Top 10 Crowdfunding Sites
by Startacus Admin
Trying to get the money together to either start a business or make that creative idea a reality is never easy and the global economic woes of the last few years have certainly not helped. However what has happened over 
recent times has been a real growth in the crowdfunding phenomenon. Crowdfunding is being seen by many people as a really viable way of getting a project or business off the ground. There are now a whole host of crowdfunding sites, all aimed at different types of projects and ideas. Researching them all and deciding which one to use can be a real task in itself. We thought we’d help you all just a little by highlighting our Top 10 Crowdfunding Sites.
If you are planning to launch your own crowdfunding campaign, you should check out our free crowdfunding support package!
Kickstarter
Already well established in the US, Kickstarter launched in the UK late last year.
All ideas that are submitted to Kickstarter must be projects where the end result is the creation and production of something. The platform currently accepts projects under the following categories only - Art, Comics, Dance, Design, Fashion, Film, Food, Games, Music, Photography, Publishing, Technology, and Theatre. Kickstarter charges a 5% fee for any projects which successfully reach their funding targets.
Unbound
If your creative dream involves the publishing of a book, the Unbound platform could be the one for you. This crowdfunding site is aimed exclusively at writers and has revolutionized the publishing industry since its launch. As well as enabling books to get published, it also helps authors engage directly with readers. In terms of fees, the author and Unbound take a 50/50 profit share on any titles which successfully get funded.
Spacehive
The Spacehive platform is aimed specifically at people who have project ideas that can transform public spaces. Regeneration initiatives and the like have seen their dreams realised via this site. Currently Spacehive’s charges are 3.7% on the first £500k raised, 2.5% on the next £500k raised and 1.5% thereafter.
FundIt
Fundit is the only platform on our list aimed specifically at creative projects from Ireland, North and South. In terms of requirements, projects must be, to put it simply, projects. Businesses and ongoing social and charitable causes cannot be funded via this site. Fundit charges a 5% fee to any projects which reach their stipulated targets.
BuzzBnk Rent the Backyard will build a studio apartment in your backyard, splitting the rental profits with you 50/50. Intrigued? Revive was created to bring new life to coffee waste, collecting and recycling used coffee grounds to create a palm oil alternative! Chilled beers, wines and spirits delivered in one hour, thanks to Edinburgh-based startup Drinkly. Bubblebum has had its flagship product named as one of the Most Innovative and Most Attractive at the Child Baby & Maternity Expo in China. Influencer marketing remains largely unchartered territory for many businesses, so here are some tips for getting it right on the first go.
Step forward Raise Accelerator, Northern Ireland's first privately-run startup accelerator. We chatted to three founders from their first cohort. Rich Maaghul, CEO of ODEM.io explores the future of education and how disruption will transform the way that we learn... The app that helps you achieve your goal body with easy to follow workouts for the gym or home. The London based startup that has safer home care provision as its mission The ethical rewards app Koin Rewards, reimagining loyalty through responsible shopping and tokenisation.
If your project is for a social venture, this platform could be the way to go. Charitable bodies and social enterprises have been using the site since its launch in 2011 to raise the funding for projects that have a public or social benefit. Again, this platform primarily is aimed at UK organisations. There is a £25 fee to join the site initially and if a project raises the funds it requires, BuzzBnk charges a 5% admin fee.
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