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 Stashbee, the online sharing-economy platform for storage space, has announced a £1.6m funding round on leading European investment platform Seedrs. The lowdown on Talentful, the startup that's using your cultural fit and personality to match you to a job and employer... Hot flushes affect around 1.5 million women in the UK alone. Step forward Grace, the world's first automated tracking and cooling bracelet that counters menopausal hot flushes The innovative startup that empowers restaurant managers and owners to measure and improve their customer experience. upSTART, the startup pitch competition at Digital DNA 2019 will see over 20 disruptive NI-based startups pitch to determine who will win an all-expenses paid trip to explore the New York tech scene. If you've not quite scraped the pounds together to get your 1st startup idea off the ground yet, don't fret! Here's a few top funding tips to consider. If you are running a business, it’s important for you to understand financial matters, too, Here's some handy accounting reminders! Holland-based startup Active Cues has created a simple product to engage children and adults with cognitive challenges... The startup that's empowering people to participate in their health and wellbeing decisions with easy-to-understand health insights. The startup that's aiming to reduce loneliness and social isolation through warm technology...
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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- Stashbee announces £1.6m funding round on Seedrs 17th Jun 2019 Stashbee, the online sharing-economy platform for storage space, has announced a £1.6m funding round on leading European investment platform Seedrs.
- The upSTART finalists at Digital DNA 2019 13th Jun 2019 upSTART, the startup pitch competition at Digital DNA 2019 will see over 20 disruptive NI-based startups pitch to determine who will win an all-expenses paid trip to explore the New York tech scene.
- Lloyd's Lab announces third round of applications 3rd Jun 2019 From data sharing to next generation claims, insurance industry focused tech startups are currently being sought after to join Lloyd's Lab cohort 3.
- Startup Exhibitor package at Digital DNA 2019 28th May 2019 New startup exhibitor package at Digital DNA 2019 gives startups access to 150 Speakers, an estimated 3,000 attendees, 121 investor meetings, a startup pod to exhibit and 4 x 1 full-access exhibition tickets!
