Steward-Owned
Steward-Ownership: Rethinking entrepreneurship for a sustainable future
More and more companies are looking for ways to operate independently and value-driven over the long term. Steward-Ownership separates economic control from financial ownership, ensuring that companies cannot be sold or driven solely by profit-maximization interests. Decision-making power remains with people who are closely connected to the company’s mission.
This model is already used by companies like Zeiss and Bosch, which have structured their ownership in a way that allows the company to own itself and reinvest profits. In Switzerland, as Toolbike AG with the MONoPOLE brand, we are only the second company—after Crowd Container—to have been founded from the very beginning based on the principles of Steward-Ownership. A true pioneering achievement for sustainable entrepreneurship.
Steward-Ownership enables long-term thinking, protects against takeovers, and secures the company’s purpose for generations to come.
Interview with our Co-Founder Daniel Freitag and Lukas Hotz from Purpose Schweiz.
From the Echo der Zeit Podcast on May 31, 2023 on the topic «Social Economy: Rethinking Business».
How does Steward-Ownership influence corporate decision-making?
It frees companies from the trap of short-term thinking, allowing them to think and act with a long-term perspective. Additionally, it enhances business resilience by firmly anchoring values and purpose, strengthening independence and stability in uncertain times.
What sets Toolbike AG’s ownership structure apart from a traditional stock corporation?
On the surface, our structure appears similar to a traditional stock corporation, but behind the scenes, shareholder agreements, statutes, and other regulations ensure that ownership is organized differently by separating capital rights from voting rights. Our investors participate financially but do not have control, and in case of success, they receive a capped return. Profits are a means to an end, not an end in themselves. The value created within the company serves exclusively our purpose in the long run.
We redefine your ride and choose the path less pedaled.Our purpose
Are enough investors open to financial participation without voting rights?
There is capital that seeks not only returns but also meaning. These investors exist – and our model acts as a filter, as we may not even want to engage with profit-maximizing investors in the first place.
The Future of Steward-Ownership
Steward-Ownership is not yet legally enshrined, but it is gaining international recognition. The UN General Assembly acknowledges the potential of the social economy and calls for targeted support measures.
In Germany, discussions about legal safeguards are already underway, while in Switzerland, this debate has only just begun. However, with Toolbike AG, we are demonstrating that steward-ownership can already be implemented today through smart contracts and clear principles.
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