Company Governance Models: What They Mean and Who Qualifies
An explanation of the six governance models available when creating a company, how they differ from archetypes, and which are eligible for directed levy and Funding Seeker listings.
Two axes: Archetype vs. Governance Model
When you create a company, you configure it on two independent axes:
| Axis | Question answered | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Archetype | What does your company do with IP? | Research Lab, Knowledge Commons, Validation Guild |
| Governance Model | How does your company govern itself? | Cooperative, DAO, Not-for-Profit |
These are kept separate deliberately. A DAO (governance) can be a Research Lab (archetype). A Cooperative (governance) can be a Manufacturing Cooperative (archetype).
The six governance models
Traditional
Standard company structure — directors, shareholders, conventional profit distribution. No special platform privileges. Cannot receive directed levy or appear as a Funding Seeker.
Not-for-Profit
No profit distribution to members. Surplus is reinvested in mission. Typical examples: charities, foundations, research institutes. Levy eligible.
Cooperative
Member-owned and democratically governed. Each member has equal voting rights regardless of capital contribution. Surplus is distributed based on participation. Levy eligible.
DAO
Decentralised Autonomous Organisation. Governance runs via protocol-native rules — reputation-based, token-based, or hybrid. Decisions are transparent and on-record. Levy eligible.
Social Enterprise
A for-profit company with a locked primary social mission. The mission cannot be changed without member consent. Profit is generated but the social mission takes precedence. Levy eligible.
Collective
An informal group with shared purpose and no fixed legal structure. No formal registration required. Levy eligible.
What "levy eligible" means
Five of the six models are eligible to:
- Receive directed Respect Levy — users can direct their 5% levy directly to this company's funding balance.
- Appear as a Funding Seeker — the company can activate a listing in Pulse to advertise their funding needs.
Traditional companies are ineligible for both.
Does governance model affect IA archetype bonus?
No. The IA archetype bonus is entirely determined by the archetype (Research Lab → ia_origination_depth signal, etc.), not the governance model. Changing governance model does not affect your IA score trajectory.
Can I change governance model after creation?
Governance model is set at creation time and is not editable via the UI. This is intentional — governance is a commitment, not a branding choice. Contact an administrator if a correction is needed.
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