Does it cost anything to apply?
No. Applying is free.
Why is it called Loop?
Six reasons, actually, one for every level we care about, from how code runs to how nature closes its own loops. They're all set out in Why we're called Loop.
Do I need to be a developer?
No. Loop is for AI creators, builders and devs of any background. Devs are very welcome, and plenty of members won't be writing code at all.
What does membership cost?
One tree a month, R150, bought directly from Greenpop's tree cards. That payment goes straight to Greenpop, never to us. We'll send the details once you're accepted.
How do the founding seats work?
Thirteen founding members: twelve seats plus me. Applying is free, and October and November are informal info sessions to meet who might join, not yet the full Loop experience. Once you're accepted, your seat is confirmed when your first tree is planted, and seats are claimed in the order those trees land. Loop opens in January 2027 with that group.
What happens once all thirteen seats are taken?
The founding thirteen fill first, for January. After that three new spaces open in the network each month, and only three. February, March, April, and on from there.
You don't have to wait to be let in before you commit. Buying your tree secures you the next available slot, so your place is held from the moment you plant. Once the nearest months are taken, everyone after that sits on a waitlist in order.
If a founding member leaves, or anyone's tree lapses, that seat doesn't sit empty. It's offered to the next person on the waitlist and everyone behind them moves up.
Three a month is deliberate. Small enough that the room never stops feeling like a room, and it means a seat is something you hold rather than something you were handed.
What if I miss a month's tree?
Your tree is what holds your seat. A month without one and the seat goes back to the waitlist, and if you want to return you rejoin at the back of the line behind everyone who kept theirs. That isn't meant to be harsh. R150 is the only thing we ask of you, and it's what keeps you in the room, in the group, and eligible for the hackathons. It also keeps the room made up of people who actually want to be in it. If something is going on, talk to us before the month is out and we'll work with you. Silence is what costs you the seat, not honesty.
What's the actual commitment?
One tree a month, and two sessions a month from January 2027, joining whichever ones you can. Nothing else is mandatory. Full schedule is in the lineup. Keeping your tree current is also what keeps you eligible for the hackathons, and for Loop Council later.
What is Loop Council?
A seed we're watering. Nothing to announce yet, and we'll shape it with the founding Grove rather than deciding it for them.
Can my tree be planted for someone else?
Yes. If you'd rather dedicate your monthly tree to someone else, a loved one, a memorial, a client, that's fine. Just forward your Greenpop receipt either way. Only your own name and tree count ever show publicly in the Grove; who a tree is dedicated to stays private unless you choose to share it.
Where does the money go?
Not to us. Your R150 goes straight to Greenpop for your tree, and we never touch it. Loop's own running costs (venue hire, snacks and drinks at meetups, catering for each hackathon) are currently carried by The Brave Advisory and Grow Brave Media. After launch we'll open a small number of partner roles to cover those specific costs instead. Anything that ever comes in beyond real costs goes back into running and growing the network. If we secure credits, discounts or access to tools along the way, those get shared with members.
Do members have to help find sponsors?
No. Finding partners is my job, not a target passed on to members, and no one's expected to go looking as part of belonging to Loop. If you happen to know a business that might want in, a warm introduction is welcome and never expected. Partners get no say over who is admitted and no influence on what happens in the room.
