By Lesley Yates
6 Unique Crowdfunding Sites and Platforms to Jumpstart Your Funding & Investing
As entrepreneurs we dedicate our lives to creating, innovating, and dreaming up projects that, with a little bit of luck and a whole lot of skill, will become a reality. Though for most of us, that reality isn’t possible by delving into our own financial pockets. Angel investors and big capital firms are an incredible way to get the funding a business needs, but what about paying for the materials of that prototype you want to make or that miniscule salary you’d like to pay your undergraduate developer? You want to use something a little more specific than just Kickstarter or Indiegogo- what are your options?
Finding some early startup money through a crowdfunding site can help get your concept turn into something tangible and real!
1. FUNDWISDOM
You’re looking to invest in a new startup with equity returns, yet with over 80 crowdfunding platform sites on the web, the search is exhausting and overwhelming! Sitting in our beautiful office space, NGIN member Brian Thopsey and his team at FundWisdom have developed technology that analyzes and aggregates data from a slew of different crowdfunding platforms online. FundWisdom is able to streamline the best opportunities suited for a serious investor. Check out FundWisdom’s awesome video for more information about what they’re all about. http://vimeo.com/97966438
2. OPEN IDEO
Open IDEO is an “open innovation platform” that draws inspiration and opinions from an online global community in tandem to solve major issues. These are ideas that will change the world. OpenIDEO poses a big question, then the coworking community comments, brainstorms solutions, and collaborates globally. The community then votes on the best concepts to get funded! The coworking aspect and community involvement at OpenIDEO is incredible and definitely something that we encourage at NGIN!
3. APPBACKR
Do you think your app has what it takes to be discovered? Appbackr, started in 2010 as a marketplace for developers to raise funding and awareness about their apps. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the marketplace, Appbackr developed a program that analyzed app data from app stores around the world in order to objectively score apps and highlight those that should be discovered. Appbackr has since patterned with Motorola, Samsung, Amazon, and many more companies looking to discover the latest and greatest in app development. The newest version of this software, App Anatomy rates and collects the best apps in the world based on three distinct components; technical performance, user interface, and behaviors. This is definitely the crowdfunding site for your business if you’re developing an app or technology looking to be bought out by a higher up.
4. FUNDABLE
Fundable launched in 2012 as a rewards based crowdfunding site by Will Schroder and Eric Corl. Quickly after the platform came on the scene, Fundable became one of the first sites to utilize equity crowdfunding. If you’re looking for a platform that hosts a range of products and services (everything from funding for craft breweries to lights switches controlled by an app) and a platform that allows reward based investing or equity based investing, this site will give your business a boost!
5. QUIRKY
Crowdfunding isn’t just for tech companies! Quirky, an NYC based invention office, is a one-stop shop for inventors! Quirky is a platform targeted to the normal folk who have an idea but don’t know how to make it into a reality. Quirky helps fund ideas with big market potential for the everyday consumer. In addition to being a crowdfunding website, Quirky also has an online retail shop that sells an inventors’ finished product! Quirky also offers product development services for inventors not unlike a startup incubator. If you have an idea for a consumer product, this might be the route to take!
6. START SOME GOOD
This crowdfunding platform site is for any project aiming to create social impact. This global platform is for non-profits, for profits, one off projects, ongoing ventures and everything in between. Only projects that have been assessed and scrutinized by StartSomeGood can use this platform in order to ensure a collection of high quality investments back backers.
Unlike many fundraising platforms, StartSomeGood allows the entrepreneur to set a high goal without the risk of losing all funding if they fall short of their target. Although, they don’t allow the project to keep any and all of the funds raised (backer’s assurance) until the campaign has raised enough money to progress the idea and make real change.
Hooray! You’ve decided on a platform and you’re ready to get funded. At NGIN Workplace, we offer free event space and a celebratory bottle of champagne to kick off your campaign! We promote your project through our social media platforms and provide incredible networking opportunities with our 80+ members and 30 companies. Experience our coworking community and let’s celebrate your success together!
events@ngin-work.com
