Crowdfunding Now!

The Download: A crowdfunding site for black entrepreneurs By Steven OverlyApril 14, 2013 William Michael Cunningham says the black community has a tradition of “passing the hat” to collect donations when a friend needs financial help. That same custom guides BlackCrowdfunding.net, a Web site Cunningham has created where black entrepreneurs can raise money to start businesses. It’s one of many initiatives underway nationally, including several here in Washington, that aim to harness the potential of crowdfunding to benefit women and minority entrepreneurs. For a variety of reasons, these groups have often struggled to tap more traditional financing mechanisms, such as bank loans and venture capital. Cunningham said that fact was compounded during the economic downturn as many black families lost wealth when home values soured and unemployment climbed. “Most people start a business by taking out loans on their houses or going to friends and family and raising money that way,” C...

1. A verifiable track record of growth 2. Make sure the deal stands on its own 3. Remember that people invest in people Planning To Raise Millions Of Dollars? Consider These 3 Pieces of Advice via @Entrepreneur http://entm.ag/pzg1

https://youtu.be/1aM-IKPPJeg ‪#‎ crowdfunding‬  session at @WallStreetProj  #‎ WSPES2016  ‬ https://youtu.be/1aM-IKPPJeg  via @YouTube

We note with interest a recent study from the University at Buffalo School of Management that shows "high quality photos and video, previous crowdfunding success and positive comments from backers are the keys to a successful campaign." This syncs with what we uncovered in our two books, " The JOBS Act: Crowdfunding for Small Businesses and Startups " and in " Top 50 Crowdfunding Campaigns: Fifty Most Successful Crowdfunding Campaigns ." According to news reports, the University at Buffalo School of Management study "found that by receiving these signals, potential investors..gain valuable information that motivates them to participate and increases the likelihood of a project achieving its funding goal." One part of the analysis we found in error, however. One of the authors of the study was quoted as saying that "These sources are important because backers of crowdfunded projects have less access to information than typical priv...

Yesterday, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced "that it will hold its annual Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation at its Washington D.C. headquarters on Nov. 19, 2015. The morning session of the forum will feature panel discussions on exempt and registered offerings occurring after the passage of the JOBS Act." You can register for the forum  here .  We think the SEC will use this opportunity to release the final Title III crowdfunding rules. As I describe in my  book on the JOBS Act , small businesses and startups will be able to raise up to $1 million in equity (or debt) funding online via what are called Crowdfunding Platforms―online communities and websites. Imagine an eBay-like site that allows you to post your idea for a commercial venture online and then allows investors to purchase equity shares or stakes in it.  Recently,  two state securities regulators (Montana and Massachusetts) brought...

We are launching this campaign to buy a stake in the LA Clippers.  According to news reports, the current owner has some issues with Black people. (Why he owns a sports franchise that is 75% Black is beyond me, but that doesn't matter.) We want to help him out...out of some of his ownership stake, at least, since he does not appear to deserve it.  This effort is important because of the message it sends. You cannot treat Black people, women and other minorities with contempt while making huge amounts of money off them.  Imagine the magnitude of what contributors will achieve if we are successful: we will show that Black people, women and other minorities will no longer be disrespected.  https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/crowdfunding-the-clippers/x/1013002#home

Join Us for a FREE Webinar on Crowdfunding! May 7 at 10 AM PT/ 1 PM ET http://greenforall.org/programs/business-engagement-strategies/crowdfunding-101/ Related articles What to do after you've launched your crowdfunding campaign Champions of Change: Crowdfunding Entrepreneurs New Crowdfunding Site Supports Black Entrepreneurs 7 Strategies For Launching A Successful Crowdfunding Campaign Upstart, A Site For Crowdfunding People, Raises $5.9M From First Round, Eric Schmidt, And Others | TechCrunch Crowdfunding websites raise $2.7 bln in 2012