Co-op business incubator... self-funding its own operational and venture capital needs

I am an 80 year old former U.S. Marine just returned to the Seattle area, from three years of volunteering as an AmeriCorps VISTA; a lifetime journey that started in the great depression, has now inspired me to assemble a new ownership paradigm.

A uniquely different way of assembling individuals and ideas into new opportunities, by initiating clusters of worker co-operatives and self-funding, through local ownership, its own operational and venture capital needs, creating new wealth and building businesses that are owned and operated by hands-on workers and co-op members… keeping all of the profits.

My hope is you will see the possibilities of www.OurIdeaFactory.com

A complete business plan is available… care to explore this solution further?

11 Bizniks have posted replies

Posted by Terra Vita, Puget Sound, Washington | Apr 17, 2009

Hi David, Welcome and what a fabulous idea! I am sure you will get an enthusiastic response here. Kind regards, Terra I was a VISTA volunteer a million years ago.
Posted by Miles Austin, Redmond, Washington | Apr 17, 2009

David, I love your approach. I have bookmarked your site and look forward to learning more over the weekend.
Posted by Liz Pritchard, Aurora, Colorado | Apr 17, 2009

Welcome David. Great ideas. Looking forward to hearing more about your co-op.

Liz Pritchard, MA
Mental Health Counseling & Consulting
www.lizpritchardconsulting.com
Posted by David Pauling, Bellevue, Washington | Apr 17, 2009

Terra, Miles, and Liz... thanks for your kind reponce... changing the way it is into the way it ought to be... may be one of the hardest tasks I've ever undertaken... but... I have always believed anyone can eat an elephant, if they take one bite at a time... care to help me chew on this one?
Posted by Judy Dunn, Seattle, Washington | Apr 17, 2009

Well, David, you had me at the AmericCorps VISTA volunteering. I look forward to learning more about you and your venture.

Welcome to Biznik!

Web Copywriter & Blogger
Posted by David Pauling, Bellevue, Washington | Apr 17, 2009

Welcome Judy... you've hit my major fault.. I am totally technologically challenged... I know what I'm trying to do but I am severely hampered by my inability to utilize the internet for all that it's worth... to really spread the word.

Katrina was my VISTA wakeup call... so much too do... never enough skill to get it all done.
Posted by Judy Dunn, Seattle, Washington | Apr 17, 2009

You will learn! It's just exploring. Like playing in a sandbox. I was about as low-tech as you can get but it just took some practice.

I was teaching English to immigrant children from VietNam in the 80s when the first wave of technology hit the schools. I didn't go through the training because those kids had higher priority needs at the time. I have regretted it ever since because I was always playing catch up after that.

Web Copywriter & Blogger
Posted by Ed Keeley, Seattle, Washington | Apr 19, 2009

Hi David Nice to "meet" you. Just saw your website and am very interested in learning a little more about it.
Love to chat with you sometime. Ed
Posted by David Pauling, Bellevue, Washington | Apr 19, 2009

Ed... I'm a constantly unretired retiree... committed to my cause... hence, I can always find time for a chat... E-mail is dp1928@hotmail.com
Posted by Anthony Giannette, Renton, Washington | Oct 28, 2009

David, Sounds promising. Will we see an article or essay on your brainchild?

Who's watching your business dollar?
Posted by Christian Jacobsen, Seattle, Washington | 3 weeks ago

Hello David, and welcome to Biznik!

I looked at the OIF web site, and I like your idea. I tend to be a "practical minded" guy, so I look for how these ideas get implemented on the ground. So I would like to talk to you more about your idea...

In the past, incubators I have been involved with have not been sustainable due to the "flight problem", as I think of it. Once the chicks have hatched and are eating well, they need to spread their wings and leave the nest. But few find they can fly on their first departure from the nest, and crash to the ground.

A key part of the incubator model needs to be the transitions... how do new companies come in, and how do existing companies transition out of the incubator environment, to fly on their own?

Wow... I do love these "business process" problems!

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