Strategic metrics focus on the DAO's mission and purpose. The key question every DAO must address is "why join?" The answer doesn't necessarily need to be complex or profit-driven. Many successful crypto communities have rallied around simple concepts like memes. For instance, Bitcoin and Dogecoin have gained significant traction through memes alone. Similarly, DAOs operating as democratic entities can capture attention through unique or engaging ideas, with values and goals following suit. Nouns DAO is a prime example, having built a million-dollar treasury and an active governance board around a meme, leaving a significant impact on the crypto industry.

Guild DAOs, such as Vector DAO, Content Guild, Twali, and Safary DAO, focus on talent and services. These DAOs comprise skilled professionals like designers, writers, and consultants, offering service packages to companies seeking talent. In return, they provide attractive rates for their members who work for these clients or bring in new business. These organizations may not prioritize token price or even have a tradable, publicly accessible token, emphasizing their unique strategic focus.

The organizational structure of Vector DAO. Source: Vector DAO.

The legal framework of your DAO matters when considering many non-obvious interactions, such as fundraising, revenue generation, and taxes. I’m not a lawyer so I won’t dwell on it, but A16z has written comprehensively about selecting a legal framework and the considerations and consequences of each legal framework in their article, “DAO Entity Features & Entity Selection”. Definitely worth a look-see.