About

A Different Way Forward

The modern labor market is broken. Unpaid internships have become the norm. Zero-hours contracts leave workers without security. Young people are told to be grateful for opportunities that offer no stability, no growth, and no voice in how their work is organized.

AltGen exists because we refuse to accept this as the only option.

The Cooperative Model

Worker cooperatives represent a fundamentally different approach to employment. In a cooperative, the people who do the work own the business. Decisions are made democratically. Profits are shared equitably. Every member has a stake in the enterprise and a say in how it operates.

This is not a theoretical exercise. Cooperatives employ millions of people worldwide and consistently outperform traditional businesses in worker satisfaction, retention, and resilience during economic downturns. The evidence is clear — democratic ownership works.

What We Do

AltGen connects young adults aged 18 to 29 with the knowledge, resources, and networks needed to establish worker cooperatives. We provide practical guidance on business planning, governance structures, and funding pathways. We facilitate connections between aspiring cooperators and established cooperative networks.

Our approach is hands-on. We work directly with groups who want to build something better — whether that means a tech collective, a creative studio, a care cooperative, or any other enterprise where the workers own the outcome of their labor.

Why It Matters

Every cooperative that launches represents a small but meaningful shift in how our economy functions. It demonstrates that productive, profitable enterprises can operate on principles of fairness and shared ownership. It proves that the choice between exploitation and unemployment is a false one.

Together, we are building an alternative. Together, we are stronger.

Last updated: March 2026