Venture.Community operates as a co-operative society, designed to support early-stage start-ups through funding, mentorship, and collaboration.
To ensure fairness, transparency, and long-term sustainability, we have a clear structure that defines how members participate, trade, and benefit.
For full details our our society's rules can be found [here]
Venture.Community has five types of members, each with a specific role. Our membership is also divided between 'Full Members' and 'Supporting Members'. Full members have full voting rights within the society and can earn a dividend from the society's surplus depending on their contributions.
Founders: Start-up founders who receive funding, training, and mentorship. Founders become full members of the society by completing our accelerator program.
Fellows: Investors who provide funding and guidance. An investor becomes eligible to become a full member of the society as a Fellow by investing more than £10,000 in the society's start-ups.
Specialists: Service providers who support start-ups. A service provider becomes a full member of the society after contributing more than £10,000 worth of services, either in-kind or as paid deliver during acceleration.
Community Members: Participate in events and investment opportunities, but their collective voting power is capped at 25%. You can become a Community Member for just £10 per year.
Associate Members: Businesses and corporate entities that are represented by other members and trade within the co-op.
Business entities associated with Full Members. They can trade within the co-op but do not have voting rights.
FULL MEMBERS each have one vote, regardless of their contribution level
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS are companies and do not have voting rights.
We also have an elected board made up of representatives from each group of Full Members—Founders, Fellows, and Specialists
—as well as a Chair elected by the Full Membership.
The board helps steer the co-op’s strategic direction and ensures that every member type is represented in leadership and decision-making.
Major decisions, changes to the rules, and other constitutional matters are voted on collectively, typically at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or through special member votes.
The co-op is sustained by activity within the community.
FOUNDERS raise at least £20,000 during acceleration, with a portion being retained by the co-op to fund our operations and the rest used to fund delivery of
SPECIALISTS are paid for their services during acceleration and may also contribute in-kind.
FELLOWS and COMMUNITY MEMBERS fund start-ups through investment, often qualifying for SEIS/EIS tax relief.
The co-op may earn additional income through membership fees, fees on fundraising, sponsorships, or platform usage.
Profits and surplus may be reinvested into the co-op or shared among members in line with their contributions and rules.
All contributions—whether paid or in-kind—are tracked to ensure fairness and to determine when a Community Member qualifies for Full Membership.