Symbiotic Democracy - B2C lifestyle and interest-based communities

1. Main Groups as “Ecosystem Domains”

Think of the platform as a federated ecosystem with Main Groups representing broad industries/domains:

These act like biomes in nature — large, recognisable environments.

Each Main Group contains Subgroups for specific disciplines or interests:
- Sports → Cycling, Running, Tennis, Rock Climbing
- Health → Nutrition, Yoga, Strength Training
Subgroups self-govern but adhere to shared protocols from the Main Group (like an industry charter).

Nested Sub-Subgroups form naturally:
- Sports → Cycling → Road Cycling → Fixed-Gear Commuters
- Health → Nutrition → Plant-Based → High-Protein Vegan Athletes
Members can spin up new subgroups at any depth if they can:
- Define a clear purpose
- Gather a minimum number of committed members
- Agree to the governance rules of their parent group

Parent Group Governance: Oversees shared resources, moderation standards, and partnerships for the whole biome.
Child Group Governance: Makes decisions relevant to that niche.
Protocol Enforcement: Each subgroup inherits certain non-negotiable values and rules (safety, contribution tracking, transparency).
Liquid Delegation: You can vote on decisions in your subgroup or delegate your vote up to the parent group level.

Peer-to-Peer Support: Hobbyists get trusted advice, mentorship, and collaboration opportunities from people with shared passions.
Access to Specialized Resources: Group discounts on niche equipment, training programs, events.
Community Marketplace: Buy/sell/trade relevant products or services.
Collective Bargaining: Communities can negotiate with brands for sponsorships, early product releases, or custom features.
Learning & Growth: Wikis, workshops, and shared knowledge libraries tailored to each niche.

Brands must apply to engage (just like in the B2B model).
They can:
- Sponsor competitions/events
- Provide samples for reviews
- Offer group discounts
Creators/influencers within the community are contributors, not gatekeepers — their influence comes from participation, not follower count.

Each member earns a Contribution Score based on:
- Sharing resources
- Organising meetups
- Mentoring newcomers
- Creating educational content
- Helping mediate conflicts
Contribution = Access + Influence + Rewards:
- More access to group resources
- Priority in voting and decision-making
- Tokens redeemable for marketplace goods, event tickets, or premium memberships.

Community Treasury:
- Funded by: small membership fees, marketplace commissions, brand sponsorships, data licensing (opt-in).
- Spent on: events, physical spaces, shared tools, content production.
Revenue Sharing:
- Subgroups get a cut proportional to their activity and contribution.
- Members who lead high-value projects receive additional rewards.

Local Chapters: Each subgroup can create local cells for IRL events and meetups.
Cross-Group Councils: When interests overlap (e.g., Nutrition group & Cycling group on fueling strategies), they can form temporary councils to collaborate.
Exit to Federation: Any subgroup can spin out into its own autonomous community while still interoperating with the parent network.

Main Group: Cycling Community (covers all cycling disciplines)
Subgroups: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking, BMX, Fixed Gear, Indoor Cycling
Sub-Subgroup Example: Road Cycling → Fixed-Gear Commuters → Night Riders London
Activities:
- Shared bike maintenance wiki
- Group rides & competitions
- Marketplace for second-hand gear
- Sponsorship from eco-friendly bike brands (vetted by the group)
- Local clubs sharing a co-op bike workshop space

This essentially becomes a “stacked ecosystem”: