*UPDATE*<p>Hey everyone! The response to this post has been really great and encouraging. Unfortunately we had to close our general admission bc the response was too much for a zoom call...oops! If you want to stay in touch or interested, but can't buy a ticket at this point please check out our google form. Thank you!!
<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhUEMiZnaWbHAhhioCuB4MotsYf1Mo3NVIEe-FFK0ptYi3Zg/viewform?usp=sf_link" rel="nofollow">https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhUEMiZnaWbHAhhioC...</a><p>------<p>Hey folks, I'm Vivek! I'm excited to share my vision for ending the plastic epidemic and The Sustainable CO-OP Store.<p>Our vision is to create an Amazon-like online store, along with a physical location, but only for sustainable friendly products.<p>Instead of building this startup as a traditional investor-backed company, we have decided to create it as a worked-own cooperative. There are many reasons why worker-owned co-ops are amazing. Greater financial equality between all workers, increased business stability, a democratic workplace, community-centric and much more. Still, the thing that I believe is most powerful about a worker-owned co-op is that it's mission-driven over financially driven.<p>When we complain about how farms use various chemicals in our food or how social media companies are continually trying to get us to use their apps, it's because these companies are under pressure to grow their profits--quarter after quarter, year after year. They have investors who demand growth, which often forces them to compromise their products and services to meet these demands.<p>Worker-owned co-ops generally don't have those same pressures because the workers, not the investors, own the business. And because the workers get paid a salary or wages, they aren't stressed whether the company grows or not. They instead can focus on whatever they determine is most important, whether that be job security, profitability, the product, or something else.<p>We have our first general meeting tonight, and we're looking for folks who are passionate about the environment and may be interested in getting involved (it isn't a full-time thing yet). For this idea to succeed, having a few enthusiastic software developers will be essential. If this sounds like you, this meeting will be of interest.<p>I hope to see you tonight! Thank you<p>PS. If you want to learn more clearly about the difference between a startup and a co-op, I made a video on YouTube. Enjoy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNJupnV6SgA&t=6s" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNJupnV6SgA&t=6s</a>