitle="Atomic unit of productive work. Defined, assigned, logged; triggers SC payout upon completion.">Task</abbr> #78</strong>: As a DEFENDER, she assists on a competitor analysis task, learning from the senior business developer (earning 10% while learning).<br>
<strong>End of Day</strong>: Sarah earned well from her senior work AND gained business skills. The <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> gets a developer who understands market pressures.<br></p>
</div>
<divclass="admonition tip">
<pclass="admonition-title">The Power of Context</p>
<p>By explicitly naming who we are in each space, we: <br>
- Prevent power dynamics from poisoning collaboration<br>
- Create psychological safety for honest communication<br>
- Enable rapid context switching without confusion<br>
- Build empathy by experiencing multiple perspectives<br>
- Allow graceful transition between expert and learner modes<br></p>
</div>
<h4id="making-the-shift">Making the Shift<aclass="headerlink"href="#making-the-shift"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h4>
<p>Switching roles in a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> is designed to be frictionless:</p>
<ul>
<li>See an interesting team? Join their public channel <br></li>
<li>Want to learn? Apply for junior roles in that team<br></li>
<li>Keep earning: Maintain senior roles in your expertise area<br></li>
<li>Grow gradually: Take on more advanced tasks as you learn<br></li>
<li>No permission needed: Your career path is yours to design<br></li>
<h3id="identity-protocols-who-we-become-in-each-space">Identity Protocols: Who We Become in Each Space<aclass="headerlink"href="#identity-protocols-who-we-become-in-each-space"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<divclass="admonition info">
<pclass="admonition-title">What is this?</p>
<p>As we move between the 6 groups, we don't just change what we do—we change who we are. These identity protocols teach us how to show up in each space for maximum collective effective$</p>
</div>
<h4id="the-six-identities-we-embody">The Six Identities We Embody<aclass="headerlink"href="#the-six-identities-we-embody"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h4>
<p>Equal voice, equal vote, equal responsibility. Here, the newest contributor has the same rights as the founding team. We debate, propose, and decide as equals.</p>
<p><em>"In this space, I am a citizen with rights and obligations"</em></p>
<p>United by shared mission. We may have different skills and tasks, but we're all building toward the same vision. Collaboration over competition.</p>
<p><em>"In this space, I am a colleague working for our shared idea"</em></p>
<p><strong>Sarah is a senior developer in <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Zero. Watch how she shifts:</strong></p>
<p><strong>9:00 AM - General Forum</strong>: As a CITIZEN, she votes on whether to pursue mesh networking, weighing in equally with designers and business developers.</p>
<p><strong>9:30 AM - <abbrtitle="The centralized collaboration platform where workers manage objectives and tasks.">Workplace</abbr></strong>: As a COLLEAGUE, she reviews the overall <abbrtitle="First pilot project of Smartup Zero—decentralized emergency citizen mesh network prototype.">ONLIFE</abbr> roadmap, offering technical insights while respecting other disciplines.</p>
<p><strong>10:00 AM - Dev <abbrtitle="Focused group of workers responsible for specific domains (e.g., Development, Design, Media, Business, Operations, Science).">Team</abbr></strong>: As a TEAM MEMBER, she coordinates with other developers on the sprint plan.</p>
<p><strong>10:30 AM - Backend Role</strong>: As a PEER, she mentors a junior backend developer struggling with mesh protocols.</p>
<p><strong>11:00 AM - "Build MVP" Objective</strong>: As a SQUAD MEMBER, she syncs with frontend and QA on today's integration.</p>
<p><strong>11:30 AM - <abbrtitle="Atomic unit of productive work. Defined, assigned, logged; triggers SC payout upon completion.">Task</abbr> #42</strong>: As an ATTACKER, she codes the mesh discovery feature while her junior DEFENDER reviews and learns.</p>
</div>
<divclass="admonition tip">
<pclass="admonition-title">The Power of Context</p>
<p>By explicitly naming who we are in each space, we:<br>
- Prevent power dynamics from poisoning collaboration<br>
- Create psychological safety for honest communication<br><br/>
- Enable rapid context switching without confusion<br>
