Decent Newsroom

April 3 2026 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

Linux Is the New Mac

Twenty years ago, Macs won despite slower hardware because the experience was better. Now the same thing is happening with Linux — because AI loves open, text-based systems.

by Xavier Damman

August 26 2025 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

On the need to reinvent coworking

In Brussels, the first coworking started back in 2010 with the [Betacowork collaborative working] (started by [Ramon Suarez]). It’s still around today thanks to the stewardship of [Toon Vanagt].

by Xavier Damman

August 6 2025 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

On why a single currency destroys local communities

During our Solarpunk Roadtrip across Europe, we stopped by Panicale, a beautiful small medieval town in the heart of Umbria, Perugia, Italy.

by Xavier Damman

March 31 2025 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

Open Collective Investors Update Spring 2025

Quick update to start Spring 2025\.

by Xavier Damman

January 18 2025 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

About inequalities

I changed my mind on inequalities.

by Xavier Damman

January 2 2025 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

Happy new year from Open Collective Inc

Dear investors, happy new year\! I wish you all the best for this year, and above all, that it will be filled with joy and community.

by Xavier Damman

December 7 2024 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

Manifesto to operate our city as a DAO

December 2023, originally published on [dao.brussels/manifesto].

by Xavier Damman

December 1 2024 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

Starting your own local currency, lessons from the Eusko

Ever since [the movie Demain]) (“Tomorrow”) came out in 2015, we’ve seen an explosion of local currencies in Europe. They enable citizens to support their local economy. When using a local currency, you create a natural barrier that incentivizes people to consume locally. If I give you a euro, you can go spend it on Amazon. If I give you a [Zinne], the local currency in Brussels, you can only spend it in Brussels. In those times of polycrisis, where we need to pursue resilience over performance,

by Xavier Damman

October 13 2024 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

When citizens spring

[Leen Schelfhout] and [Xavier Damman], May 2022

by Xavier Damman

October 12 2024 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

A New Chapter for Open Collective: Digital Cooperatives

Organizing ourselves as LLC or corporations doesn’t feel right in this Internet Age. We need new vehicles to embrace the collaborative nature of the Internet.

by Xavier Damman

October 5 2024 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

Falling out of love with apple

I used to be an apple fan boy. My first Mac was the apple 2 that my Canadian neighbors gave me for free when I was 10\. That's how I learned how to code with Basic.

by Xavier Damman

May 7 2017 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

The blind spot of Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley companies are funded by VCs. Their model hasn’t changed much in the past few decades. By design, the companies that they invest in have to capture the value they create at their center (making the rich richer). As a result, their cap table is somewhat rigid. VC need to have a certain level of ownership to make it worthwhile for them.

by Xavier Damman

February 16 2017 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

Turning Our City into an Open Collective

As nation states are increasingly disconnected from reality, how can we enable citizens to reclaim their cities? In Brussels, we are turning our city into a platform on top of which citizens can create collectives, raise money transparently and contribute to make the capital of Europe a better city to live and work.

by Xavier Damman

February 11 2017 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

Unbundling the United States

The problem with Trump is not that he is president. The problem with Trump is that he is the president of all of us in the United States.

by Xavier Damman

January 30 2017 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

From Firms to Collectives

Moving beyond the old model of private firms to create economic value together.

by Xavier Damman

June 29 2016 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

Money and Open Source Communities

Ever since we announced our new service to enable open source communities to collect money from backers and sponsors, the same question came up again and again: why would an open source project need money?

by Xavier Damman

February 21 2016 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

A New Way to Fund Open Source Projects

Goodwill only takes you so far. Here is a new way to fund open source projects that aligns the interests of companies with open source communities.

by Xavier Damman

January 26 2016 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

Playing the Long Game

Our goal with OpenCollective is to build a global infrastructure on top of which anyone can start an association anywhere in the world as easily as creating a Facebook group. To achieve that, we are building a network of host organizations that will act as an abstraction layer between the complexity of the pre-digital world, and the new bottom up economy of the 21st century. One single interface to start your association, collect and disburse money transparently (read more: A New Form of Associa

by Xavier Damman

December 30 2015 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

A New Form of Association for the Internet Generation — part 2

How can we do things together that require money without having to worry about the complexity of creating and maintaining legal entities?

by Xavier Damman

September 1 2015 · Edited Apr 3, 2026

A New Form of Association for the Internet Generation — part 1

September 2015, originally published on [Medium].