At Good Tech Collective we support the development of responsible tech (do no harm) and tech for good (do good). In a world where technology shapes every aspect of our lives, we need to ask ourselves: How can we harness its power while preserving our humanity and our planet?

Our digital lives shouldn’t come at the cost of our mental health, privacy, or human connections. We believe we need a balanced approach where technology serves human values—not the other way around.

And because we humans are part of a larger living ecosystem, truly responsible, humane technology must also consider our impact on the planet.

(ecological innovation: technology designed in harmony with living systems: humans, other species, the entire earth)

We live in a technological age. AI systems can write, create, and (seemingly) reason. Digital platforms connect billions of people instantly. Yet for all this power, we’re seeing increasing anxiety, polarization, and disconnection in our world.

The problem isn’t technology itself—it’s how we’re building it. Most tech development is driven by metrics that optimize for engagement, growth, and profit without considering deeper human needs or long-term consequences.

Good tech requires more than good intentions. It demands:

• Responsible AI practices that prioritize human agency and wellbeing
• Digital products designed for genuine human thriving, not just addictive engagement
• Development processes that consider ripple effects on society, mental health, and democracy
• Teams that model healthy relationships with technology themselves

This isn’t about slowing innovation—it’s about directing technical capabilities toward outcomes that truly serve humanity.

The way we structure ownership and incentives in the tech industry profoundly shapes the kind of technology we create. When ownership is narrowly distributed and incentives prioritize growth and profits above all else, leaders are often pushed to focus solely on narrow KPIs, ignoring the broader societal and ecological impacts of their innovations.

While most founders begin with the best intentions, the existing systems often steer them toward a growth-only mindset. This dynamic can lead to technologies that prioritize addictive engagement, data exploitation, or environmental harm over long-term human and planetary wellbeing. It also leads to an effect that Cory Doctorow has called “enshittification”, where products reach a point where the only way to still grow is making the user experience actively worse.

To create truly good tech, we need to rethink these structures. This means:

• Exploring ownership models that distribute power and accountability more equitably
• Designing incentive systems that reward long-term value creation over short-term gains
• Encouraging leaders to consider the ripple effects of their decisions on society, democracy, and the environment

By aligning ownership and incentives with human and ecological flourishing, we can unlock the potential for technology to serve the common good.

How do we consistently make wise, responsible choices, especially under the pressures of startup life, investor demands, and competitive markets? This is where wisdom traditions offer something profound: practices that develop our capacity for wise decision-making.

When leaders are more embodied, reflective, and connected to something larger than immediate profit, they naturally make choices that serve long-term flourishing. They pause before reacting. They consider broader consequences. They stay connected to their deepest values even when facing difficult trade-offs.

Business wisdom isn’t mystical—it’s practical. It’s about cultivating the inner capacity to:

• Make decisions from clarity rather than reactivity
• Consider multiple stakeholders and long-term impacts
• Stay aligned with core values under pressure
• Lead with both competence and compassion

This approach applies far beyond tech. Any business facing complex decisions in an interconnected world can benefit from leaders who bring both strategic intelligence and embodied wisdom to their work.

Join Us

We’re building a collective of practitioners who bridge technical and strategic expertise with embodied human wisdom. Whether you’re a responsible AI consultant, leadership coach, startup founder, or simply someone who believes business can be a force for good—we’d love to explore how we might work together.

Interested in learning more or contributing to this vision? Let’s connect.