- Build empathy by experiencing multiple perspectives<br></p>
</div>
<p><strong>Learning the Dance</strong>
New contributors often struggle with identity shifting at first. That's normal—we're conditioned by traditional organizations to maintain rigid roles. But with practice, this fluidity becomes natural and empowering.</p>
<p>These aren't just nice ideas—they're operational requirements. In our Matrix/Element spaces, channels are named and moderated to reinforce these identities. Bringing "boss energy" to a peer space or "individual contributor" mindset to the General Forum disrupts our collective intelligence</p>
</div>
<h3id="the-meta-transparency-layer-adm-between-groups">The Meta-Transparency Layer: ADM Between Groups<aclass="headerlink"href="#the-meta-transparency-layer-adm-between-groups"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<divclass="admonition info">
<pclass="admonition-title">What is this?</p>
<p>The <abbrtitle="Attacker–Defender–Midfielder triad. Ensures initiation, review, and automation are always present in work processes.">ADM Triangle</abbr> doesn't just operate within groups—it creates a transparency cascade from the outside world all the way down to individual tasks, ensuring accountability and alignment at every level.</p>
</div>
<p>We've seen how the <abbrtitle="Attacker–Defender–Midfielder triad. Ensures initiation, review, and automation are always present in work processes.">ADM Triangle</abbr> works within each group. But the true power emerges when we see how it connects the groups themselves, creating what we call the <strong>meta-transparency layer</strong>—a complete chain of accountability from public oversight to task execution.</p>
<p>Each group in our 6-layer structure maintains oversight of the group below it through its own <abbrtitle="Attacker–Defender–Midfielder triad. Ensures initiation, review, and automation are always present in work processes.">ADM Triangle</abbr>:</p>
<divclass="grid cards">
<ul>
<li>
<p><spanclass="twemoji lg middle"><svgxmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"viewBox="0 0 24 24"><pathd="M17.9 17.39c-.26-.8-1.01-1.39-1.9-1.39h-1v-3a1 1 0 0 0-1-1H8v-2h2a1 1 0 0 0 1-1V7h2a2 2 0 0 0 2-2v-.41a7.984 7.984 0 0 1 2.9 12.8M11 19.93c-3.95-.49-7-3.85-7-7.93 0-.62.08-1.22.21-1.79L9 15v1a2 2 0 0 0 2 2m1-16A10 10 0 0 0 2 12a10 10 0 0 0 10 10 10 10 0 0 0 10-10A10 10 0 0 0 12 2"/></svg></span><strong><abbrtitle="The public-facing, static website and primary transparency layer for the Smartup Zero experiment. Shows latest progress, business plan, team structure, roles, and documentation.">0_timeline</abbr> → General Forum</strong><br>
<strong>A</strong>: Citizens taking initiative with proposals/votes<br>
<strong>D</strong>: Leadership team ensuring quality moderation<br>
<strong>M</strong>: Bot documents everything to <abbrtitle="The public-facing, static website and primary transparency layer for the Smartup Zero experiment. Shows latest progress, business plan, team structure, roles, and documentation.">0_timeline</abbr><br>
<em>The outside world sees our governance in action</em></p>
<strong>A</strong>: <abbrtitle="Focused group of workers responsible for specific domains (e.g., Development, Design, Media, Business, Operations, Science).">Team</abbr> members taking initiative in teams<br>
<strong>D</strong>: <abbrtitle="Focused group of workers responsible for specific domains (e.g., Development, Design, Media, Business, Operations, Science).">Team</abbr> captains ensuring strategy/budgets<br>
<strong>M</strong>: Bot reports team health to <abbrtitle="The centralized collaboration platform where workers manage objectives and tasks.">Workplace</abbr><br>
<strong>A</strong>: Peers taking initiative in skill areas<br>
<strong>D</strong>: <abbrtitle="Focused group of workers responsible for specific domains (e.g., Development, Design, Media, Business, Operations, Science).">Team</abbr> captain ensuring roles are filled<br>
<strong>M</strong>: Bot reports role coverage to Teams<br>
<strong>M</strong>: Bot reports objective progress to <abbrtitle="Functional positions within Teams (e.g., Frontend Developer). Define skillset, tasks, and compensation.">Roles</abbr><br>
<strong>M</strong>: Bot reports task status to <abbrtitle="Defined missions or sprints within Teams, breaking vision into actionable missions.">Objectives</abbr><br>
<p>Let's follow a decision from inception to execution:<br><br>
