The Smartup Experiment - Overview

What is this?

Your quick guide to understanding Smartups — a new kind of organization that fixes what's broken in how we build technology for global challenges. Each section links to detailed explanations.

---

Just give me the abstract

The Smartup Hypothesis is a set of rules, processes, workflows, and tools that together form an operating system designed to help large groups collaborate transparently, efficiently, and mission-driven toward tools for the SDGs.

In essence, we're building a better toolkit for future generations. The system is described below as a living organism. We’ll dive into its natural habitat, anatomy, and metabolism.

In a Smartup, "citizens" work collaboratively and interchangeably on ideas that break old paradigms and reveal new ways forward. It is an organization designed to create tools for people to work both on and within their communities.

What's a Smartup?

A Smartup is the opposite of a startup. Instead of racing toward an exit for venture capitalists, we're building sustainable technology businesses that tackle UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The key difference: Everyone who contributes owns an equal share. Everyone sees every decision. Everyone focuses on impact — not stock prices.

The Three System Adjustments

We identified three system faults blocking SDG progress. Here's how Smartups fix them:

Social Adjustment

From "Hamsters in the Wheel" to Collective Power

The Problem
People feel powerless, trapped in systems that benefit from their distraction.
Our Fix
Democratic ownership and governance where every contributor has equal voice and stake.

Key innovations:

• The 6 Groups structure
• ADM Triangle
• Buddy System
• Identity Protocols

Explore the social subsystem

---

Technical Adjustment

From "Isolated Users" to Collective Intelligence

The Problem
Technology treats us as individual consumers, not collaborating citizens.
Our Fix
Tools and economics designed for group productivity.

Key innovations:

• Dual Currency System
• Four License Model
• EU-Sovereign Tech Stack
• Transparent Treasury

Explore the technical subsystem

---

External Adjustment

From "Distorted Incentives" to Planetary Focus

The Problem
National interests and profit motives override global needs.
Our Fix
Digital-first organizations beyond borders.

Key innovations:

• Borderless operations (work from anywhere)
• Equal pay globally (same task = same pay)
• Defocused from politics
• Future UN recognition as planetary entities

Explore the external subsystem

---

Quick Start Guide

• How do I join? ---

  1. Visit Open Collective
  2. Choose your license type
  3. Enter our Matrix space

  See license options

• How do I earn? ---

  1. Find tasks in Forgejo
  2. Complete work
  3. Earn Smartup Credits
  4. Cash out when treasury allows

  Learn about SC

• What are my rights? ---

  • Equal vote in decisions
  • Equal ownership share
  • Access to all information
  • Choose your own path

  See governance model

• What are we building? --- Currently: ONLIFE
  Emergency communication
  Works without internet
  Open source forever

  Track progress

---

Why This Matters

For You
Fair pay, equal ownership, learn while earning, work on meaningful problems.

For the Planet
Professional teams building real solutions for SDGs — not another ad platform.

The Bottom Line

"We're proving that business discipline and public good aren't opposites. You can build professional technology companies that pay fairly, share ownership equally, and stay focused on what matters: solving humanity's biggest challenges."

---

Ready to Dive Deeper?

Social Innovation
How we organize collectively
Explore Social Subsystem

Technical Innovation
How we work and get paid
Explore Technical Subsystem

External Innovation
How we transcend borders
Explore External Subsystem

---

Start from Why
Understand the problems first
Read the Observation

Join the Movement
Become part of Smartup Zero
Start Contributing

---