Web's Largest listing of crowdsourcing and crowdfunding events
Web's Largest Directory of Sites2,358 crowdsourcing and crowdfunding sites
In a really exciting first in the world of crowdfunding, the Rushmore Group which runs private members’ clubs in London has become the first business ever to raise more than £1m using a crowdfunding platform. Based in the UK, Crowdcube is one of the first business finance crowdfunding platforms for businesses to raise equity finance. Crowdcube launched in 2010 as the “next generation of business investment” and offers a new way to fund start-ups and business expansion by providing budding entrepreneurs a platform to connect with ordinary people and raise venture capital.
Selecting Crowdcube for its fundraising platform, Jonathan Downey, founder and owner of the Rushmore Group, opted to use the crowdfunding model over other methods for raising capital needed to expand the business. Sensationally, the Group raised the money in the space of four weeks from 143 investors.
Last year it became clear that Crowdfunding is becoming big business. With the rise of Crowdfunding platforms all over the world, it seems valuable to take a closer look at the future of the industry and the way Crowdfunding can contribute to a healthy entrepreneurial climate. In my opinion it all comes down to what all these platforms actually deliver to project owners or nascent entrepreneurs.
Last week’s blogpost “Equity or Debt?” the Next step in Crowdfunding highlighted the three fundamental forms of crowdfunding platforms:
Crowdfunding is showing that the traditional lending institutions and means of raising money no longer have the reigns as to how far a promising entrepreneur can excel. Instead of being bogged down...
It's no secret that venture capital and angel investing is 'clubby,' dominated mostly by middle-aged men.According to a 2007 study of angel investors in North America, 86 percent were male with an average age of 57. Women didn't fare any better in a similar UK study, where 93 percent of investors were male. A similar trend exists on the entrepreneur side: only eight percent of companies that receive venture capital funding are run by women. While the VC community seems stuck in an old boys network mentality, crowdfunding is radically re-shaping business investment and neutralizing gender bias, for both investors and entrepreneurs.
Oscar-winning actress and talk-show host, Whoopi Goldberg, is backing an effort to get the Securities and Exchange Commission to ease regulations that frustrate a money-raising technique called...
The stock market-crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that followed really messed it up for crowdfunding, imposing restrictions that 82 years later would make it really difficult to use the social network for raising money for start-ups. So, we are now all connected via social networks – we like the idea of funding our favorite causes and we are happy to freely donate some of our money without an expected return – we also feel good about helping to fund a small business entrepreneur buy a tractor and retire the mules, all we expect is a reasonable rate of interest. We see another good business idea and for a small investment we get a cut of the revenue generated. But, why can’t we invest in a start-up venture and get a piece of the action!
According to Crowdcube managing director, Darren Westlake, a partnership with Merism Capital is a great fit for Crowdcube. Furthermore, he said, "Both organisations target equity investment...
A landmark U.S. congressional hearing relating to crowdfunding and small business capital formation is taking place today, May 10th, 2011! Entrepreneur Sherwood "Woody" Neiss will testify in front of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Woody is advocating SEC regulatory change which would enable small businesses to solicit funding from the general public. And besides the ear of congress, Whoopi Goldberg has got behind him!
The platform will also provide a great way to check feasibility of your plan through the online BiTS (Brand Image Traffic Sales) tool. This check will result in a final E.Certification. In...
Ever tried funding a startup? I've been told that there is a 1 in 500 chance you will succeed (once you've developed a great idea). With this in mind I started looking for funding for MaxClass - a new private social network for education. After we had started development in April 2010 using our own money, we knew we could last a bit longer than a year. As I think I'm at least a bit smarter than the average entrepreneur (we all do I'm sure), I told myself that good pitch and about 100 meetings should do the trick. We did after all have a brilliant idea.
According to Carl Esposti, Symbid has a very interesting model in terms of connecting entrepreneurs with investors in a way that's regulated. Furthermore, he says it provides tremendous scope...
Great article
On September 28, 2011, the city of Lisbon hosted the first international crowdfunding event in Portugal. To the 400 attendees and webcast viewers, the event introduced the concept of crowdfunding in its various forms, its potential, requirements and risks, focusing on two of the most successful cases in Europe, Symbid and Crowdcube.
Pedro Oliveira, professor in Catolica Lisbon and founder of PPL (Crowdfunding Portugal) kicked things off with a general intro to crowdfunding, followed by Korstiaan Zandvliet’s presentation of Symbid, a reference equity crowdfunding case from Holland. Symbid is an equity-based online investment platform that enables individuals to directly invest in start-ups or existing ventures in exchange for an equity stake in the company. With investments ranging from as little as €20 to as much as €2,500,000, just about anyone can invest through Symbid.
Crowdcube provides a platform for entrepreneurs to connect with potential investors.They're the world’s first crowdfunding website that gives investors equity in the companies they fund. It...
Crowdfunding is effectively the next generation of business investment for start-ups and business expansion. Entrepreneurs can offer investors the opportunity to pre-purchase their products as part...
Crowdfunding enables communities to mobilise support for the things that they want to see happen, as investors in their own future. If they can raise some of the money for themselves, it makes...
On Kickstarter, "Film projects have seen $35 million in pledges, music has seen $20 million, design $8 million, theatre $6 million, publishing $6 million. The lowest categories in terms of...
One of the biggest issues civilisedmoney will have is gaining trust from those looking to invest, borrow or lend. There may be big mistrust of banks, but consumers still feel comfort in trusting...
Naturally they turned to the experts, Crowdcube, to find out more about this emerging alternative to the out-dated traditional methods of raising finance.
According to Crowdcube, the investment sets a new record for the largest amount of money raised using a crowdfunding website anywhere in the world. The previous record set by a project on US-based...
Founded in 2010, the industry website, Crowdsourcing.org, is a neutral organization dedicated solely to crowdsourcing and crowdfunding. As one of the most influential and credible authorities in the crowdsourcing space, Crowdsourcing.org is recognized worldwide for its intellectual capital, crowdsourcing and crowdfunding practice expertise and unbiased thought leadership.
