Ownership
Owned by the people who use it.
Ayenay is being structured as a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) with a permanent mission lock and one-member-one-vote governance. Every verified resident who joins gets a non-transferable membership share — not a financial stake, but a real say in how the platform is run.
What a Public Benefit Corp means here
Mission is legally binding.
The charter names the public benefit — direct democracy, plain-English civic information, anonymous voting — as a purpose the board is legally required to serve, alongside (not below) any financial interests.
Not for sale.
The bylaws prohibit sale, acquisition, or conversion to a for-profit structure without a supermajority vote of the members. Ayenay cannot be quietly bought by an ad network or a political operation.
No ads. No data sales. Ever.
Written into the charter as a hard constraint, not a marketing promise.
Transparent finances.
Annual public benefit report published every year: what came in, what went out, and whether we're living up to the mission.
How membership works
1
Sign up and verify your community
Every verified resident of a covered community automatically receives one membership share when they create their account.
2
One member, one vote
Shares are non-transferable, non-financial, and equal. You can't buy more, sell yours, or accumulate influence.
3
Members elect the board
The board of directors is elected by the membership on a rolling schedule. Members also ratify major changes: charter amendments, expansion into new regions, and any change to the mission lock.
4
You stay a member as long as you're active
Membership persists while your account is active. Leave the platform and your share is retired, not transferred.
Where we are today
Legal work in progress.
The PBC entity, bylaws, and mission lock are being drafted now. Until the entity is formed, Ayenay operates as a community-funded project by its founder, held in trust for the future membership.
Founding members grandfathered in.
Everyone who signs up before the PBC is formed will be issued a membership share automatically when the entity is live — no extra step required.
Questions or want to help?
Governance, legal, and cooperative-structure expertise very welcome. Reach out through the contact page.
For the people, by the people — literally.
A platform about direct democracy shouldn't be owned by anyone but the people using it. The PBC structure is how we make that permanent.