Wealth Creation

At least as rich as their cultures. 

  • We redefine capitalism as making money solving social problems (like Muhammad Yunus said we should when he won the Nobel Price in Economics)

  • Cultural and intellectual property can be a tremendous source of wealth for indigenous peoples, e.g. the Zulu (see Ethnicity, INC. by Comaroff & Comaroff)

  • Growing interest in indigenous designs, like Shipibo-Conibo and Huni Kuin kené, and plant medicines, like ayahuasca, can lead to appropriation

  • Intellectual property protections for indigenous culture, like copyrights on kené and patents on plant medicine recipes, can both prevent appropriation and alleviate poverty

Work Done

Actions speak louder than words.

  • In 2015, formed a commercial partnership between a Shipibo-Conibo artist, Magnolia, and a European fashion designer, Airuma, for custom high fashion

  • From 2016-2019, funded the legal education for a Shipibo-Conibo lawyer, Demer, and advised on his thesis about developing indigenous IP protections

  • In 2019, gave Demer a loan to launch his law practice in Yarinacocha, Peru

  • In 2019, formed a commercial partnership between Demer and a UK-based non-profit, Arkology, for protection of indigenous medicinal plant IP

  • In early 2020, worked with Demer to develop a sui generis licensing agreement for kené - linked in “Legal” below

  • In late 2020, formed IP2 RAO S.A., a Peruvian agricultural corporation, and leased land from the Shipibo-Conibo community of Santa Clara near Pucallpa, Peru for a DAO-based experiment in community-owned sustainable cultivation of B. caapi

  • In 2021, launched Kené Rao, a mini-factory owned and operated by Shipibo-Conibo people in Pucallpa, Peru

Next Steps

More rao.

  • Launching the IP^2 Foundation IP Protection Fund

  • Selecting a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor

  • Receiving 501(c)3 status (application submitted)

  • Engaging corporate partners for collaborations

Want to be our fiscal sponsor or corporate partner? Reach out.