<strong>Day 1 - Citizen Initiative</strong>:<br>
In the General Forum, citizens (A) propose adding mesh networking to <abbrtitle="First pilot project of Smartup Zero—decentralized emergency citizen mesh network prototype.">ONLIFE</abbr>. Leadership team (D) facilitates discussion. Bot (M) publishes proposal to <abbrtitle="The public-facing, static website and primary transparency layer for the Smartup Zero experiment. Shows latest progress, business plan, team structure, roles, and documentation.">0_timeline</abbr>.<br><br>
<strong>Day 3 - Vote Passes</strong>:<br>
Colleagues in <abbrtitle="The centralized collaboration platform where workers manage objectives and tasks.">Workplace</abbr> (A) volunteer to implement. Leadership team (D) ensures it fits OSBP. Bot (M) reports commitment to General Forum.<br><br>
<strong>Day 5 - <abbrtitle="Focused group of workers responsible for specific domains (e.g., Development, Design, Media, Business, Operations, Science).">Team</abbr> Forms</strong>:<br>
Dev team members (A) organize around mesh networking. <abbrtitle="Focused group of workers responsible for specific domains (e.g., Development, Design, Media, Business, Operations, Science).">Team</abbr> captain (D) allocates budget and strategy. Bot (M) reports team formation to <abbrtitle="The centralized collaboration platform where workers manage objectives and tasks.">Workplace</abbr>.<br><br>
<strong>Day 7 - <abbrtitle="Functional positions within Teams (e.g., Frontend Developer). Define skillset, tasks, and compensation.">Roles</abbr> Activate</strong>:<br>
Backend peers (A) define mesh protocol skills needed. <abbrtitle="Focused group of workers responsible for specific domains (e.g., Development, Design, Media, Business, Operations, Science).">Team</abbr> captain (D) ensures roles are properly staffed. Bot (M) reports skill gaps to Teams.<br><br>
<strong>Day 10 - Objective Launches</strong>:<br>
Squad members (A) begin "Build Mesh Prototype" objective. Mission leader (D) coordinates resources. Bot (M) reports progress to <abbrtitle="Functional positions within Teams (e.g., Frontend Developer). Define skillset, tasks, and compensation.">Roles</abbr>.<br><br>
<strong>Day 12 - Tasks Execute</strong>:<br>
Senior dev (A) codes mesh discovery feature. Junior dev (D) assists and learns. Bot (M) logs 4 hours work, reports completion to Objective.<br><br>
<strong>Result</strong>: Complete transparency from public proposal to code commit. Every stakeholder can trace the path.</p>
<p>With transparency at every level, we risk drowning in data. That's why the bot middleware is crucial—it filters and summarizes, ensuring each level gets the right amount of detail. Citizens don't see every git commit; task workers don't get flooded with governance debates.</p>
</div>
<p>The meta-transparency layer completes our metabolic system. It ensures that our democratic ideals don't get lost in execution, and our military efficiency doesn't override our collective ownership. Every action is visible, every decision traceable, every contributor accountable—not through surveillance, but through systematic transparency.</p>
<divclass="admonition quote">
<pclass="admonition-title">Douglas Engelbart on Human Capability</p>
<p>"The key thing about all the world's big problems is that they have to be dealt with collectively. If we don't get collectively smarter, we're doomed. A person's effectiveness isn't </p>
<p>A <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> isn't a charity or volunteer project—it's a professional business operation that measures success in SDG progress rather than profit margins. Here we document our economic model: how money flows, how work gets valued, and how ownership creates both efficiency and equity.</p>
</div>
<h3id="the-business-reality">The Business Reality<aclass="headerlink"href="#the-business-reality"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h3>
<p>When we look at traditional approaches to SDG challenges, we see a pattern that keeps failing us. NGOs burn out on donation fatigue, never achieving the scale needed for real impact. Social enterprises start with good intentions but get pulled toward profit over purpose when investors come knocking. Volunteer projects, despite passionate contributors, can't maintain the professional quality that complex global challenges demand.</p>
<p>We need something different—a model that combines business discipline with public good DNA.</p>
