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A Tack Towards StartUp Cities

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I. StartUp Cities

Nothing would benefit humanity more than new places allowing people to innovate better systems
of living. These oases are StartUp Cities, and they constitute a human frontier permitting individuals
to exit states and live and produce voluntarily in new societies that promote peace and prosperity.

Gratefully acknowledging the efforts of the StartUp Cities movement past and present,
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I propose a
private network-based approach to establishing StartUp Cities called the Human Services Provider
(HSP).

II. Human Services Providers (HSP):

A. Summary of Approach: Human Services Providers are private concerns that develop and
promote innovative social structures (systems of living) in order to aggregate social and business
networks responsive to the potential to live and produce under terms and conditions of living
that reflect the networks philosophies and purposes. After aggregating networks the HSP
bargainsfrom a position as strong as its networks are valuablewith states for territory on
terms agreeable to the network; or develops its own territory at sea, and/or pursues any number
of interim strategies made possible by the HSP approach. Upon obtaining or developing
territory the HSP orchestrates the StartUp City according to the terms and conditions to which
network members agreedstarting a city.

B. The HSP at a Glance:

i) Who: An individual or group of like-minded persons (founders) committed to starting a
city and/or exploring any number of the corollary opportunities such an endeavor spawns.
ii) What: HSPs are private entities whose purpose is establishing StartUp Cities. I utilize the
term human services provider believing it accurate, if wordy, and useful as a moniker for
business organizations with purposes similar to those this paper suggests.
iii) Where: The HSP entity will (likely) be incorporated offshore, for purposes of privacy,
simplicity, and asset protection. In time offshore will include StartUp Cities. Principal
place(s) of operations will vary according to the nature and purpose of the HSP.
iv) When: Upon agreement by like-minded individuals to create, promote, and sustain a
business entity purposed towards establishing a StartUp Citynetwork first.
v) Why: Promote and achieve the StartUp Cities ideal; Establish new places for innovative
social systems; Constructively protest the status quo by offering workable solutions.
vi) How: Next StepDevelop and promote an Offering.

C. The Offering: A primary function of the HSP is to promulgate, while preparing to administer,
an innovative societal structure (the offering) embodying its founders philosophies and
humanitarian ideals. The social structure set forth in the Offering is the innovative society the
HSP desires to establish. An Offering succeeds to the extent it generates interest and

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By Ryan William Nohea uaicia.
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"Stait0p Cities" anu the Stait0p Cities movement weie foimeily known as fiee cities anu the fiee city
Novement ,anu encompass ielateu iueas such as LEAP Zones. !"" The Staitup Cities Institute.
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participation by like-minded persons worldwide, resulting in a network that accepts the
Offerings terms and conditions and desires to live and produce thereunder. Interested parties
must accept the Offerings terms and conditions in order to become network members. Doing
so creates a real social contract between individual members and the HSP. Offerings are likely
comprised of three bases: Philosophy, Purposes and Terms and Conditions (T&C).

i) Philosophy: The founders philosophies underpin the Offering, and are what principally
distinguish offerings from the systems they seek to improve upon. My belief is StartUp
Cities are fundamentally about philosophy not economics, because philosophy dictates
economic systems.

ii) Purposes: HSPs may promulgate societies devoted at least in part to achieving extrinsic
Humanitarian ideals, for both beneficent and network aggregation purposes. The express
purposes of a particular HSPs Offering will vary by founding group.

Sample Purposes: Ground-up sustainable city development; Demonstrate viability of
alternative energy sources; Integrate new technologies replacing traditional functions
of government; Innovative transportation systems; Refuge and opportunity for
oppressed groups or peaceful political dissidents; Demonstrate more effective civil
security systems; Facilitate new and emerging industries; Radically new educational
systems; Bring sustainable development to impoverished regions; Implement new
property rights systems that comprehensively address customary landowners rights.

iii) Terms and Conditions (T&C): The T&C associated with a particular Offering delineate the
social, economic, and legal structure of the HSPs envisioned StartUp City. An individuals
assent to the T&C creates a binding social contract. A comprehensive, workable T&C must
address each LEAP factor (law, economics, administration, and politics) as well as a host
of additional matters beyond the scope of this paper.

