Kickstarter. Looking for funding?

We all know funding for everything is tight and funding for tech start-ups is well, even tighter.


However, once you get past GO, not only is cash there but also high valuations as I've talked about before. In fact never a better time really - http://streamabout.blogspot.com/2012/04/social-media-jump-in-cash-in.html


We also know that as start-ups, the difficulty is in getting to meet potential investors whom mostly claim to have investment sanction (when they haven't) and are really looking for a cappuccino to see what you're at. Others dismiss you as "pre revenue" or as "post revenue" - either way it's an excuse for a no.


Then Banks aren't lending, so investment funds associated with banks, already shivering from being "caught before" on loose lending, are looking to bring the reins in.


State grants are small, tiny in fact, but driven around a rigmarole about elevator pitches, 2 minute pitches (it is fun to watch someone squirm isn't it?), online entries for mention at summits (where even you can meet an expert!) and ultimately, a series of neverending hoops in the forms of Business Plans, Cashflows and Forecasts.


Ultimately too, you're faced with the greatest challenge of all. How do I sell an online idea to someone who just doesn't get it?


Crowdfunding therefore is a terrific solution to bypass VC's and the Investor Commissions by getting people like you and me to invest in others projects that we admire. Small money required but hey, you never know, as well as helping someone along.


It cuts out a lot of nonsense.


Kickstarter is probably the most well known crowdfunder of them all - kickstarter.com - and really well worth a look for creative projects. You explain your project, state what you're looking for investment-wise, in what timeframe and if you achieve funding commits of 100%+, you get it. You don't, well, you don't. 99% investment pledges achieved.... and you get nil.


Pebble Smart Watches was one of those.


It's a slim, water & scratch resistant watch with an epaper display visible in daylight. It interfaces with the phone over Bluetooth and can be customised for alerts like email, messages and so on. It will also run Apps to monitor cycling, swimming, running - just like The Nike Fitbrand Apps (try them, they're terrific, free and have done a great marketing job for Nike).

Pebble asked for 100,000 usd investment to get going on Kickstarter from like-minded people just like you and me. In the first 24 hours, they got 1 million usd and today, over 3m usd with a minimum "pledge" or investment of 115 Dollars.


Not only have they well achieved their investment but they've created a market of ordinary "investors" who'll buy the watches and spread the word. An army of sales people.


Funding Circle, a UK based "Kickstarter" targeting small businesses, has raised 21m usd and can give investment "within days", without the cappuccinos and nonsense. There's even Offbeatr which attracts crowdfunders interested in investing in porn projects.


So crowd funding is getting better and getting bigger.


If you're in the start-up space have a look.
It's zero cost but potentially a big upside.


And it's one-in-the-eye for the slow big investors who like to call themselves VC's or Founder Funders. One up for the ordinary bloke with a 100 dollars who actually does some good. And if we all got involved in this space, albeit in a small 100 usd/100 euro way, we could all benefit from that funding.


It's self-fulfilling.


Long live the revolution!