Steward-Owned has been selected as one of the ten Radicale Vernieuwers (Radical Innovators). This is a wonderful recognition for this still young movement. A recognition that we celebrate not only for ourselves, but for everyone who believes that ownership is the most underestimated piece of the puzzle in the transition towards the kind of economy our society truly needs. 

Will Everlane realistically still be able to live out its values if it is owned by an entity fundamentally not aligned with those values?

Because ownership directly shapes who makes decisions, how value is created, and who ultimately benefits from it.

Since 1864, Koffies De Draak has stood for outstanding coffee craftsmanship and a deep respect for people and nature. Now, Elisabeth Scheerlinck and her family are taking a bold step: embedding those values permanently into the company's legal DNA through steward ownership.

What if the way we structure ownership could fundamentally change the role of business in society? That question sits at the heart of a recent episode of Nieuwe Ankers, a journalistic interview channel dedicated to exploring the big questions of our time — with Paul van Liempt as host.

What if building a better world wasn't just your product's mission — but the very DNA of how your company is structured? That's the question Rhea Verbeke and Laurent Hubert chose to answer when they founded eXo membranes.

During the quieter Christmas weeks, with more time for reflection, we bundled some powerful stories from the global Steward-ownership community. Stories from 2025 that we believe the world needs to know.

1. How do I exit my investment if there’s no equity sale or IPO?

2. Can I influence strategic decisions as an investor?

3. If founders are not the “classical” owners anymore, what drives them to go the extra mile when things get tough?

4. What are the possible advantages for me as an investor?

Steward-ownership as part of a European unified legal framework?
At this moment, the EU is developing a new legal form that will allow companies, especially innovative ones, to operate under the same rules across all Member States (the 28th Regime).

We’re officially launched

May 8, Belgian changemakers gathered in Brussels to explore, deepen, and celebrate the rise of steward-ownership.

Above all, we learned: better too early than too late.

Imagine if Eternit had been Steward-owned back then…

time to break free, Ben & Jerry's?

The story of this iconic British brand definitively came to an end in Belgium in 2024… Where did it go wrong?

Hundreds of millions of people use Signal, the privacy-friendly alternative to WhatsApp

This three-part podcast explores Patagonia's transition to this alternative ownership structure.

Are Mastodon & Bluesky taking a bold step towards Steward-ownership?

Throwback… and Save the Date!
On October 9th, changemakers from around the world will once again gather to explore, deepen, and celebrate steward-ownership.

Above all, we learned: better too early than too late.

We are part of a movement of non-profit organisations taking on the role of a guide (1), a fieldbuilder (2), and a knowledge hub (3) in their countries. In every continent.

Can we really expect companies to stay focused on their positive impact over the long term?
op-ed for L'Echo