The Ownership Economy
Welcome to the Ownership Economy podcast, the podcast that explores the people and ideas that are utilizing technology, economics, and the law to reimagine how the economy can work for everyone. Here we connect with the entrepreneurs, investors, thought-leaders, academics, and politicians that are constructing a better economy, one based on broad-based ownership and democratic governance. Hosted by Martin Smith and Jahed Momand, two investors and operators that aim to use this platform to showcase the people and ideas that will shape more inclusive economies.
Show episodes
Episode 079 - The Future of Business: Can Purpose-Driven Companies Outcompete the Giants? With Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia
Building a purpose-driven business isn't for the faint of heart. In this episode, Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia, provides a candid account of the challenges he faced in transforming his company into a steward-owned entity. We'll hear about the unexpected legal hurdles he encountered in Germany, the complexities of
Episode 078 - From Chocolate to Co-ops: Real-World Examples of Alternative Ownership in Action, with Julie Menter of Transform Finance
What if there was a better way to do business — one that prioritizes people and planet while delivering profits? Join us as we talk to Julie Menter, Program Director at Transform Finance, about alternative ownership enterprises (AOEs). Julie breaks down complex concepts like ESOPs, worker cooperatives, and golden share
Episode 077 - Building a Shopify for Marketplaces: Juho Makkonen on ShareTribe and Steward Ownership
In 2008, Juho Makkonen and his co-founder built what was essentially Facebook Marketplace before Facebook Marketplace. Their student-focused platform at Aalto University in Helsinki quickly morphed into ShareTribe, a company that empowers entrepreneurs to create their own online marketplaces. ShareTribe offers a powerf
Episode 076 - Beyond Demonstration Projects: Scaling Shared Ownership for Impact with Nathan Schneider
Nathan Schneider returns to the Ownership Economy Podcast to discuss strategies for building a more equitable economy through shared ownership. He argues that we need to create new "destinations" for cooperative businesses to thrive. While there's a lot of energy focused on supporting co-ops in their early stages, he b
Episode 075 - Bridging the 40X Renter Wealth Equity Gap: How Viva Benefits is Disrupting the Housing Market, with Dr. Michael Barnes CEO at Viva Benefits
Can you build wealth without owning a home? Dr. Michael Barnes, founder of Viva Benefits, believes you can. In this episode, we trace Michael's journey from teaching in under-resourced communities to starting a tech company that's tackling the housing crisis head-on. Discover how Viva Benefits is providing renters with
Episode 074 - Beyond Mega Funds: Democratizing Clean Energy Investment, with Adam Silver, CEO of Plural Energy
In this episode, we sit down with Adam Silver, CEO and co-founder of Plural, a company that's revolutionizing the way we invest in renewable energy. Adam explains how Plural is using blockchain technology to make these investments more accessible and efficient, allowing anyone to own a piece of the clean energy future.
