Why crowdfunding could disrupt how solar power is created

January 12, 2013 @ 2:15 am By GigaOm |

If you’re an avid Kickstarter backer, or even have seen Kickstarter’s latest 2012 stats, then you’re well-versed in the power of crowd-funding. Kickstarter recently said that 10 percent of the films at Sundance are Kickstarter-funded, and in 2012 over 2 million people pledged close to $320 million to successfully fund over 18,000 Kickstarter projects on the site. Can… Read More

Read more in: Crowdfunding Portals, General News | Tagged green, kickstarted, mosaic, solar

Selfstarter Crowdfunding Success Lumawake Hits Hurdle

January 11, 2013 @ 7:45 pm By CFI Correspondent |

Widely covered crowdfunding success Lumawake – dubbed the first docking station compatible with all iphones – recently indicated in their first backer update that they hit a hurdle. In contrast to the Kickstarter approach where funds committed are available for the project upon successfully attaining the stated goal, Lumawake decided to access the funds only… Read More

For Disillusioned SMEs Hope Is Not Lost

January 11, 2013 @ 7:14 pm By Business Review Europe |

2012 was a tough year for SMEs. The Eurozone crisis rumbled on, economies stagnated or contracted and the banks failed to lend the sums needed to help pull Europe out of the abyss. Government initiatives such as the Funding For Lending (FLS) scheme in the UK have done little to benefit small businesses. The banks… Read More

CST-01 E-ink watch hits Kickstarter goal $200k in 48 hours

January 11, 2013 @ 6:36 pm By SlashGear |

Having been launched on the 8th of January, back when we first got our hands on the unit, the CST-01 E-ink watch’s Kickstarter has reached its $200,000 USD funding goal in just two days time. This little gem of a watch is just 0.80mm thin, flexible and ready to be worn by the public right this… Read More

Read more in: Offerings | Tagged cst-1, kickstarter

Why do people give on crowdfunding sites?

January 11, 2013 @ 5:37 pm By Marketplace.org |

There are more than 50 crowdfunding Web sites in the United States alone and they attract a lot of money from a lot of people. But why do people give on these sites and why do they support certain projects? Elizabeth Gerber, a professor at Northwestern University, has studied crowdfunding and says there are four… Read More

Read more in: General News | Tagged elizabeth gerber, northwestern university

Crowdfund Texas Gathering: Optimistic about Future of Crowdfunding

January 11, 2013 @ 2:42 pm By CFI Correspondent |

Tuesday’s Crowdfund Texas Conference, held at the Omni Hotel in downtown Austin, attracted 235 industry luminaries, state officials, and aspiring entrepreneurs to the one-day event hosted by Texas super angel investor and Laughing at Wall Street author Chris Camillo. In partnership with the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA) and Startup Texas, the conference featured prominent Crowdfunding platforms, legal… Read More

Read more in: General News | Tagged cfpa, chris camillo, crowdfund texas, event, start up texas, survey

A Look Back at Indiegogo’s Successful Year in Crowdfunding

January 11, 2013 @ 1:40 pm By Mashable |

Global crowdfunding platform Indiegogo released statistics about its work in 2012 last week, focusing on campaigning, community and the influence of video within the past year. The stats show that on average, campaigns raised more than 2011 campaigns did, and nearly half of all campaigns received support from more than one country. Many people know of Indiegogo… Read More

Read more in: Crowdfunding Portals | Tagged indiegogo

Upcoming DPOs will help bring about Equity Crowdfunding Rules

January 11, 2013 @ 10:32 am By Howard Orloff, IPO Village |

After reflecting on the event at Crowdfund Texas, I have come to the firm belief that the upcoming IPO(s) from IPO Village will encourage movement on the rules that will ultimately govern equity crowdfunding. Equity Crowdfunding will bring about a new asset class that will have its own rules and regs from both the SEC… Read More

Read more in: General News | Tagged dpo, finra, howard orloff, ipo village, ipovillage, jobs act, sec

Backing for app designer a dream come true

January 11, 2013 @ 8:12 am By The Australian |

Kidder Williams, whose client list has included companies such as Bega, Tassal and Nufarm, has launched KidderApp, an investment fund set up to help entrepreneurs take their applications — commonly called “apps” — to market. With about 13,000 new apps approved every month on the iTunes App Store alone, Kidder Williams managing director David Williams… Read More

Read more in: Global | Tagged apps, australia, kidder williams, software

Cash-strapped French cultural attractions turn to crowdfunding

January 11, 2013 @ 6:23 am By RFI |

French museums and monuments are some of the most visited in the world. None of them is getting any younger, and many need restoration and renovations. With budget cuts across all parts of the government, French cultural institutions are turning to new ways of raising money, including online crowd funding. Victor Hugo, Emile Zola and… Read More

Read more in: Global | Tagged art, france, museums, mymajorcompany

Five new bands from Galicia bet on Crowdfunding to launch their albums (Spain)

January 11, 2013 @ 5:22 am By CFI Correspondent |

(Staff Translation) The band “The body of the Lito” is kicking off its campaign tomorrow to seek support for its first record, counting on the collaboration of Manuel Manquiña (a Spanish actor from Galicia). Five new bands are asking for public support to produce their albums thanks to Crowdfunding. Verkami, the most important platform of… Read More

Read more in: Global | Tagged espagne, music, spain, verkami

Musicians Take To Crowdfunding In 2012

Love Amanda Effing Palmer from Kickstarter

January 11, 2013 @ 4:13 am By Noise11 |

In a year when crowdfunding grew exponentially across the globe, music projects accounted for thousands of campaigns, including a growing local trend towards fan-supported releases. Record companies are out. Fans are in. Or at least, that seems to be the latest online business model starting to take a hold within the music industry worldwide, with… Read More

CircleUp serves small food producers healthy portions of investment

January 11, 2013 @ 2:58 am By VentureBeat |

I am a total health-food nerd. I love comparing notes about vegetable-based snacks, and granola sends me into spasms of excitement. The health-food, slow-food, boutique/artisanal/local-food movement is taking off. More and more people nationwide are swapping potato chips for kale chips and awareness about healthy eating practices is not only spreading but also trendy. Today,… Read More

Read more in: Crowdfunding Portals, General News | Tagged circleup, food, health, ryan caldbeck

Kick-Start Your Business With Crowdfunding

January 11, 2013 @ 1:47 am By Forbes |

If you’re familiar with the concept of crowdfunding, there’s a good chance that it first came across your radar as the way in which your nephew’s band raised money to record a new album, or your coworker’s daughter funded her recent documentary film. In exchange for donations to help get those projects off the ground, those… Read More

Read more in: General News | Tagged indiegogo, jobs act, kickstarter

Texas’s Role in Crowdfunding and Who Stands to Benefit Most

January 11, 2013 @ 1:23 am By Charles Luzar |

This article is part one in a series on entrepreneurship and access to capital with a focus on the state of Texas. I recently talked to Richard Seline, Principal of Global NextGen Advisors, who just spoke at the Crowdfund Texas conference. He also offers support to the entrepreneurial community through his organization, Competitive Texas. I… Read More