Reviewing some of the W3C policies, kind of interesting who can be part of a working group. Small companies can be members for $2k/year. Invited experts can also participate, but:

Invited Expert status is not normally granted to individuals employed by organizations which have significant business interest in results from W3C.

If they’re too strict about this, which I think is unlikely, it might create a hole where very small companies don’t have a clear place.