# Platform coops [[Platform]] [[Cooperatives]]. > Platform co-operatives adopt the democratic ownership and governance structure of workers' co-operatives and utilise a digital platform for the sale of goods or services. > Platform cooperatives are an alternative to venture capital-funded and centralized platforms, putting stakeholders before shareholders. > > – [Platform Cooperativism Consortium](https://platform.coop/) > Platform co-ops are based on principles including: > > - Broad-based ownership of the platform, in which workers control the technological features, production processes, algorithms, data, and job structures of the online platform; > - Democratic governance, in which all stakeholders who own the platform collectively govern the platform; > - Co-design of the platform, in which all stakeholders are included in the design and creation of the platform ensuring that software grows out of their needs, capacities, and aspirations; > - An aspiration to open source development and open data, in which new platform co-ops can lay the algorithmic foundations for other co-ops. > > – [Platform Cooperativism Consortium](https://platform.coop/) > Platform cooperatives are businesses that use a website, mobile app, or protocol to sell goods or services. 📱 > They rely on democratic decision-making and shared ownership of the platform by workers and users.👥 > > – [[Preston Cooperative Development Network]] > - offer a near-future, alternative to platform capitalism based on cooperative principles such as democratic ownership and governance. > - introduce economic fairness, training, and democratic participation in the running of online businesses. > - give stakeholders a say in what happens on the platforms. > > – [[Preston Cooperative Development Network]] > Platform co-ops must be founded with a deep commitment to social justice which should be considered in all processes of institutional design and governance practices > > – [[Platform socialism]]