Innovation Commons

An Innovation Commons is a shared environment designed for the phase before a company exists.

Most systems push people quickly toward structure — roles, equity, expectations — before there is enough signal to justify them. The Innovation Commons takes a different approach. It creates a space where ideas can be explored through building, collaboration, and feedback without the immediate pressure to formalize.

People participate by contributing to real work. They may bring their own ideas or join others based on interest and conviction. There is no assignment of roles, and no guaranteed ownership. Instead, influence and eventual ownership are earned through contribution over time.

Work progresses unevenly. Many ideas are explored briefly. A smaller number gain traction through continued effort and demonstrated value. As projects evolve, they move through stages: from early concept, to working product, to something used and potentially generating revenue. Only when there is clear signal does structure begin to form: a committed team, defined roles, and eventually formal ownership.

The Commons operates as a practice. Participants improve by repeatedly going through cycles of building, receiving feedback, and refining their work. Regular rituals, such as short presentations and direct critique, create accountability and accelerate learning.

Ownership, when it emerges, reflects actual contribution rather than early assumptions. Systems like milestone-based contribution tracking help align effort with eventual stake, but these remain informal until a project becomes a company.

The primary output of an Innovation Commons is not companies, although some are created. The primary output is people who are better at building: people with stronger judgment, clearer thinking, and more experience turning ideas into something real.

Over time, this combination of practice, contribution-based ownership, and delayed structure creates a more reliable path from idea to business without forcing that outcome prematurely.

Visit the active Commons →

The Ministry of Product Commons

The Ministry of Product Innovation Commons is the Practice side of Ministry of Product.

It is a shared environment where:

  • ideas are explored before they become companies
  • people contribute based on interest and conviction
  • ownership is earned through contribution over time
  • structure emerges only when something proves real

It is not a program, a network, or an incubator.

Core Philosophy

Practice over theory. Understanding comes from building, not discussion alone.

Exploration before commitment. Ideas are explored before roles, ownership, or companies are defined.

Contribution over entitlement. Ownership and influence are earned through work.

Signal over opinion. Decisions are based on what works, not what sounds right.

Small, high-trust environment. Quality of interaction is prioritized over scale.

How It Works

Participation

The Commons is defined by participation, not membership.

People:

  • bring ideas
  • join projects
  • contribute to the work

There are no observers. There are no assigned roles at the start. There are no guaranteed outcomes.

Membership is maintained through continued contribution.

The Monthly Session

Each participant:

  • Presents for 3 minutes: what they built, what they learned, what they plan next
  • Receives 5 minutes of direct critique

This is the primary feedback loop. The goal is clarity, accountability, and improvement over time.

How Ownership Works

Ownership is not assigned upfront. It is earned through contribution using the Big Slice / Small Slice (BSSS) framework.

  • Work is divided into milestone-based phases (Big Slices)
  • Contributors earn proportional ownership within each phase (Small Slices)
  • Ownership is locked as milestones complete

This tracks contribution but is not legal equity.

Formal ownership is defined only when a project becomes a company — at the last responsible moment, not before.

Read more about BSSS →

How Products Progress

Projects move through stages using the Product Pathway:

  1. Idea
  2. Prototype
  3. Early Users
  4. Revenue
  5. Stable System

Focus shifts at each stage:

  • Early: problem clarity and usefulness
  • Mid: user engagement and validation
  • Late: reliability, scale, sustainability

Progress is measured by real movement through these stages — not internal opinion.

Read more about the Product Pathway →

Transition to Company

When a project shows strong signal:

  • A committed team forms
  • Expectations become explicit
  • Ownership can be formalized into equity

The Practice supports the transition. It does not force it.

Most ideas are explored briefly. A small number gain momentum. Some become companies.

The primary outcome is improved capability, not companies.

Boundaries

To protect the Commons:

  • Participation is invite-only
  • Participation is active — no passive members
  • Low contribution leads to removal
  • The group remains intentionally small

The goal is a high-trust environment for real work.

The Relationship to the Consultancy

The Practice and the Consultancy are connected, but they serve different purposes.

The Consultancy works with external clients. The Commons is an internal practice.

The Practice is not a staffing pool for the Consultancy.

Visit the active Commons →  ·  Learn about the Consultancy →  ·  About →