<divclass="admonition tip">
<pclass="admonition-title">What Makes a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Different</p>
<p><strong>We are a business that:</strong><br>
- Attracts top talent with fair pay (not volunteerism)<br>
- Maintains professional standards (not hobby quality)<br>
- Measures success in SDG progress (not stock prices)<br>
- Shares ownership equally among builders (not founders/VCs)<br></p>
</div>
<p>This isn't ideological—it's practical. To solve civilization-scale problems, we need civilization-scale operations. That means professional quality, sustainable economics, and aligned incentives from day one.</p>
<divclass="admonition warning">
<pclass="admonition-title">Not Anti-Business, New Business</p>
<p>We're not rejecting capitalism or profit. We're demonstrating that business discipline can serve collective goals when ownership, incentives, and success metrics align with social good. Profit becomes fuel for mission, not the mission itself.</p>
<p>Every <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> needs capital to operate. Instead of selling equity to VCs, we sell membership to our community. But unlike traditional equity, every license—whether €200 or €5000—carries exactly one vote and one equal share of future success.</p>
- Students work on <abbrtitle="First pilot project of Smartup Zero—decentralized emergency citizen mesh network prototype.">ONLIFE</abbr> for real-world experience<br>
- University gets one vote in governance<br>
- Professor acts as designated representative<br>
- Students gain skills building emergency communication systems<br>
- University supports SDG progress while training talent<br>
<strong>Result</strong>: Win-win-win for education, SDGs, and <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr></p>
</div>
<h4id="price-progression-through-phases">Price Progression Through Phases<aclass="headerlink"href="#price-progression-through-phases"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h4>
<p>Early supporters: Take more risk → Pay less <br>
Later joiners: Get more certainty → Pay more <br>
Free tier: Always available → Never excludes<br>
Transparency: Price increases announced in advance<br>
Leadership decides: Each <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> sets based on needs</p>
<p>"Whether you buy a €200 work license or a €5000 organizational license, you get exactly one vote and one equal share. This isn't about how much money you have—it's about joining the mission."</p>
<p>The heart of our business model: fair pay for good work. In early phases without cash, we use <abbrtitle="Tokenized internal currency (1 SC = 1 EUR claim on treasury). Earned through completing tasks.">Smartup Credits</abbr> (SC)—a transparent, task-based currency that converts to euros when treasury allows.</p>
</div>
<h4id="the-sc-system-work-value">The SC System: Work = Value<aclass="headerlink"href="#the-sc-system-work-value"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h4>
<p>At the core of our economy lies a simple principle: <strong>you earn by doing, not by being</strong>.</p>
<strong>Attacker (Senior)</strong>: 90% of task bounty<br>
<strong>Defender (Junior)</strong>: 10% of task bounty<br>
<strong>Why it works</strong>:<br></p>
<ul>
<li>Seniors incentivized to mentor<br></li>
<li>Juniors paid to learn<br></li>
<li>Quality assurance built-in<br></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<divclass="admonition example">
<pclass="admonition-title">SC in Practice</p>
<p><strong><abbrtitle="Atomic unit of productive work. Defined, assigned, logged; triggers SC payout upon completion.">Task</abbr></strong>: "Implement mesh networking protocol"<br>
<strong>Bounty</strong>: 2000 SC (pre-assigned, visible to all)<br>
<strong>Senior Dev (Attacker)</strong>: Claims task, implements solution → 1800 SC<br>
<strong>Junior Dev (Defender)</strong>: Reviews, learns, documents → 200 SC<br>
<strong>Result</strong>: Feature built, knowledge transferred, both paid fairly<br></p>
</div>
<h4id="how-sc-flows-through-the-system">How SC Flows Through the System<aclass="headerlink"href="#how-sc-flows-through-the-system"title="Permanent link">¶</a></h4>
<preclass="mermaid"><code>flowchart TD
T[Task Created<br/>2000 SC bounty]
W[Worker Claims<br/>Becomes Attacker]
A[Assistant Joins<br/>Becomes Defender]
C[Work Completed<br/>Captain Approves]
L[Ledger Updated<br/>SC Minted]
H{Hold or Cash?}
