New social networks have typically struggled to monetize due to their small audience sizes, as they are unable to achieve the scale to make meaningful revenue from advertising. Paid communities, however, supply an engaged and paying audience, providing an alternative route to sustainability for independent social networks.

The potential to build community-curated knowledge networks remains largely untapped. There are reasons to be optimistic; the economic feasibility of paid communities, a renewed interest in curation, a slow move away from big social, and an improved understanding of platform incentives. All combined, this will lead to communities that are more sust... See more

The next wave of big consumer companies will be community-based products: - Niche, not everything to everyone - Unique aesthetic - Built-in community - More memorable than big platforms - Rewarding loyalty - Unbundling large platforms - An experience not a transaction - Fun

The future is community owned: The future of gaming: community owned The future of finance: community owned The future of creators: community owned The future of startups: community owned