About the CTRL Foundation

In a world where attention is fragmenting, economic value is flowing disproportionately to Silicon Valley, and people are emotionally drained rather than enriched by technology, the CTRL Foundation stands for a fundamentally different vision. We build technology that aligns with how humans naturally think and communicate, tools that let stories unfold, knowledge accumulate, and ideas persist beyond the ephemeral scroll of a feed. The goal: A digital world where everyone, regardless of technical skill or economic status, can create, meaningfully contribute, and connect through tools designed for deep expression—not shallow engagement.

Digital infrastructure must serve human potential rather than constraining it, full digital creative tools should be accessible to all, and technology must amplify our most meaningful capabilities instead of exploiting our vulnerabilities.

The CTRL Foundation administers the technology we oversee with an independent governance structure, deliberately separating it from profit-seeking pressures and market expectations. By maintaining complete ownership of the digital infrastructure we support, we ensure that human flourishing—not revenue optimization—remains our immovable north star. Unlike traditional technology companies that must prioritize shareholder returns, our foundation is structured to protect the integrity of our mission: to restore narrative thinking, creative agency, and democratic access to the digital world. This governance model allows us to make decisions based on long-term human benefit, creating a protective barrier between the tools we build and the relentless demands of surveillance capitalism.

The Board

President
Jeremy Medford
Boston, MA

Secretary
Matthew Nystrom
Denver, CO

Treasurer
Russell Hunter
Salt Lake City, UT

It’s time for a correction.

You don’t just need “better” social media; you need a correction. It’s time to fill in the missing piece that got left out as the internet evolved, and bring web publishing into the hands of everyone.

The evolution

Our Backstory

As told by Jeff Medford, Architect of the CTRL Foundation

The CTRL Foundation was born from a moment of clarity during a vacation in Andalusia, Spain with Melissa Jenerette. While visiting historic sites that rented clunky audioguides, she turned to me and said, “Someone needs to make an app to replace these.” In that instant—like a Matrix-style download—a vision crystallized. In my mind I saw a platform where anyone, anywhere, could create and share rich, multimedia guides—not just for tourists sites or museums—but for any experience or knowledge they held. This spark ignited my dream to democratize digital creation, with the goal of making rich, flexible, multimedia posts as simple to make as sending a text message. The goal was a reimagining of the internet for everyone, not just the privileged. With the help of designer Matthew Nystrom, the journey began.

As I traveled through over 50 countries, this need for this correction became starkly apparent through a profound encounter in rural Moldova. I saw a young boy selling flowers in the woods who looked remarkably like my own son. The contrast in their lives was striking: My American son had the entire digital world at his fingertips, but this Moldovan child’s ability to harness the internet for his benefit was constrained by technology, language, and economic differences. This digital divide illustrates a fundamental inequity: creating, sharing, and accessing knowledge online remains complex, technical, and exclusive.

The final insight in this journey occurred in January 2023 when I encountered the music of REN, whose unflinching rejection of music-industry pressures to sell out for money resonated deeply with my own struggle. His artistic integrity helped to crystallize my decision: My vision for a renewed internet was too important to risk being corrupted by venture capital’s demands. I chose to establish the CTRL Foundation—ensuring that what we build remains aligned with human flourishing rather than quarterly returns.

The Present.

  • Posts are organized onto endlessly-scrolling, infinite timelines that bury your content—that give value to the present moment only.
  • Only the skilled or affluent have easy access to the most powerful online creation tools.
  • Platform owners are enriched without also contributing to the local economies of other regions.
  • Sharing is for viewing and liking instead of being used for collaborative information sharing and gathering.

The Future…

  • You will create and share vibrant, variable, dynamic multimedia stories in seconds—right from your phone, as easily as texting.
  • You will be able to post directly to the World-Wide Web instead of running into a World-Wide Wall.
  • You won’t be locked in the platform post box. Rather, you’ll share your story your way—fast and flexible.
  • Instead of hunting for likes, your ideas will be part of a worldwide collaborative knowledge network.

If we simply try to get existing platforms to change, we will fail. So we will create a viable alternative.

The CTRL Foundation will dismantle the barriers that lock you out of the open internet, enabling you to teach, create, and connect in ways that elevate you and your community.

SHIFT the Vision