Manifesto #25/100: ?? Startups for Humanity, Not Just for Exit – Funding Innovation Without Selling the Future

?? Short Principle: "Innovation should empower society, not just enrich investors!" ?????

For decades, the startup ecosystem has been hijacked by greedy venture capitalists who exploit founders, kill promising ideas, and prioritize short-term profits over human progress, while keeping wealth and innovation locked within an elite circle. This is not just about money; it is about who dictates the future of technology, healthcare, sustainability, and human progress itself. Instead of fostering real innovation, the system prioritizes rapid scaling and high valuations over lasting impact. Venture capital (VC) has turned startups into assets for speculation, where success is measured by exit strategies, not by the value created for people. ????

But what if we built startups differently? What if founders weren’t pressured to sell out, but instead had the freedom to build sustainable, community-driven enterprises? ????

The time has come to shift from hyper-growth at all costs to a model where startups are funded for longevity, impact, and shared ownership, where funding innovation means empowering society, not enriching a privileged few. ????

?? The Shift: From Exit-Driven to Mission-Driven Startups

? Founders as Stewards, Not Just Sellers ??

• Today, startups are built to be flipped, growing fast just to be sold. Tomorrow, they must be built to last. Alternative funding models like revenue-based financing and co-ownership structures can empower founders to maintain long-term vision. ????

? Investors as Partners, Not Just Speculators ??

• Venture capital is driven by pure greed, demanding 10x returns and forcing founders to abandon their vision in favor of rapid exits that benefit only the elite. Instead, funding models should focus on steady, sustainable growth, ensuring that innovation serves society, not just shareholders. ????

? Distributist Startup Funding: The Key to Unlocking Innovation for Everyone! ??

• The future belongs to co-owned enterprises, where users, customers, and communities participate in governance and profit-sharing. Tokenization of startup investments is the missing link between innovation and economic justice, a tool that allows startups to be owned and funded by those who truly benefit from their success, breaking the monopoly of predatory investors and enabling millions of people - not just the elite, to own a stake in the next big innovation. Crowdfunding platforms built on decentralized blockchain infrastructure are the solution! ????

? Innovation That Serves People, Not Speculation ?

• Today’s startup world chases hype cycles - AI, Web3, and deep tech, often for speculation, not real-world value. We need funding that prioritizes meaningful innovation that serves real human needs, not just trends. ????

??? A Future Where Startups Serve the Many, Not Just the Few

?? Imagine:

• A world where founders retain control of their mission, instead of being pressured into early exits. ????
• Startups where employees, users, and early backers receive long-term ownership, not just outside VCs. ????
• A funding system that rewards long-term impact, not just explosive short-term growth. ????

This isn’t a dream, it’s a revolution already underway. By replacing venture capital monopolies with tokenized, distributist funding models, we ensure that innovation remains a force for human progress, not just financial speculation. New funding models, tokenized economies, and decentralized ownership structures are putting power back into the hands of the people, ensuring that the wealth created by innovation benefits the many, not just the few. ????

?? Time to Reclaim Startup Culture!

The startup revolution must tear down the Wall Street casino that has turned innovation into a tool for the greedy, while real-world solutions struggle for funding. VCs gamble with our future, killing great ideas for their greed and reducing innovation to mere speculation. The tools exist, the demand is clear, and the future of funding is evolving. The only question is: will we stand together and take back control of innovation before it’s too late? ???

The next generation of startups will belong to the people, not to profit-obsessed investors who see companies as nothing more than cash machines, they will be built to last, to serve, and to empower. Let’s create that future together! ????

?? Viva la Revolución! ?? - Assetto Team ?????