What is a startup society?

Here are some examples.

Tap each image Below

Shenzhen

Special Economic Zone

Regen Villages

Eco Village

Liechtenstein

Microstate

Celebration

Intentional Community

French Polynesia

Seastead

Dubai

Smart City

What do these have in common?

All of these are startup societies.

A startup society is typically a small territorial experiment in government. For centuries, innovators have created enclaves to escape institutional barriers. America itself was created to escape religious persecution in Europe. The startup societies of today are making the world into a more diverse and competitive place.

Just like business startups, startup societies are:

Small

Experimental

Often focused on technology

Responsive to those they serve

Useful if they fail because they provide useful data when they do

Able to generate enormous prosperity when they succeed

Balaji S. Srinivasan

@balajis

Don't argue about regulation. Build Uber.
Don't argue about monetary policy. Build Bitcoin.
Don't argue about it. Build the alternative.

~N

Balaji S. Srinivasan, Startup Societies Foundation Advisor

What is Startup Societies Foundation?

Startup societies (SEZs, eco villages, micro states, intentional communities, seasteads and smart cities) typically operate in isolation. No support network. This leads to a greater likelihood of failure due to a lack of connections, information and resources.

Startup Societies Foundation studies, promotes, and connects startup societies. We want to create a vibrant, global startup societies industry through international conferences, investment summits, digital content and academic studies.

"OUR MISSION IS TO CONNECT, EDUCATE AND EMPOWER SMALL TERRITORIAL EXPERIMENTS IN GOVERNMENT — ALL OVER THE WORLD."

WE INTEND TO BUILD ALTERNATIVES TO TRADITIONAL POLITICS, BUSINESS, CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY.

The Principle of Exit

If startup societies allow ease of exit and competition, a bad political philosophy/practice can be easily overcome.

THE PRINCIPLE OF EXIT EITHER:

Puts competitive pressure on a bad startup society to improve; or

Ends it altogether

Citizens can simply leave.

However, if exit is not reasonably possible, bad startup societies can tyrannize and impoverish its citizens. Our basic principle behind our criteria is:

"Startup societies must not unduly increase the cost of exit and prevent experimentation and improvement."

Our 10 Rules for Startup Societies

Democide.

Arbitrary laws.

Impossible cost to exit.

Surveillance for blackmail.

Psychological control without freedom of speech.

Torture.

Ignoring sovereignty.

Fraud.

Red market economy.

Aggressive military action.