Samouraï Coop Core Founders’ Commitment to UB

A confidential commitment letter demonstrating maximum risk-taking for a new venture.

Context

Following a core founders meeting, Fanny, Yohann, and zôÖma formalized their commitment to support “UB” project during pre-structuring, setup, and future phases.

Financial Commitment

Emergency Fund

• Amount: €50,000
• Timeline: November-December pre-structuring phase
• Source: Personal security fund from zôÖma’s 8 years of VC/Fund audit services
• History: Previously used once for war zone member exfiltration
• Terms: Investment expected to be returned or profitable; if not, zôÖma’s responsibility

Fund Management

• Dedicated virtual credit card for UB team
• “Samouraï paying for UB” during pre-setup for speed
• Positioned as “Temple tool” - the temple exists for this purpose

Resource Commitment

Immediate Support

• Administrative: Yang (assistant) available for research and operations
• Flexibility: Resources available “anytime” as needed

Future Support (Post-Unstealth)

• Teams: Tech, design, film, researchers
• Promotion: Coverage at ~30 international tech events/year
• Partners: Full partner network activation when ready

Long-Term Philosophy

Partnership Approach

• Reliable, long-term partner (not service provider)
• Dynamic, proactive task force
• External but intimately connected
• Non-greedy approach

Communication Standards

• Clean, safe, professional
• No “mandatory calls” or “bullshit processes”
• Hacker/builder oriented
• Efficiency and focus paramount

Compensation Philosophy

• Below-market acceptable for:
  • Clear long-term visibility
  • Ability to BUILD
  • Vision stability
• Reject: Uncertainty and bureaucracy

Vision Alignment

Core Beliefs

• Work serves “urgent” civilizational needs
• Build “Coop Nation 3.0”
• Protect against “all kinds of predators”
• Defend cooperativist model

Future Plans

• Build cowork/bar/hackerspace/desk/temple in Paris
• UB team will be “home there”

Risk Analysis

This commitment demonstrates maximum risk across all dimensions:

Financial Risk

• Personal emergency fund (not company money)
• Eight years of reserves deployed
• Full responsibility if not returned

Career Risk

• Public backing of unproven project
• Reputation tied to UB success
• Professional network activation

Relationship Risk

• Binding three core founders to new venture
• Exposing internal resources
• Creating dependencies

Time Risk

• Long-term commitment stated
• Multi-year vision
• Permanent space allocation planned

Significance

This letter exemplifies the risk-taking philosophy:

• Not VCs writing checks - personal funds at risk
• Not employees joining - founders committing resources
• Not advisors opining - operators providing infrastructure

It’s a perfect case study for the risk-based hierarchy: maximum skin in the game deserves maximum governance influence.

Key Phrase

“Datalove” - The closing signature, emphasizing the mission-driven nature over pure financial motivation.

See also

• p/samourai/zooma-open-letter
• p/amigos/risk-based-hierarchy