T --> W
W --> A
A --> C
C --> L
L --> H
H -->|Hold SC| F[Future Value<br/>As Treasury Grows]
H -->|Cash Out| R[Redemption Window<br/>FIFO Order]</code></pre>
<p>"The entire ledger lives in public view. Every SC minted, every redemption, every team budget—transparent to all owners. When the CEO of a traditional company gets a €10M bonus while laying off workers, that's the system we're replacing."</p>
<p>Money isn't the only currency that matters. <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> Karma (SK) recognizes contributions that SC can't measure—the teammate who debugs at midnight, the member who mediates conflicts, the captain who builds team morale.</p>
<strong><abbrtitle="Focused group of workers responsible for specific domains (e.g., Development, Design, Media, Business, Operations, Science).">Team</abbr> captain service</strong>: +10 SK/month<br>
<strong>50 SK</strong>: Propose in General Forum<br>
<strong>100 SK</strong>: Apply for <abbrtitle="Elected leader of a Team. Manages roles, budgets, tasks, and represents the team in Leadership.">Team Captain</abbr><br>
<strong>200 SK</strong>: Lead Missions<br>
<strong>500 SK</strong>: Join <abbrtitle="Strategic core of Smartup creation phases. Composed of all Team Captains and the initiating entrepreneur.">Leadership Team</abbr><br>
<strong>Vote weight</strong>: Max 1.5x at 500+ SK<br></p>
<strong><abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr> approach</strong>:<br>
<p>"In Silicon Valley, they optimize for 'unicorns'—billion-dollar individuals. We optimize for collective intelligence. SK ensures those who make everyone better get recognized, not just those who code fastest."</p>
<p>How money flows in, how it's allocated, and why our operational model creates competitive advantages over traditional tech companies—all while staying true to SDG missions.</p>
This isn't ideological purity—it's practical. The moment we take traditional investment, incentives distort toward profit extraction rather than SDG impact.</p>
<p><strong>Dev <abbrtitle="Elected leader of a Team. Manages roles, budgets, tasks, and represents the team in Leadership.">Team Captain</abbr></strong>: "We need 5000 SC for mesh protocol development"<br>
<strong><abbrtitle="Handles UX, interface, branding, prototyping, and design blueprints. Works closely with Development and Science Teams.">Design Team</abbr> Captain</strong>: "We need 3000 SC for UI/UX research"<br>
<strong><abbrtitle="Team responsible for business strategy, marketing, financial planning, and the Official Smartup Business Plan (OSBP).">Business Team</abbr> Captain</strong>: "We need 2000 SC for market analysis"<br><br>
<strong><abbrtitle="Strategic core of Smartup creation phases. Composed of all Team Captains and the initiating entrepreneur.">Leadership Team</abbr></strong> compiles requests, checks against treasury<br>
<strong>General Forum</strong> sees all requests, debates priorities<br>
<strong>Vote</strong> determines final allocation<br>
<p>These aren't fixed—each <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr>'s <abbrtitle="Strategic core of Smartup creation phases. Composed of all Team Captains and the initiating entrepreneur.">Leadership Team</abbr> proposes budgets based on real needs. Building emergency communication needs different resources than water purification. The General Forum approves based on transparent justification.</p>
<p><strong>Every owner can see in real-time:</strong><br>
- Total funds in Open Collective<br>
- Outstanding SC liabilities<br>
- <abbrtitle="Focused group of workers responsible for specific domains (e.g., Development, Design, Media, Business, Operations, Science).">Team</abbr> budget allocations<br>
- Individual task payments<br>
- Redemption window status<br></p>
<divclass="admonition quote">
<pclass="admonition-title">Trust Through Transparency</p>
<p>"In traditional startups, employees discover the burn rate when layoffs hit. In a <abbrtitle="A digital cooperative that builds tools for resilience and SDG advancement through trustworthy collective systems.">Smartup</abbr>, every citizen watches the treasury like it's their own bank account—because it is."</p>
Society Of Solutions is a global open cooperative running as an unincorporated alliance and transparently funded via <ahref="https://opencollective.com"target="_blank"rel="noopener">Open Collective</a>.
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