Posts Tagged ‘Crowdfunding’
10 Tried-and-True Strategies for Funding New Ventures
One of the most frequent questions I get as a mentor to entrepreneurs is “How do I find the money to start my business?” I always answer that there isn’t any magic, and contrary to the popular myth, nobody is waiting in the wings to throw money at you, just because you have a new…
Read MoreIs Crowdfunding Still a Good Way to Gain Investment?
The rise of crowdfunding was an abrupt and noisy one. The major platforms that allow people to invest small amounts in speculative projects, the likes of Kickstarter and Indiegogo, seemed to pop up overnight, with huge success stories touting it as the future of funding. But with the dust settling and Kickstarter reporting this week…
Read MoreWhat the IRS Does Not Mention About Crowdfunding and Taxes
In Information Letter 2016-0036, released June 24, the IRS explains general rules that might apply to someone’s receipts of funds via a crowdfunding platform. It doesn’t mention any websites, but examples include Kickstarter and GoFundMe. The IRS notes the broad rule of Section 61 that receipt of funds is likely to be taxable gross income.…
Read More4 Major Benefits (and 3 Drawbacks) to Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is here to stay. Absolutely every regulator in the world is now trying to get in on the crowdfunding game, especially since the JOBS Act recently went into effect. It’s made it easier for businesses of all sizes to reach out to the world and collect the funds needed to get a venture up…
Read More7 Lessons They Don’t Teach You in Crowdfunding School
Crowdfunding is the hot new vehicle for raising money to support your entrepreneurial efforts, with over 1,250 website platforms around the world to help you, according to a 2015 industry report. In fact, the report suggests that the total amount raised annually (over $30 billion) now exceeds the funding from venture capitalists during the same period.…
Read More3 Creative Ways to Fund Your Ideas
You’ve gotta spend money to make money. It might be a tired old cliche, but when it comes to small businesses and startups, it still rings true. These days it’s very hard to get anything or anywhere on goodwill, thus if you are in the midst of building your business, you are going to need…
Read More5 Surprising Truths from a Crowdfunding Advocate
As an advisor to many entrepreneurs, I still hear frequently the irrational exuberance that crowdfunding is the quick alternative for startups that are passed over by overly demanding angels or venture capital investors. In reality, crowdfunding has become a major startup funding vehicle, with an estimated contribution of $30 billion in 2015, but that doesn’t mean it’s…
Read More3 Steps for Executing a Successful Kickstarter Campaign
We started our journey with Phree in May 2015. Our task was to help the Phree team create maximum buzz and build awareness around their Kickstarter campaign, in the hopes of raising at least $100,000. Phree is a Bluetooth stylus that can write on practically any surface. When we started working with Phree, the team was…
Read More7 Seed-Stage Funding Sources to Finance Your Startup
Even if you work every day in the world of new-venture funding, as I do, the options are confusing, and their meanings seem to change on a regular basis. I challenge any entrepreneur, for example, to define the difference between “seed-stage” and “early-stage” financing. Yet, knowing this distinction is important. Remember, you have only one…
Read MoreI’m Crowdfunding: Is It Taxable?
