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Crowdfunding the Modern Startup

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Crowdfunding the Modern Startup
Posted by: Mike Edelhart

June 28, 2012

For entrepreneurs with the right strategy, this is an exciting year to launch a new business with high growth potential. The JOBS Act that was recently signed into law and the emergence of crowd funding sites like IndieGogo and Kickstarter make the world of venture funding significantly different than it was 10 years ago. I recently wrote an article for an eBook produced by MyVenturePad, and wanted to share some of the key points from the eBook.

The social web is drastically changing the way young companies get noticed, monetize, and begin to grow. It is now easier than ever for someone with an idea and some ambition to create a business with financial support easily available on the Internet. Crowd-funding sites are growing exponentially, and are proving to be

extremely successful for some. Pebble Smart Watch, for example, has raised over $3 million in funding, though their initial goal was $100,000.

Youtube now allows users to solicit donations on the platform and link back to campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo, helping to make these fundraising campaigns viral. The reach of YouTube is practically infinite: “[The site’s] 490 million users upload more video content in a 60 day period than the three major U.S television networks created in 60 years,” claims IBM’s CMO Study. Many worry about the risks that accompany these crowd-funding solutions, citing insufficient protection for investors. Small business lawyer Antone Johnson worries about what investors stand to lose, writing, “The lack of transparency is justified by limiting the amount of capital any one investor can lose, and/or the amount the company can raise, to figures small enough to meet someone’s arbitrary standard of relative harmlessness. If that sounds reasonable to you, I’d be happy to confiscate $100 apiece from 10,000 readers to walk away a millionaire while leaving you with no recourse.” The crowd-funding system has some maturing to do before it can protect both the entrepreneur and the investor.

Though it may seem like The JOBS ACT and crowd-funding sites will serve to increase the funds available to entrepreneurs, fundraising overall is on a downward slope since last year. The LA Times reports, “U.S.-based companies raised $6.3 billion through 717 venture capital deals during the first quarter of 2012, an 18% decline in capital and 9% decline in deals from the same period last year.” The climate for new business ventures remains uncertain, and entrepreneurs need every edge available.
Download the FREE eBook for more information on funding the modern startup.

How have you raised capital for your startup? Do crowd-funding platforms like IndieGogo or Kickstarter help your efforts? Tweet Mike Edelhart at @MikeEdelhart or @pivotcon with your answers!

Summary
For entrepreneurs with the right strategy, this is an exciting year to launch a new business with high growth potential. The JOBS Act that was recently signed into law and the emergence of crowd funding sites like IndieGogo and Kickstarter make the world of venture funding significantly different than it was 10 years ago.

Description
Though it may seem like The JOBS ACT and crowd-funding sites will serve to increase the funds available to entrepreneurs, fundraising overall is on a downward slope since last year. The LA Times reports, “U.S.-based companies raised $6.3 billion through 717 venture capital deals during the first quarter of 2012, an 18% decline in capital and 9% decline in deals from the same period last year.” The climate for new business ventures remains uncertain, and entrepreneurs need every edge available.

Tags: business crowdfunding, Cash Flow, Crowdfunding, Crowdsourcing, IndieGoGO, Kickstarter, Startups

Posted by Marco Torquati

Aug 04, 2012 07:09 am GMT Viewed 1037 times

Author: Mike Edelhart Source

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