Skip to main content
Purpose

We exist to support human flourishing.

Human beings cannot thrive without freedom—freedom to speak, connect, assemble, transact, and build. The modern internet concentrates power inside closed platforms and intermediaries that can censor, surveil, and extract. AOS exists to build a different foundation: open, permissionless systems that keep agency with people and communities.

We build tools and systems that help people and communities thrive through open, permissionless technologies—things anyone can use, adapt, and build on—so that freedom and creativity can grow without barriers.

We build with protocols designed for people

Open systems give communities real control over how they gather, collaborate, and create. By contributing to these ecosystems, we help strengthen the foundation for durable, people-powered technology.

We invest in the Commons

Everything we make—code, research, frameworks, and onboarding pathways—is shared openly. When knowledge and infrastructure are accessible, the entire ecosystem benefits.

We collaborate with builders and communities

Our role is to support, uplift, and walk alongside teams. We help refine ideas, shape products, and explore governance and support models that fit their values and goals.

Our approach

Our Core Practices

AOS advances the freedom-tech ecosystem through three core practices. We strengthen the foundations, demonstrate what's possible, and equip people with the tools and support to build their own visions.

Enhance

We create components, bridges, and infrastructure that expand what's possible with existing protocols.

  • Protocol extensions and reference implementations
  • UX patterns and onboarding flows for new users
  • Identity, key-management, and web-of-trust primitives
  • Trust & safety models that preserve user agency

Explore

We build experiments, prototypes, and full applications that show what a free, decentralized internet can look like at both the web and infrastructure layers.

  • Decentralized communities, messaging, and collaboration tools
  • Local-first and offline-capable experiences
  • New models for governance and coordination
  • Game, finance, and social apps that cross ecosystems

Empower

We equip builders, activists, and communities with the tools they need—from AI coding agents to playbooks and governance patterns—to realize their own ideas.

  • AI assistants and agents (like Shakespeare) for rapid prototyping
  • Developer kits, libraries, and reusable scaffolds
  • Workshops, learning content, and facilitation support
  • Governance and operating-model guidance for long-term stewardship
How we work

Three hubs, one collective.

AOS works as a living ecosystem. Our work moves through three interconnected hubs—the Lab, the Studio, and the Foundry—so ideas can grow from early exploration to real-world products and long-term stewardship.

The Lab

The Lab is where ideas spark and take shape. It's a collaborative environment for creators, founders, activists, and researchers to explore problems, surface insights, and imagine what's possible—long before there's a roadmap.

In the Lab, we:
  • Host problem-framing and ideation sessions
  • Explore themes like trust & safety, identity, and web-of-trust
  • Prototype concepts that might stay exploratory—and that's okay
  • Connect people across disciplines to unlock new patterns

The Studio

The Studio is where ideas become real. It's the production and services hub that helps teams design, build, and launch meaningful freedom-tech projects.

Studio support includes:
  • Product, UX, research, design, and go-to-market guidance
  • Back-office services: accounting, finance, tax, legal, budgeting, planning
  • Software and hardware development
  • Infrastructure and security expertise grounded in open protocols

The Foundry

The Foundry is where ideas mature and find their long-term path. We don't run a fund—we help projects explore governance, sustainability, and community-aligned ways to grow.

In the Foundry, we:
  • Offer governance and organizational design guidance
  • Support teams preparing for early-stage funding or philanthropic partnerships
  • Explore sustainable business models for freedom tech
  • Make mission-aligned contributions that strengthen the Commons