Wandering Adventure Party

PeerTube Co-op Initiative: Week 2 Update Two weeks ago, this was just an idea. Now, it’s becoming an organization. Since launching the call for a PeerTube co-op, momentum has turned into structure. Over 35 people have expressed interest in becoming founding member-owners, and the Steering Committee has now been formalized. We’re in the orientation phase, preparing to define the co-op’s mission, vision, and bylaws before incorporation in BC. We’re also working closely with GIA Consulting Co-op, who will join our first Steering Committee meeting to help orient the group and guide early governance discussions. Beyond that, conversations are expanding. I’ve been in touch with CoSocial.ca (a Canadian Mastodon co-op) about collaboration, BT Free (a Fediverse non-profit PeerTube host) about resource-sharing, and @damon@social.wedistribute.org from We Distribute about the initiative more broadly. Next step: Steering Committee orientation, followed by our first working session on Vision & Mission. If you’d like to stay informed or get involved, DM me your email address and I’ll make sure you’re included in future updates. #PeerTubeCoop #Cooperative #PeerTube #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

BIG PEERTUBE CO-OP UPDATE: Last night, I interviewed the final steering committee candidate. And just like that—it’s official. We now have seven incredible people (plus me) who’ve come together to co-organize this co-op. Every single person brings something unique—skills, experience, heart—and it honestly feels like we’re assembling a dream team. This moment is a turning point. We’re no longer just talking about starting a co-op. We are one in the making. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be shaping our mission, vision, and bylaws—the foundation for what will eventually become a fully incorporated BC co-operative. It’s wild to think how far this idea has come in just two weeks. And we’re only getting started. #PeerTubeCoop #PeerTube #Cooperative #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

Right now, I’m in the middle of interviewing steering committee candidates for the potential PeerTube co-op. And one thing stands out about this process: Every single person I’ve spoken with hasn’t just said, “I want to be a member-owner.” They’ve said, “I want to be a member-owner—and I’m willing to roll up my sleeves, donate my time, and help make this business real.” In the start-up world, founders spend enormous amounts of time on something called validation—figuring out whether there’s a genuine product-market fit. It’s slow, uncertain work. Even after launch, many founders have to pivot more than once before landing on what people actually want. Forming a co-op is often described as labour- and capital-intensive—and for good reason. In Canada, you can register a conventional corporation with a single incorporator. But to incorporate a co-operative, you need at least three founding members. You must also agree on bylaws, define your mission and vision, and establish governance and membership structures before anything exists. Yet this extra effort brings a unique advantage: validation is built in. A co-op exists to serve its member-owners. The people joining are the market. Their participation defines how the product fits. In other words, the process of organizing the co-op doubles as a live test of demand and alignment. That’s why I’ve been asking every steering committee candidate the same question: “What do you hope a PeerTube co-op will do for you?” The answers have been diverse, but a clear pattern has emerged. People want creative freedom. They want fairer terms than YouTube offers. And above all, they want a platform that feels truly theirs—not subject to opaque algorithms or arbitrary policy shifts. That, I believe, is what authentic product-market fit looks like. In a co-op, the owners and the users are—if not perfectly identical—fundamentally aligned. The market validates itself. #PeerTubeCoop #PeerTube #Cooperative #Fediverse #DigitalCommons

Addendum to the PeerTube Co-op FAQ Over the past few days, a few important questions have come up that deserve clear answers. These will be added to the main FAQ post as well to keep everything in one place. Why incorporate in British Columbia? BC has one of the strongest and most flexible legal frameworks for co-operatives in North America. It allows for multi-stakeholder models, clear governance structures, and relatively straightforward incorporation. This makes it an ideal jurisdiction to establish a co-op that can scale while remaining member-governed. Is this a for-profit or non-profit co-op? Right now, I’m proposing a for-profit co-op, because I believe that’s the best way to maximally serve member-owners. A for-profit structure allows the co-op to sustain itself through revenue, reinvest surplus into the platform, and return benefits to members, rather than relying on grants or donations. That said, nothing is set in stone. Once the steering committee is formed and the co-op takes shape, member-owners will collectively decide what structure works best. Why are you deliberately reaching out to British Columbia residents? Under BC co-operative law, at least one director must be a resident of British Columbia. I already fulfil that requirement. However, it’s wise to build redundancies into the governance structure in case something happens that prevents my continued participation. Having more BC-based member-owners involved ensures the co-op remains legally compliant and operational no matter what. Do I need to live in BC to be a member? No. Anyone, regardless of where they live, can become a member-owner of the co-op. The only legal requirement is that at least three members of the initial steering committee must be Canadian residents for incorporation purposes. International members are welcome and encouraged to participate in governance, decision-making, and platform use. Can organizations or businesses become member-owners? Yes, in principle. Co-ops can have both individuals and organizations as members. We’ll be consulting co-operative experts to confirm the best structure, but businesses that share the vision for a sustainable, community-owned video platform will likely be able to join as organizational members. What role can international supporters play? International supporters can become member-owners, participate in discussions, contribute financially, and help shape policies and governance. While only Canadian residents can be part of the legal steering committee for incorporation, international voices are essential for building a platform that serves a global community. How will this co-op coordinate with other Fediverse co-ops? Co-ops are stronger together. We’ve started reaching out to groups like CoSocial.ca, Social.coop, and SocialBC.ca to explore collaboration, share governance practices, and ensure efforts complement rather than duplicate each other. There’s a real opportunity to build a federated co-operative ecosystem across the Fediverse. #PeerTubeCoop, #Fediverse #FAQ

Day 5 of the PeerTube Co-op journeyFive days ago, this was just an idea swirling in my head: what if we built a PeerTube co-op here in BC—something community-owned, sustainable, and truly part of the Fediverse?Since then, things have moved fast. We’ve brought on Susanna and Tara from GIA Consulting Co-op and Kevin and Kyle from Co-operatives First to help with incorporation, governance, and the member journey. Interest is already coming in from BC and beyond. I’ve started drafting a FAQ, outlining a proposed sustainability model, and building a mailing list for folks who want to stay in the loop.The next step is forming a steering committee of BC residents. I’ve identified a few strong candidates and am now looking for firm commitments. This group will meet at least twice (45–60 minutes each) to fine-tune the mission, vision, and bylaws. The steering committee will be temporary, guiding us to incorporation. Once we’re officially incorporated, a full board will be elected to take over.It’s still early days, but it feels real now. We’re laying the groundwork for something that isn’t just another tech project—it’s community infrastructure. An email update will go out to prospective member-owners on Sunday night with more details on next steps.#PeerTubeCoop #Fediverse #Cooperative #BuildingTogether

@gheesh@lgbtqia.space Appreciate you checking in. We’ve since renamed it the Federated Video Co-op Initiative. The steering committee is working through incorporation docs and bylaws. Same goal: a sustainable, community-owned federated video platform. Yeah, here’s the latest update: https://atomicpoet.org/notice/AzdnElYfUCIxUZm0cS If you’d like to be on the mailing list, DM me your email and I’ll add you. Happy to loop you into the next working session too.

Are you 1. Vancouver-local and 2. interested in joining a Cooperative RE: peertube? @atomicpoet and I had a brief chat on how this is what we need to address (i.e. how expensive it is to run a peeertube server and what can we do about it) about during the 1st #FediCollective #coffeechat in YVR ️Deets to be announced for an #IRL #meetup in September! #peertubeCOOPShoutout to #FediCon2025 for finally meeting Chris IRL so thanks @reiver