Steward-
Ownership
Conference
Because ownership matters.
Radialsystem, Berlin
Steward-
Ownership
Conference
Radialsystem, Berlin
The Steward-Ownership Conference Is Back!
Join us in Berlin on October 9, 2025, for the third major gathering of the steward-ownership ecosystem – a space for entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and the simply curious to connect, learn, and grow together. What to expect:
- Inspiring stories & insights – Discover the many layers of steward-ownership and aligned financing.
- Workshops – Deep dive into key topics, challenges and hands-on approaches with experts.
- Current topics & critical sectors – Explore the role of (steward-) ownership in some of today’s most pressing challenges across industries.
- Networking & in-depth discussions – Meet key stakeholders, exchange valuable learnings and create synergies.
- Global case studies – Learn from real-world examples of steward-ownership and aligned financing in practice.
- A vibrant community – Connect with entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders interested in and committed to alternative ownership solutions highlighting long-term independence and purpose.
Past Speakers
Over the years, our conference has welcomed visionary, inspiring and committed entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, industry leaders, and changemakers from diverse sectors and many countries. From pioneering business founders to forward-thinking politicians, our speakers bring unique perspectives, insights and expertise on steward-ownership and the future of purpose-driven business.
Explore past speakers and facilitators from our
previous conferences SO:22 and SO:23.
Soak up the Conference Spirit ...
… and take a look at the highlight moments and the programs from our past conferences! Dive back to the SO:22 and SO:23 and (re)visit highlights around steward-ownership and our gatherings.
SO:25 at the Radialsystem
We are thrilled to be hosting the conference again at the Radialsystem in Berlin! A huge thank you to our generous partners at Radialsystem – thanks to their support, we’re able to bring the SO:25 to life in such an inspiring space. We can’t wait to welcome you there.
Get in Touch.
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#VE22 in Numbers
Conference
Many exciting keynote and workshop speakers have already confirmed their participation. With our program, we seek to represent the multifaceted nature of steward-ownership, inspire, and outline its relevance to other areas. Despite all the invigorating input, we offer a breathable conference schedule – with enough coffee breaks, soul-searching and learning moments as well as time to get to know each other and exchange ideas with the other participants.
Event-Partner
We are happy to have the GTREU I Stiftung as our first event partner for the SO:22 on board and would like to thank them for their support and cooperation.
Enabler
We would also like to thank the following enablers for their support and cooperation:
Steward-Ownership
The SO:22 conference will be hosted by Stiftung Verantwortungseigentum and the Purpose Stiftung gGmbH. Steward-ownership creates the possibility to bring together start-ups, medium-sized businesses and large corporations. It combines modern with traditional entrepreneurship, sustainability with profitable business. On the one hand, steward-ownership is a proven ownership model that has been in place for many decades and implemented by iconic German businesses such as Bosch and Zeiss. On the other hand, it presents a new alternative to conventional and more traditional ownership models. It allows start-ups to legally safeguard their purpose-oriented businesses and enables medium-sized business and Hidden Champions to set-up sustainable charters, where successors can become steward-owners indepedent of family affiliation or acquisition power.
Steward-ownership has the potential to play a role in the transformation of the economy. It centers on the core of the company itself – ts ownership, its DNA. The goal is to (re)prioritize the purpose of the company – to the maximization of short-term profits; and to safeguard its independence in the long-run.
In short:
With steward-ownership, assets and control remain within the company in the long term.
This is based on two key principles:
First: Asset lock, or put differently profits serve purpose. For steward-owner companies, assets and profits are not an end in themselves, but a means to an end. They are reinvested, used to pay investors, shared with stakeholders or donated to charity. They cannot be withdrawn for personal benefit.
Second: Self-governance. Steward-owned companies keep control within the business. Voting shares can only be held by the stewards; this way the company can not become a speculative asset. Voting shares cannot be inherited or sold for profits, but are passed on in trust and alignment of shared values and necessary skills.
The Purpose Stiftung gGmbH (Purpose Foundation) was established in 2015 with the goal to inform about steward-ownership and to facilitate its implementation worldwide. As a non-profit, the Purpose Foundation focuses on education and research. Knowledge generated through the practice and experience of and with steward-ownership is made accessible through publications, events, and open-source materials. Its mission: to contribute to an economy that serves people, society and the planet.
The Stiftung Verantwortungseigentum (Foundation for Steward-Ownership), founded in November 2019, connects steward-owned companies in Germany and advocates for a better legal framework for the implementation of steward-ownership. To this end, the foundation is in exchange with six independent legal scholars, who have drafted a bill for a new legal form for steward ownership, and is in direct contact with politicians. The coalition of the new federal government, comprised of social democrats, greens and liberals, has committed itself in its coalition agreement to introduce such a new legal form. In addition to the political work, the foundation promotes education and research as well as information and the exchange of experience on the topic of steward-ownership within the framework of a non-profit cooperation.
