Become an Expert

Shape the Future of Worker Ownership

Review proposals, mentor entrepreneurs, and grow the co-op movement

Why Become an Expert?

EconChangers Experts are the backbone of our campaign review process. Your expertise ensures that promising worker cooperatives receive funding while protecting investors from unviable proposals.

Grow the Movement

Help promising entrepreneurs bring their co-op ideas to life.

Share Expertise

Put your professional knowledge to work for the cooperative economy.

Earn Stipends

Receive fair compensation for your time and professional judgment.

Join a Network

Connect with fellow experts and expand your professional community.

Your Endorsement Matters

Every approved FlockTank campaign carries your professional endorsement. Investors trust our platform because they trust our Experts. Your expertise protects the ecosystem and ensures only viable, well-prepared cooperatives reach the funding stage.

Who We're Looking For

We welcome mission-aligned organizations and experienced individuals who share our commitment to worker ownership.

Organizations

Cooperative Federations with experience supporting member co-ops
CDFIs and Community Lenders focused on social enterprise
SBDCs and Business Incubators with cooperative programs
University Research Centers studying cooperative economics
Nonprofit Incubators focused on community wealth building

Individuals

Cooperative Development Professionals with track records
Business Consultants specializing in small business viability
Attorneys experienced in cooperative law and governance
Experienced Co-op Founders who've built successful cooperatives
Industry Specialists with sector-specific expertise

Your Role as an Expert

As an EconChangers Expert, you'll evaluate FlockTank campaign proposals and provide one of three decisions.

Endorse

The proposal is viable, well-prepared, and ready for crowdfunding.

Your written endorsement appears on the campaign page, building investor confidence.

Request Revision

The concept has potential but needs refinement before approval.

You provide detailed feedback and specific recommendations for improvement.

Decline

The proposal is not viable or fundamentally unsuitable for our platform.

Reserved for proposals with serious issues that cannot be addressed through revision.

What You'll Evaluate

Business viability and market opportunity

Cooperative governance structure

Financial projections and funding needs

Team experience and capacity

Investor repayment feasibility

Community impact potential

How It Works

Apply

Submit your application with credentials and experience

Onboard

Complete orientation on our review framework and standards

Review

Receive matched proposals and provide expert assessments

Impact

Watch approved co-ops launch and thrive with your endorsement

Ready to Make an Impact?

Join our growing network of Experts and help build the cooperative economy. We're actively seeking reviewers across all industries and regions.

Apply to Become an Expert

Stay Connected

Get updates on new opportunities, platform news, and the cooperative movement.

Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome professionals with demonstrated experience in cooperative development, business consulting, social enterprise, community development finance, or related fields. This includes cooperative federation staff, SBDC advisors, CDFIs, academic researchers, legal professionals specializing in cooperative law, and experienced cooperative practitioners. Formal credentials are valued but not required—practical experience and commitment to the co-op movement matter most.

Time commitment is flexible and based on your availability. Most Experts review 2-5 proposals per month, with each review taking approximately 1-2 hours. You set your own schedule and can adjust your workload as needed. We understand Experts have other professional commitments.

Yes. Experts receive a stipend for each proposal reviewed, regardless of the outcome. The exact compensation depends on the complexity of the review and is discussed during onboarding. We believe your expertise deserves fair compensation.

Your endorsement reflects your professional assessment at the time of review based on the information provided. Business outcomes depend on many factors beyond initial viability. We don't hold Experts responsible for business performance—your role is to evaluate the proposal's merit, not guarantee success.

Both! We welcome cooperative federations, community development organizations, university programs, and other mission-aligned entities. Organizations can designate multiple staff members as reviewers while maintaining a unified institutional relationship with EconChangers.

We provide standardized review frameworks, access to our Expert community for peer consultation, ongoing training on cooperative best practices, and dedicated support staff. You'll never review in isolation—our team is here to help with questions or edge cases.

Proposals are matched based on your stated areas of expertise, industry experience, and geographic knowledge. You can accept or decline any assignment. For complex proposals, we may assign multiple Experts for collaborative review.