Who We Are

In startup culture, there’s an obsession with the founder’s story. We’re used to narratives that center individuals at the expense of collective effort and wisdom. This is a narrative we want to challenge with Subvert, but this is an important question to answer at the outset.

My name is Austin Robey, and for the better part of the last decade, I’ve been focused on solving the same problem: how can we create viable, collectively owned platforms?

Look at my record, and you’ll see a consistent thread of efforts all aimed at solving this problem. I co-founded Ampled, a cooperatively-owned crowdfunding platform for musicians. The lessons learned from this experience have been instrumental in shaping Subvert’s strategy.

I’ve also co-founded Metalabel, a venture- funded startup, alongside Yancey Strickler (Kickstarter co-founder) and Rob Kalin (Etsy founder). Working with founders of the two of the most successful creative marketplace platforms has been a valuable experience to glean insights from their experiences.

I’ve also taught a college course titled “Music and Platform Cooperativism” at The New School University, focusing on solidarity structures within music. As a mentor at NEW INC, the New Museum’s incubator in New York City, I regularly guide creative entrepreneurs interested in implementing shared ownership models within their own practices.

I’ve been an early active participant in the platform cooperativism movement, speaking at the Platform Cooperativism Consortium Conferences and participating in Start.coop, the first business accelerator for cooperative enterprises. I’ve written exten- sively about platform cooperativism and the need for more equitable ownership models in the creative economy.

All of these experiences — from building platforms to teaching, from writing to mentoring — have been steps on the path to solving this problem. Each effort has provided new insights, revealed new strategies, and ultimately contributed to the ideas behind Subvert. This project is not a sudden idea. It’s the natural culmination of years of dedicated work and thought.

It’s important to note that while I’m initiating (and currently self-funding) this project, I’m not alone. There are other talented individuals involved in Subvert who, due to current professional commitments, can’t be named at this time. This project is a collective effort, and it will continue to grow and evolve with the input and efforts of many, hopefully including you.

But here’s the crucial point: No matter how well-intentioned or experienced we might be as individuals, our personal character virtues are insufficient to guarantee the long- term integrity of this project. We’ve seen this play out before. Relying on the goodwill of a handful of individuals to steward critical artist infrastructure is an existential risk.

This is why Subvert is designed differently. We’re not asking you to trust us as individuals. Instead, we’re asking you to look closely at the accountability structures and codified safeguards built into Subvert’s structure. We’re creating a system that’s designed to distribute power, ensure democratic control, and leave room for the organization to evolve organically based on the collective determination of its members.

Subvert is not about a founder’s vision. It’s a trellis for collective self determination. We’re building an organization designed for longevity and resilience, serving and evolving with its community for the long term.