In promulgating Offerings HSPs build upon the substantial body of work the StartUp Cities
movement has produced with respect to organizing innovative societies. StartUp Cities
projects past and present, including active projects in Honduras ZEDEs, have articulated
innovative, and inspiring, societal structures, legal systems, and terms and conditions of
living that are tantamount to the offerings this paper suggests. The crucial difference,
however, is that HSPs are unconstrained by the terms, limitations and political realities
potential host countries place upon Startup City efforts seeking to obtain territory (on
promise of networks to come). HSPs are free to craft offerings with only human needs and
corresponding solutions in mind.

Comment: In several respects the StartUp Cities movement labors towards the
proprietary free trade cities model Peter Bos, Spencer McCallum and others promote.
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It
requires, however, the managing company (somewhat akin to a HSP) have total
autonomy, which so far potential host countries have been unwilling to offer. As is
discussed below, the value of a HSPs networks determines the strength of its bargaining
position. (Hence my emphasis on aggregating networks.) Given a valuable network it is
conceivable a HSP could dictate its terms, or explore the Seasteading option and

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!"" Petei Bos' foithcoming book The Roau to Fieeuom anu the Bemise of the Nation States.
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profitably develop autonomous cities in international waters. A valuable network
potentially makes all things possible.

D. NetworksCritical Human Infrastructure: Aggregating diverse and valuable networks of
human and financial capital that meaningfully participate in a StartUp Cities endeavor is of
paramount importance to every HSP. The strength of a HSPs networks determines the HSPs
bargaining position relative to (state) landowners, as well as the HSPs practical ability to execute
any number of complementary and/or interim operational strategies. Following is discussion of
four primary motivations to participate in a network.

i) Base Support for the StartUp Cities Ideal. Participation in voluntary societies and
investment in free places directly advances Humanity by helping to establish new places to
innovate better systems of living than existing governments. Even a peppercorn for StartUp
Cities advances humanity; a fortiori commitment of social and financial capital.

ii) Opportunity for Self-Established Asylum. StartUp Cities uniquely permit individuals
worldwide to self-establish a type of political asylum simply by exiting to a startup city. This
has far-reaching implications. Consider the case of an individual who renounces native
citizenship and removes him/herself to a StartUp City. He/she may be fairly said to occupy
a sort of living political purgatory between traditional citizenship and technical international
anonymity. In time this purgatory will diminish, as the status quo begrudgingly legitimizes
StartUp Cities and the expanded meanings of individual freedom and self-sovereignty they
demonstrate.

Comment: Perhaps the notion of self-established asylum would interest Gerard
Depardieu and others similarly situated. Leading a Humanitarian oriented StartUp Cities
project would be a most constructive, and artistic, way to express his objections to
Frances extremely usurious taxes. Further, the notion of self-established asylum should
interest entire emerging industries, such as the burgeoning private space sector. I would
suggest private space companies have significant interest in establishing autonomous
bases in StartUp Cities from which to explore space and to provide space services to
states lacking space capabilities. The prospect of entering space on private, non-political
terms offers untold advantages. Further, outer space deserves better than our status quo.

iii) Agreement with a Particular HSP Offering or Purpose. The opportunity to contribute to
a specific offering purpose, thereby creating at least a de facto sub-network, may prove
substantial motivation to participate in a HSPs offering, including by individuals who
otherwise may not be moved to action.

Comment: By way of example, a sub-network might be devoted to developing a type of
twenty-first century Lhasa, which is arguably necessary as the prospect of a free Tibet
wanes and powerful governments threaten the Dalai Lamas safety.

iv) Economic Freedom and Opportunity: Offerings should provide simple, stable terms and
conditions that provide for economic freedom and a peaceful, tolerant society facilitating a
wide range of businesses (while also providing relief from usurious taxation, hyper-
regulation, and anti-competitive business policies). This prospect is strong motivation to
participate in any StartUp Cities or HSP endeavor.
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Comment on Network Aggregation Strategies: The magnitude and significance of a
proper HSP endeavor requires a correspondingly bold and creative promotional approach
capable of widely disseminating the Offering. A substantial nucleus of co-founders would
expand the scope of the endeavor as well as the resources available for network aggregation.
(The author has his ideas, of course.)

