FAQ’S

A: A startup society is fundamentally a small-scale experiment in governance, often within a defined territory, where new ideas and models for organizing communities are tested. Think of it like a startup company, but instead of innovating in business, we’re innovating in how societies are run. For centuries, people have created enclaves to explore different ways of living and governing, and today’s startup societies continue this tradition, aiming to make the world a more diverse and competitive place. 

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A: Startup societies come in various forms:

Physical Startup Societies: These are actual places where people live and interact, often focused on a specific lifestyle or social issue. Examples include new cities, eco-villages, and intentional communities.

Legal Startup Societies: These are areas within a host country that have their own unique laws and regulations, often designed to attract investment and boost economic activity. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) like Shenzhen and Dubai, and charter cities like Próspera, are prime examples.

Digital Startup Societies: These are online communities that use digital platforms and technologies to interact, share information, and even govern themselves, often outside of traditional centralized authorities. Blockchains and Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) are examples.

A: The Startup Societies Foundation is a non-profit organization with the mission to connect, educate, and empower small territorial experiments in government around the world. We believe that by fostering a global network and providing resources, we can help these innovative societies succeed and contribute to a better future for everyone. We study, promote, and connect startup societies through international conferences, investment summits, digital content, and academic research.

A: In a world where many are dissatisfied with existing governments, startup societies offer a way to build alternatives. We provide spaces to experiment with new ideas in governance, potentially leading to improved public services and greater individual freedom. By creating a diverse and competitive landscape of governance models, we can drive innovation and ultimately improve lives.

A: A wide range of people and organizations are involved, including entrepreneurs, policymakers, technologists, urban planners, economists, investors, and individuals seeking alternative ways of life. This includes special economic zones, eco-villages, intentional communities, seasteads, smart cities, private cities, and digital communities. In digital startup societies, founders play a crucial role in establishing the initial values, and members unite around these shared principles.

A: We support startup societies by:

Connecting: Building a global network to link often isolated startup societies, enabling them to share valuable connections, information, and resources. 


Educating: Providing essential knowledge and insights related to creating and operating these experimental governance structures. 


Empowering: Offering support to these small-scale experiments, enabling them to thrive and contribute to a more diverse and competitive global landscape of governance. 


Organizing Conferences and Summits: Hosting international events to facilitate networking, knowledge sharing, and investment opportunities. 


Creating Digital Content: Sharing information, research, and stories about startup societies to raise awareness and educate the public. 


Supporting Academic Research: Encouraging and promoting scholarly studies to build a deeper understanding of startup societies.

A: Absolutely! Throughout history and in modern times, there have been many examples of areas with unique governance structures that have achieved significant success. These include:

Shenzhen, China: A remarkable transformation from a small village into a global economic powerhouse through its designation as a Special Economic Zone.

Dubai, UAE: A global hub for trade, tourism, and finance, largely due to its various free zones with favorable business regulations.

Singapore: A leading global financial and technological center thanks to strategic governance and business-friendly policies.

Cayman Island Enterprise City: Successfully attracting technology and service companies with tax exemptions and streamlined visa processes.

Próspera, Honduras: A contemporary example of a charter city aiming to foster innovation and economic growth with a flexible regulatory system.

A: Like any innovative idea, the concept of startup societies has faced some criticisms. These often include concerns about potential neocolonial implications, issues related to land rights, and the challenges of governance and accountability in new, autonomous zones. The Startup Societies Foundation is committed to fostering responsible and ethical development of these new models, emphasizing transparency and community engagement.

A: Like any innovative idea, the concept of startup societies has faced some criticisms. These often include concerns about potential neocolonial implications, issues related to land rights, and the challenges of governance and accountability in new, autonomous zones. The Startup Societies Foundation is committed to fostering responsible and ethical development of these new models, emphasizing transparency and community engagement.

A: Throughout history, innovators have sought to create enclaves to escape limitations or obstacles in existing institutional structures. The United States itself was founded by individuals seeking to escape religious persecution in Europe, serving as an early example of a startup society.

A: While many startup societies, particularly Special Economic Zones, focus on attracting investment and fostering economic growth, they can also be centered around social issues, communal living, sustainability, or specific technological advancements. The Startup Societies Foundation supports a diverse range of models.

A: No, the Startup Societies Foundation does not endorse any particular ideology or ideal society. We believe in testing a multiplicity of options, from privately run cities to collectivized communes, and evaluating their success based on empirical evidence.

A: The foundation supports academic studies related to startup societies to build a robust understanding of the field and potentially lend academic credibility to the movement.

A: Factors often include a clear vision, a favorable regulatory environment, the ability to attract investment and talent, community engagement, and effective governance mechanisms. Historical examples like Shenzhen and Dubai highlight the impact of strategic policies and business-friendly conditions.

A: The foundation aims to foster the development of fundamental alternatives to traditional systems of politics, business, culture, and technology through the creation and support of diverse startup societies. We believe this can lead to greater innovation and improved societal outcomes globally.

A: The Startup Societies Foundation views startup societies as a form of decentralized governance that can react to over-centralization, much like an immune system responds to infection. By fostering diverse, smaller-scale experiments, we aim to create a more resilient and adaptable global landscape of governance.

A: The principles and best practices learned from studying and supporting startup societies can potentially be applied to rejuvenate existing rural and urban neighborhoods by implementing innovative policies and governance models.

A: The foundation organizes international conferences and investment summits to bring together individuals, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors interested in innovative governance and to facilitate networking and investment in the field.

A: The Startup Societies Foundation’s formal base of operations is in Wyoming, but our team is spread across the world, including Charlotte (USA), Barranquilla and Bogotá (Colombia).

A: Joe McKinney is the founder and President of the board of the Startup Societies Foundation. It is managed on a day-to-day basis by its Managing Director, Nathalie Mezza-Garcia.

A: Yes, the book “Founding Startup Societies: A Step-by-Step Guide” by Mark Frazier and Joseph McKinney offers comprehensive information on how to build startup societies, drawing from research and fieldwork across numerous countries.

A: It’s important to note that “Startup Society” can also refer to a platform focused on online business development, like the one associated with Gillian Perkins. The Startup Societies Foundation specifically focuses on the innovation of governance through territorial and digital experiments.

A: You can stay updated by visiting our website at startupsocieties.com, following our digital content, and considering attending our upcoming conferences and summits.