FAQs

5

What is "What Matters"?

1

What Matters is a global initiative and evolving practice dedicated to reclaiming humanity in the economy. We focus on regenerative community development, specifically within informal economies, township communities, and underserved settlements.

Who owns and manages What Matters?

2

What Matters is sustained by CO-LAB for Future Economics, an independent, privately owned nonprofit organization headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

We also branched out as COLAB for Future Economy South Africa to secure and sustain our operations in South Africa.

When was What Matters started?

3

While officially established as an initiative in 2023, our work is built upon more than a decade of intensive pre-fieldwork and cross-industry observation within both corporate and community-based economic systems.

What is meant by "Regenerative Community Economy Development"?

What are your primary action fields?

4

How can I contact you?

We operate in informal economies, urban townships, and underserved settlements. Our work bridges the gap between technology, capital, and humanity while focussing on community-based economies. Our focus areas:

  • 1 | Community & Bioregional Economy Development

  • 2 | Business & Financial Literacy

  • 3 | Community Leadership & Economic Agency

  • 4 | Inclusive Dialogue & Economic Collaboration

  • 5 | Regenerative Investment & Capital Awareness

It is a shift away from extractive models. We focus on economic systems that restore and renew their own resources and social fabric, ensuring the economy serves the people, rather than people serving the economy.

Each community-business we collaborate with has to serve people and the planet.