Startup Societies Foundation

Research on how communities are governed

We are a nonprofit advancing research and public education on special jurisdictions, startup societies and experimental governance. Explore academic research, policy papers and educational events about the institutions that shape communities.

Research and publications

OPEN-ACCESS RESEARCH

Journal of Special Jurisdictions

Our open-access journal examines the theory, legal design and practical experience of special jurisdictions. Issue VI (2025), Theory, Practice & Stability, explores legal foundations, autonomy and long-term institutional design.

Institute for Decentralized Governance

Explore working papers and policy research on special jurisdictions, governance reform and institutional design, including earlier publications under the Institute for Competitive Governance name.

Founding Startup Societies

Mark Frazier and Joseph McKinney’s step-by-step guide considers how founders and communities can approach the design and development of new governance projects.

Conferences and educational events

Our event archive documents discussions among researchers, practitioners and interested communities. Explore photographs and records from gatherings including the Crypto Cities Summit at Vitalia (2025).

Crypto Cities Summit at Vitalia, 2025.

About the Foundation

We connect research on physical communities, special legal frameworks and digital governance. Our publications and public resources help readers examine different approaches and their limits.

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Help us publish research and make educational resources available to the public.

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United States

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Startup Societies Foundation. 2026. All rights reserved