E. Operational Strategies: The particular strategies a HSP pursues necessarily varies by founder(s)
and purposes. Yet every HSP is likely to share the ultimate objective of securing territory on
which to effect its Offering, thus enabling consenting networks to live and produce thereunder.
This is the crux of the HSP approach. Following is discussion of how and why a HSP may
achieve this goal, and several complementary strategies a HSP may pursue.

i) Primary ObjectiveClear Territory: Obtaining territory on terms agreeable to the
network is the crux of the HSP. This is no small challenge, for several reasons.
Implementing alternative governing systems is a tacit admission of failure of the present
state institution, which humiliates the states authority and may be disincentive to deal with a
HSP. Entrenched economic and political interests stand staunchly against change, and there
is no shortage of baseless opposition to any meaningful socio-political experimentation or
change. Nevertheless, there are several reasons to believe a HSP is capable of obtaining clear
territory for networks.

(1) Money Talks: As previously stated, the practical ability of a HSP to successfully
negotiate on behalf of its networks with states for territory is directly correlated with the
strength of the HSPs networks. Hosting networks of industrious persons committed to
peaceful terms of living presents considerable opportunity for every landowner and is
thus strong incentive to deal with the HSP on agreeable terms.

(2) Political Legacy: While implementing alternative governing systems is contrary to the
states interest per se, the personal significance of and potential legacy associated with
facilitating a meritorious social and Humanitarian endeavor will prove strong enough
incentive for at least some state leaders to throw their weight behind a HSP. The
national leader(s) who engage and facilitate a HSP endeavor will share with the HSPs
founders an enviable legacy of human advancement.

(3) Political Advantage: Another incentive for a state to deal with a HSP is political
advantage. Consider the interest Uruguay, which Argentina has long dominated
(including recently by forcing Uruguayan banks to disclose confidential financial
information about Argentine clients), would have in hosting HSP networks. A new
economic engine would lessen Argentinas influence over Uruguay, while nudging
Argentina to improve treatment of its constituents.

(4) Host-Country Support: While every HSP should expect popular opposition (as well as
domestic politicians and entrenched interests ginning up such opposition), it is
conceivable that a majority of a countrys population would eventually support a HSP
project within their borders, and demand its government supply fair terms to the HSP.
Such a movement would also be capable of achieving meaningful reform through
domestic governmental means, and may well result in countries fundamentally redefining
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their governmental systems by incorporating ideas and systems proposed by HSPs. I
submit this prospect alone warrants careful consideration of the HSP approach.

ii) Complementary / Interim Strategies: In the event a HSP cannot for some period of time
obtain territory (and elects not to Seastead) there exist a number of interim or
complementary strategies for the HSP to pursue that may prove worthy as ends themselves.

(1) Seastead: Seasteading is the establishment of autonomous, sea-based communities;
StartUp Cities at sea. Though seasteading presents complex challenges it does not
necessarily require the consent or participation of any state. Instead, only innovative
solutions to the logistical challenges of living at sea are required. Seasteading also
presents intriguing opportunities impossible on land, such as the potential for rapid
scaling, the prospect of fully nomadic cities, and innovative sea-agrarian communities
exploring the seas vast renewable resources.

(2) Private Placement: Until, or rather than, the HSP acquires territory it might serve its
network members by placing them in existing states with which the HSP has privately
negotiated advantageous terms of residency and/or investment incentives. Facilitating
such private arrangements could prove to be a lucrative business model.

(3) Advocacy: Network aggregation is spontaneous formation of social and business
networks in response to the real potential to live and produce under improved terms.
This nakedly exposes how greatly governments suppress the industrious, and creates a
uniquely powerful platform for advocacy belonging to the founders and every network
member, on virtually every issue relevant to the HSPs philosophy, network purposes,
and offering. Such a bully pulpit may be wielded to great effect. Advocacy, however, is
not necessary, and confidentiality may appeal to certain networks and landowners, alike.

iii) Administration: How and what the HSP administers ultimately depends upon the terms set
forth in its offering, which in turn depends upon the founders philosophies and purposes. It
is likely, however, that the HSP entity will play an active if not primary role in administering
the terms and conditions of the offering, and therefore, I list administration as a key
component of every HSPs strategy and offering.

Conclusion:

HSPs are vehicles to exit states and start cities that offer comparatively better terms of living. There
is considerable opportunity to do so, as even the most (ostensibly) successful states are fiscally
unsustainable, increasingly authoritarian and impossibly governedto say the least. StartUp Cities
compete with governments for the human and financial capital they monopolize, and by doing so
may serve to check the excesses of (if not fundamentally reform) states. Last, but not least, it bears
noting that private players in the industry of government are privy to vast opportunity because
government is, by far, the largest and most underserved market on Earth.