Barcelona
Ownership Economy is building the infrastructure, community, and standards for a more inclusive economic model where people have a meaningful stake in the organizations, platforms, and systems they help create. Through community-building, certification, education, partnerships, and capital mobilization, Ownership Economy aims to accelerate the adoption of shared ownership models across companies, startups, investors, workers, creators, and communities. We currently run two events in Barcelona and New York each year, run the world’s leading podcast on the Ownership Economy, and have incubated a certification and platform for Ownership Economy companies. We are seeking a mission-driven co-founder to help build and scale the next phase of Ownership Economy. This is a full time, equity compensation role (anticipate equity only for first 12 months) located in either Barcelona or NYC. Candidates must already have their residency status secured. Role Overview The Co-Founder will be responsible for turning Ownership Economy into a trusted movement, platform, and certification ecosystem. This person will lead community growth, scale the certification model, build strategic partnerships, and help raise the capital needed to expand the organization’s reach and impact. This is a founder-level role for someone who is entrepreneurial, highly networked, commercially sharp, and deeply committed to rethinking ownership, wealth creation, and participation in the economy. Key Responsibilities 1. Build the Community and Platform Lead the development of Ownership Economy as a vibrant, trusted, and high-value community. Responsibilities include: • Define and grow the core community of founders, investors, companies, workers, creators, policymakers, and ecosystem partners., • Build engagement strategies across events, digital platforms, working groups, newsletters, content, and member experiences., • Develop the platform strategy, including community features, member tools, educational resources, certification workflows, and partner directories., • Create a strong brand voice and movement narrative around ownership, participation, and economic inclusion., • Establish partnerships with aligned organizations, accelerators, funds, universities, nonprofits, and companies., • Turn the community into a source of insight, advocacy, deal flow, certification demand, and long-term institutional credibility. 2. Scale the Certification Own the growth and credibility of the Ownership Economy certification. Responsibilities include: • Refine the certification value proposition for companies, platforms, investors, and other organizations., • Build scalable processes for certification applications, assessments, renewals, audits, and reporting., • Develop certification standards in collaboration with experts, advisors, community members, and external stakeholders., • Drive adoption of the certification across target sectors and markets., • Create pricing, packaging, and revenue models for certification., • Build trust in the certification through transparency, governance, quality control, and public recognition., • Identify opportunities for certification to become a market signal for talent, consumers, investors, and partners. 3. Raise Capital Help secure the funding required to grow Ownership Economy into a durable and influential institution. Responsibilities include: • Develop and execute a capital-raising strategy across philanthropic capital, grants, sponsorships, strategic partnerships, earned revenue, and investment where appropriate., • Build relationships with foundations, impact investors, family offices, corporate partners, ecosystem funders, and aligned high-net-worth individuals., • Prepare fundraising materials, pitch decks, grant proposals, financial models, and impact narratives., • Represent Ownership Economy in investor, donor, and partner conversations., • Design revenue streams that support long-term sustainability, including membership, certification, sponsorship, events, research, and platform services., • Work with other co-founders and advisors to structure the organization for growth, governance, and capital efficiency. Ideal Candidate The ideal candidate is a builder, storyteller, fundraiser, and ecosystem leader who can move between vision and execution. You may be a strong fit if you have: • Founder, executive, or senior leadership experience in startups, platforms, communities, nonprofits, certification bodies, impact organizations, or venture ecosystems., • A deep interest in ownership models, employee ownership, cooperative models, stakeholder capitalism, Web3, creator economies, economic justice, or inclusive capitalism., • Proven ability to build communities, movements, networks, or platforms from early stages., • Experience creating or scaling programs, certifications, standards, marketplaces, or membership organizations., • Demonstrated success in fundraising, business development, partnerships, sponsorships, or capital formation., • Strong communication skills, including storytelling, public speaking, writing, and pitching., • High credibility with founders, investors, institutions, and mission-aligned partners., • Comfort operating in ambiguity and building systems from scratch., • Strong strategic judgment and the ability to prioritize across many opportunities., • A collaborative, low-ego, mission-first approach to leadership. What Success Looks Like Within the first 12–18 months, this co-founder will help Ownership Economy: • Build an active and engaged community of early members, partners, and advocates., • Launch or improve the digital platform supporting community, certification, and resources., • Establish a clear, credible, and scalable certification framework., • Certify an initial cohort of companies or organizations., • Secure strategic partnerships that expand reach and legitimacy., • Raise meaningful capital to fund the next stage of growth., • Develop early revenue streams and a path toward long-term sustainability., • Position Ownership Economy as a trusted voice and standard-setter in the ownership economy movement. How to Apply Interested candidates should share their CV and a cover letter with: • A short note explaining their connection to the mission., • Relevant experience building communities, platforms, certifications, partnerships, or capital strategies., • Examples of organizations, movements, or products they have helped build or scale., • Your perspective on the future of the ownership economy.
