Zooma’s Open Letter to Samourai Coop Associates

An introspective manifesto on company direction, team dynamics, and future vision.

Context

Written as a reflection on Samourai Coop’s journey, particularly after challenges with a team member (Ménard), this letter represents a strategic reset and philosophical declaration about the company’s future.

Core Message

“Jusqu’à ma mort, Samouraï Coop, ce sera mon vaisseau, mon temple, mon bunker et mon tank.” (Until my death, Samouraï Coop will be my vessel, my temple, my bunker and my tank.)

Key Themes

Team Consolidation

• Proposes reducing to three core members
• Focus on trust and direct communication
• Create a “solid, open, but secure temple”

Work Philosophy

• Balance entrepreneurial ambitions with lifestyle
• Prioritize meaningful work over pure profit
• Fight against professional frustrations
• Maintain creative freedom

Strategic Proposals

Financial Structure

• Performance bonuses
• Salary increases for core team
• Flexible freelance arrangements
• Creation of “Ninja Freelance Club”

Work Culture

• Remote work flexibility
• Travel opportunities
• Direct, honest communication
• No bureaucratic barriers

Creative Projects

• HyperHacktive Festival concept
• Maintain innovation spirit
• Balance client work with passion projects

Leadership Vision

What Zooma Offers

• Transparency and raw honesty
• Long-term commitment to the team
• Financial security within means
• Creative freedom and autonomy

What He Expects

• Mutual trust and loyalty
• Adaptability and resilience
• Shared commitment to excellence
• Open communication

Tone Analysis

The letter reads like:

• Part manifesto: Declaring principles for the future
• Part confession: Honest about past challenges
• Part rallying cry: Calling the team to unite
• Part journal: Personal and introspective

Questions Raised

• How to balance growth with core values?
• What defines the ideal team size?
• How to maintain creativity in client work?
• What role should money play in decisions?

Key Takeaways

1. Leadership through vulnerability - Zooma shows strength by sharing doubts
2. Culture over scale - Choosing quality of life over rapid growth
3. Trust as foundation - Everything builds on mutual trust
4. Longevity thinking - Building for decades, not quarters
5. Personal = Professional - No separation between life and work

Relevance to Projects

This philosophy of small, trusted teams building meaningful technology aligns with:

• The builder-first approach of Amigos
• The open-source ethos of collaborative development
• The importance of sustainable business models
• The value of transparency in leadership

Notable Quotes

• On frustration: Fighting against professional disappointments
• On commitment: This is my vessel until death
• On team: Creating a secure but open temple
• On work: Balancing ambition with lifestyle

Cultural Context

Written in French, the letter carries the weight of:

• French business philosophy (quality of life matters)
• Cooperative values (shared ownership and responsibility)
• Hacker ethics (freedom, creativity, anti-authority)
• Samurai code (honor, loyalty, dedication)

This document serves as both a historical artifact of Samourai Coop’s evolution and a blueprint for building sustainable, human-centered technology companies.

Sources

• Original Letter: https://hackmd.io/@zxxma/letter-trusted-associates - Zooma’s open letter to trusted associates at Samourai Coop (in French)