Who we are

Founded in 2015 in Brussels, we are a civil society organization (CSO) dedicated to enabling a more human-centric digital future.

As a nonprofit, our mission is to unlock the power of the cooperative Internet, creating frameworks for online ecosystems rooted in collaboration, trust, and equitable governance. By drawing inspiration from natural networks of cooperation, we aim to foster resilient digital systems that prioritize human values over technological imperatives.

 

What we do

We rethink online relationships to create a collaborative Web, where trust, shared interests, and mutual accountability are distributed across networks.

Our approach is grounded in the principles of data cooperatives—democratic, multi-stakeholder models that address pressing challenges in data ownership and management. By integrating insights from the small world phenomenon and designing digital networks that mimic offline dynamics, we could enable shared data spaces that are inclusive, adaptive, and resilient. These spaces could better foster trust, empower communities, and enhance digital collaboration through distributed accountability and equitable governance.

Our work goes beyond technology. We advocate for changes in digital incentives and governance structures to align with natural social dynamics, ensuring that the digital realm becomes a place for cooperation, not just communication.

 

Why we do what we do

Data ownership lies at the heart of the next technological revolution, and data cooperatives are shaping its course.

In a world where interconnectivity defines everything, trust has become a critical enabler of innovation. However, traditional risk-averse models are no longer sufficient. By centering humans—not technology—in this transformation, we close the trust gap, creating digital ecosystems that are both secure and inclusive.

Data cooperatives not only provide governance models for the digital economy but also unlock new economic opportunities for the communities that contribute to these systems. They lead the way in building federated, sovereign architectures that embrace shared accountability and democratize the benefits of the AI-driven economy. Our aim is to turn the internet into a platform for large-scale cooperation that meets humanity’s most urgent challenges.

 
“from Many Embers One Heat is felt... (MEOH)”
— Dante’s Divine Comedy, Paradise, Canto XIX
 

Meet with us

You are welcome to meet with us at these various events.