This edition covers the launch of our new Free Cities Project Directory, our Substack debut, and Patri Friedman’s eight hard truths from 25 years of trying to build startup societies.
Free Cities Project Directory launched today
The Free Cities Foundation has launched a redesigned project directory at free-cities.org/directory, replacing the Free Communities Directory that longtime readers may know. The new version features 16 projects from across the emerging Free Cities industry—from freedom-focused intentional communities like Montelibero and Veritas Villages, to next-generation Special Economic Zones like Ciudad Morazán and Próspera.
Each listing follows a standardized format covering project type, stage of development, population, key industries, climate, target residents, and a curated media list. The new version replaces the previous 2D map with a 3D navigable globe: rotate it by geography, find a project, and click through to the full listing. Whether you are a prospective resident, an entrepreneur looking for new opportunities, or simply trying to map the Free Cities landscape, the new directory will serve as a strong starting point for your research.
Patri Friedman’s eight hard truths
The Free Cities Foundation has launched a Substack page, where we will share longer reads and deeper analysis. Our debut article distills eight core lessons from Patri Friedman’s 25 years attempting to build startup societies. As founder of Pronomos Capital, the first charter city investment fund, Patri has had a front-row seat to more attempts to build new jurisdictions than almost anyone alive—and knows first-hand what works and what doesn’t. Our article draws out the core “hard truths” shared in today’s episode of the Free Cities Podcast, where Patri goes into much greater depth in his own words. Subscribe to our Substack here and listen to the full episode at fountain.fm.
How Free Cities could reinvent community decision-making
A new article on the Free Cities Foundation blog by Alex Voss (pictured) makes the case for applying quadratic voting and quadratic finance to intentional communities and new city developments. The core argument: traditional majority-rule governance is blind to how much people care about an issue, and quadratic mechanisms fix that by letting residents express the intensity of their preferences—not just the direction. Read the full article here.
Activity in Próspera is ramping up
Following the positive result in the Honduran presidential election, activity in and around Próspera has been ramping up rapidly. The photos show some members of our team attending Infinita’s recently completed Liberty Acceleration Summit, which brought more industry players together in Próspera than ever before.
The Free Cities Conference takes place in Próspera from September 3 to 6 and will be larger still, with more international attendees than any event run in the zone to date. If you have been following the Free Cities movement for some time and want to finally take the opportunity to see one first-hand, there will be no better time than September. Early bird tickets are still available but prices rise on April 30. Tickets and full details at freecitiesconference.com.
Follow us on TikTok
The Free Cities Foundation is now on TikTok with two accounts: our general news account covers developments across the broader Free Cities movement, and our podcast account features regular highlights from recent episodes. In our latest video, our managing director answers a question on why we can’t simply buy a Greek or Indonesian island and turn it into a Free City—watch here on TikTok.
Final thoughts
This has been a busy few weeks for the Free Cities Foundation, and there is more to come. The directory and the Substack are both resources we intend to grow—the directory will expand as new projects come online, and the Substack will publish regularly. You may also notice these newsletters arriving more frequently than before. Once a month felt sufficient for a while, but the pace of developments across the industry has picked up, and we want to make sure you’re kept informed. If you have any feedback on what we’ve shared, please let us know by responding to this email.
Your Free Cities Foundation Team
