Ed Russell
CEO, Co-operative Web
I founded the software development worker co-op “Co-operative Web” 10 years ago as a spin off from a small IT team within Midcounties that I headed at the time. Since the early days of 4 people in a tiny room we’ve grown to a 26 person worker co-op with a turnover in excess of £1.1 million. Co-operative Web works with all different types of businesses from large corporates to small start-ups providing the geeks to turn ideas and problems into brilliant software solutions.
Since starting Co-operative Web I’ve done a lot of other roles within the co-op sector. I’ve been on the Worker Co-op Council at Co-operatives UK, the committee at Co-operatives West Midlands, the board of the co-op development business Co-operative Futures and am on the Strategic Reference Panel for the direction of Co-operatives UK. I believe in a co-op solution to most business problems and am keen to see the sector grow.
I’m also the CTO of a new start-up called GivePenny which is an online charity donation platform aiming to change the way people give online and the connections between fundraisers and givers.
I’m often described as the geek that can talk but for me I just I love seeing the opportunities and solutions to other people’s problems.
My Sessions
Working session: Designing interoperable apps for the open app ecosystem
300Ed Russell
Jen Williams
Niran Babalola
Henry Story
Irina Bolychevsky
Jack Thorp
Laura Hilliger
Micky Metts
Juho Makkonen
Matt Wallis
Tim Davies
Victor Matekole
Dr Doug Belshaw
Ricard Espelt
Oliver Sylvester-Bradley
This session, aimed at software developers, will explore the various platforms and groups working on interoperable apps and projects with the objective of encouraging greater collaboration and standardisation within open source software development.
#DigiDen – pick your winner
Great HallIn a Dragon’s Den style session the three finalists of the #DigiDen competition will pitch their ideas for a digital co-op. The winner of the £2,000 start-up funding and five days of business support will be picked by the audience.