Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo allow individuals and companies to raise funds for projects from many small donors. In 2012, over 2 million people pledged $319.7 million to fund 18,109 projects on Kickstarter. Successful crowdfunding campaigns have a great project, strong supporter networks, and offer rewards to financial contributors. Platforms like CircleUp focus on equity-based crowdfunding for accredited investors in consumer companies. Protecting the business entity from liability is important if using crowdfunding.

1. Crowfunding
By L.A. Lorek
Silicon Hills News
BlogItSA!
Sponsored by Geekdom, ZippyKid and
SiliconHills News

2. Kickstarter
Kickstarter, founded in 1999, reported more
than 2.2 million people pledged a total of
$319.7 million to fund 18,109 projects in 2012.

3. IndieGoGo

9. RocketHub

10. RocketHub
The average contribution on RocketHub is $75
Most projects last between 30 to 45 days
The Fundraising sweetspot is between $3,500
and $35,000

11. Three Pillars to Success
• 1. A great project
• 2. Strong network of supporters
• 3 Cool goods in exchange for a financial
contribution

12. GetFunded

13. CrowdCube in the U.K.
CrowdCube in the United Kingdom launched in
2010 and finances, on average, $88,000 per
company.
But only 7 percent of the companies seeking
investment are successful.

15. CircleUp
• CircleUp launched in mid-2012, and has
already invested $7.5 million in eight deals
into privately held consumer and retail
companies. CircleUp, based in San Francisco,
deals with accredited investors only and that’s
why it’s able to do equity-based
crowdfunding.

17. How to Succeed?
The secret to success is to have an awesome
project spearheaded by real people who ae
passionate.

18. If You Crowdfund
• Protect Yourself from Lawsuits
• Make sure to incorporate your business
• That places the liability on the business and
not you personally in case the business or
project fails.

19. Tap into Your Social Network