Gov/en/Portal:Economy/Funder-Stories
🎯 In 20 seconds (scientific summary): We are heading towards transparent, algorithmic redistribution of cooperative surplus through bonding curves and need-driven funding mechanisms. This hypothesis proposes that early-stage funders receive proportionally greater Subscription Token allocations due to reserve dynamics, that each donor freely chooses at donation time how many of the generated Subscription Tokens they keep and how much they leave to the project as pure support, and that ongoing subscription revenue is then shared equally among the activated Subscription Tokens of each group.
💡 In simple words: This page shares stories from people who gave money to support WikiDeal.
Funder Stories: How Kim & Noah Earn Their Subscription Tokens
From WikiDeal, a Wikipedia of e-commerce · Pilot 1, Prototype 1 · Socio-Technical Innovation, WikiDeal concept (credits)
WikiDeal's financial mechanisms can seem complex at first. This page walks through two fictional but realistic profiles, Kim and Noah, to show exactly how each step works: from initial contribution, through the donor's choice, to monthly redistributions and cashout. These are illustrative examples based on the Prototype 1 model currently proposed as a basis for discussion.
Meet Kim & Noah
Kim: A 34-year-old community organizer based in Seoul. Believes in cooperative economics and wants to support WikiDeal's early phase with CHF 1,000.
Noah: A 28-year-old software developer in Tokyo. Interested in the Wikinomics model, contributes CHF 5,000 to WikiDeal's first funding call.
Step 1: The Contribution (Bonding Curve)
When a funder contributes CHF to WikiDeal, the amount is processed through the Bonding Curve formula. The bonding curve determines how many Subscription Tokens are generated in return, and 1 Subscription Token = CHF 1 when cashed out. Crucially, the earlier a funder contributes, the more Subscription Tokens are generated per CHF: the multiplier is blocked at x100 for the first CHF 200,000 raised, then the curve declines towards x30. This is the Bonding Curve advantage, not a payout guarantee.
- Kim contributes CHF 1,000 during the first CHF 200,000 raised (multiplier blocked at x100) → her donation generates 100,000 Subscription Tokens
- Noah contributes CHF 5,000 later, when the curve has declined to, say, x64 → his donation generates 320,000 Subscription Tokens
Early funders get more Subscription Tokens per CHF because the reserve is low. As more contributions accumulate, the bonding curve adjusts, and each subsequent CHF generates fewer Subscription Tokens. This is an inherent property of the formula, not a promotional bonus. Subscription Tokens are a potential ceiling, paid only from real subscription income, with no guarantee.
Step 2: The Donor's Choice (Need-Driven Funding)
Not all generated Subscription Tokens are necessarily kept by the funder. Within the frame of the Need-Driven Funding mechanism, each donor freely chooses at donation time how many of the generated Subscription Tokens they keep and how much they leave to the project as pure support. Simple formulas are currently proposed to make this choice easy (see the Subscription Tokens FAQ): Pure Patron (x0, everything is given), Seed Keeper (x1, break-even), Harvester (x2, double if it works), or Gardener (the donor keeps all or part of the maximum generated by the curve, choosing the exact percentage; always more than x2). Gardener is the formula most donors are expected to choose. This choice is made at donation time: it does not change later.
- Kim chooses the Harvester (x2) formula: out of her 100,000 generated Subscription Tokens, she keeps 2,000 Subscription Tokens (twice her CHF 1,000 donation) and leaves the rest to the project as pure support.
- Noah chooses the Gardener formula and sets his percentage at 100%: he keeps the full 320,000 Subscription Tokens generated by the curve (he could equally have kept only a part and left the rest to the project).
The share left to the project supports WikiDeal's development and operations. The Subscription Tokens kept by Kim and Noah are what generate their future payouts.
Step 3: Annual Value Increase
A possible annual percentage increase on subscription tokens is under study through a draft Open Call (not yet launched); no percentage is decided.
Step 4: Monthly Subscription Revenue Distribution
The primary ongoing subscription token mechanism is the distribution of WikiDeal's subscription revenue. Following the 25/25/50 rule, 25% of subscription revenue goes to donors, 25% to Early Supporters and 50% to the operations of the project. Within the donors' group, each franc is divided equally among the activated donor Subscription Tokens existing at that moment (see the Subscription Tokens FAQ):
Revenue per activated donor Subscription Token = (25% of monthly subscription revenue) ÷ number of activated donor Subscription Tokens
Example Scenario
WikiDeal has 50,000 active subscribers paying CHF 1/month = CHF 50,000/month total revenue, and donors hold 37 million activated Subscription Tokens (the illustrative figure used in the Subscription Tokens FAQ).
- Donors' share = 25% of CHF 50,000 = CHF 12,500/month
- Revenue per activated donor Subscription Token = CHF 12,500 ÷ 37,000,000 ≈ CHF 0.00034 per Subscription Token per month
- Kim (2,000 Subscription Tokens kept) earns: ≈ CHF 0.68/month
- Noah (320,000 Subscription Tokens kept) earns: ≈ CHF 108/month
Each franc credited consumes one Subscription Token (1:1): the credits accumulate month after month until the kept Subscription Tokens are fully consumed.
Scaling Effect
As WikiDeal grows its subscriber base, subscription tokens scale proportionally for all Subscription Token holders:
| Active Subscribers | Monthly Revenue (CHF 1/sub) | Donors' share (25%) | Kim (2,000 Subscription Tokens) | Noah (320,000 Subscription Tokens) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | CHF 10,000 | CHF 2,500 | CHF 0.14/month | CHF 21.62/month |
| 50,000 | CHF 50,000 | CHF 12,500 | CHF 0.68/month | CHF 108.11/month |
| 200,000 | CHF 200,000 | CHF 50,000 | CHF 2.70/month | CHF 432.43/month |
| 500,000 | CHF 500,000 | CHF 125,000 | CHF 6.76/month | CHF 1,081.08/month |
| 1,000,000 | CHF 1,000,000 | CHF 250,000 | CHF 13.51/month | CHF 2,162.16/month |
Note: these figures assume CHF 1/month per subscriber, the 25/25/50 rule, and a fixed pool of 37 million activated donor Subscription Tokens. Actual amounts will vary with real subscription pricing, the number of activated Subscription Tokens at each distribution, and the progressive consumption of Subscription Tokens (Kim's 2,000 Subscription Tokens, for example, can never earn more than CHF 2,000 in total).
Step 5: Cashout Conditions
Kim and Noah can convert their Subscription Tokens to CHF when the cashout conditions defined by the protocol are met. Key principles:
- No speculation: The CHF value of each Subscription Token is defined entirely by the algorithm: 1 Subscription Token = CHF 1 when cashed out. There is no secondary market, no price volatility.
- Revenue-linked: Cashout is possible when sufficient subscription revenue has been generated to cover the redemption. This ensures the system remains solvent and sustainable.
- Transparent timing: The protocol defines clear thresholds for when cashout windows open; transfers are currently proposed to become possible from CHF 100. Kim and Noah can track this through their contributor dashboard.
- Proportional: Each franc credited consumes one Subscription Token (1:1), so cashout amounts are proportional to the number of activated Subscription Tokens held.
This design eliminates speculative risk for contributors while ensuring WikiDeal can meet its obligations as it scales revenue.