crowdfunding South Africa

5 Top Crowdfunding Platforms in South Africa

Entrepreneurship provides the goods and services a community needs. It also creates jobs for the local economy. Starting your own business is exciting, especially if you are passionate about it. It is true in South Africa where purpose-driven entrepreneurship flourished in recent years. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) reported that 1 out of 8 South Africans can be an entrepreneur. 

But how can you be an entrepreneur in a country with declining living standards and worsening income inequality? Two years of the COVID-19 pandemic caused more than 2 million South Africans to lose their jobs. It begs the question – how can you fund your capital to start your business?

Crowdfunding your Business Capital

Crowdfunding is an innovative way for entrepreneurs to raise money by asking others to contribute funds towards their business idea. It has become popular over the past few years, and there are now many platforms where you can crowdfund projects.

Each platform that we introduce here has its unique feature. You must understand what each one offers to decide which one will make your business successful.

Equity Crowdfunding

Equity crowdfunding allows supporters to invest in the shares and receives a share of the profit from an entrepreneur. It is the best form of crowdfunding for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) who need help raising capital. But, the nature of equity crowdfunding involves investment in a commercial enterprise. Thus, it is subject to securities and financial regulations. So if you are up for this challenge, here are two crowdfunding platforms in South Africa you may check out:

No. 5 Uprise.Africa

Uprise.Africa is an assisted equity crowdfunding platform. They will help you with your business pitch and take care of the necessary documentation for your business. They make sure entrepreneurs and investors are safe from risks and can make informed decisions on their investments. The service is quite promising but be aware of the fees to be deducted on the raised investments – ranging from $1,500 (R25,000) to $4,500 (R75,000) excluding taxes.

No. 4 Livestock Wealth

If you are a farmer or want to be one, Livestock Wealth could be for you. The equity-based Crowdfarming™ platform connects farmers to investors where both parties benefit. The platform has been operating for more than seven years. They have expanded their portfolio assets from free-range ox and cows to vegetable farms to macadamia nut tree farms. Livestock Wealth also provides market, health, and technology access to farmers. It will help farmers sustain their farm operations.

Reward-Based Crowdfunding

Reward-based crowdfunding allows entrepreneurs to provide first-hand experience of their big idea with investors and/or possible first customers through donations. The business owner will send you a sample product or any reward in exchange for your support. So if you are starting a retail business, you can crowdfund for your business capital via this method where you can product test simultaneously. Thundafund is an example of this type of crowdfunding platform in South Africa.

No. 3 Thundafund

Thundafund boasts itself to be Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform. They initially opened their platform for creators and innovators alike. They expanded to more project creators through their years of operation. But, one needs to be aware of the all-or-nothing clause that Thundafund has. Projects are required to raise a certain amount of money before their project closes to receive the funds. Otherwise, funds are forfeited and will be refunded back to the supporters. So if you are joining Thundafund, make sure you have a great idea that sells to reach your fund goal.

Donation-Based Crowdfunding

Donation-based crowdfunding is the most popular form of crowdfunding around the world. It allows anyone to raise money for different purposes without the need to return the funds received. (Good news for entrepreneurs!) Percentage fees are deducted from the fund pool to pay for the operating expenses of the company. There are two platforms under this category available for South Africans.

No. 2 backabuddy

BackaBuddy is a South Africa-based crowdfunding platform open to any fundraiser in the country. If you are advocating for a positive impact on an individual, a community, or the environment, you can start fundraising here. It is also open to registered non-profit organizations that need financial assistance for their advocacy. However, project creators must note that raised funds are processed monthly on the 10th day of the succeeding month. If your project ended on the 16th of the current month, you would have to wait 24 days to receive your funds. Funds are subject to 7% + VAT fees.

No. 1 Airfunding

Airfunding is a donation-based crowdfunding platform operating in 18 countries including South Africa. More than 650,600+ individuals worldwide have trusted Airfunding to help them in their financial goals.

Stronger together. Airfunding is not only a crowdfunding platform but a community of individuals who want to help where help is needed. The platform has 135,700+ supporters worldwide willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in the Airfunding community. It is a potential for you to receive investors immediately for your business idea.

You are in control. Project owners have the freedom to do what they will for their fundraising project in Airfunding. As an entrepreneur, truly, you want this. You can tell your business pitch the way you want to, set how much capital to raise, and how long will the fundraiser be. The Airfunding Customer Support team is available 24/7 to help you out.

Beyond business. Airfunding is not only for business owners. Anyone with a dream or financial need can create a project in Airfunding. Fundraise for medical bills, education, or travel – really, anything! The stories of South Africans Ts’oloane Ntsane (raised R 24,153.47 for chemotherapy), Chantelle Strauss (raised R 16,416.42 for her dream to fly a plane again), and J.C Geldard (raised R 9,258.00 for health recovery) are just some inspirations we can share with you.

Make your South African business dream come true today!

Investors around the world are looking for ways to increase their portfolios. Start an Airfunding project today and let them know your great idea. You can even include your Airfunding project page link to your business presentation or website for a seamless donation experience for your supporters. Get started on your entrepreneurial journey now.

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crowdfunding legal Philippines

Is crowdfunding legal in the Philippines?

Are you looking for an easy way to raise funds for your business? Do you have a great product idea but don’t know where to start? Then crowdfunding might be what you need. 

The first crowdsourcing platform was launched by Jeff Howe back in 2008 and is now known as Kickstarter. But what is crowdfunding?

What is Crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a new way to fund projects that involves raising money through an online platform. It allows anyone to contribute small amounts of money to support a cause or business idea. It gained popularity due to the rise of social media. It lets networking and advocating for your project to a big audience easy.

What are the benefits of crowdfunding?

There are many reasons why people choose to crowdfund their projects. Some need money to pay off debts, while others want to help a loved one. Here are a few that will make you consider crowdfunding:

Raising money from many small investors instead of one large investor. Getting multiple sources to fund a particular project is a good thing. Burning capital through just one pocket might be risky if it runs out of money. With crowdfunding, you get multiple people to support you anywhere you want to go. On that note, we give this next benefit.

Great way to build relationships with potential customers. The multiple supporters of your project will be your first customers. If they believe your business or project idea the first time they hear it, they will surely try it for themselves and even advocate for you.

Simple and straightforward. Crowdfunding is a relatively new concept. In the business world, we are used to doing things professionally and documented. Crowdfunding may seem like a daunting method to finance your business at first. With some research and planning, crowdfunding may surprise you with how easy it is to use. We have busted some crowdfunding myths here.

Fund for anything. Yes, anything under the sun. Aside from raising business capital, you can also fundraise for your medical bills, school tuition, or even your dream vacation

Now you may stop here and ask, “but is it legal if I’m raising capital for a business?”

Is crowdfunding legal in the Philippines?

The Philippines welcomed innovation advancement in the financial environment back in 2019. In that year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the rules for crowdfunding. The approval provides easy financial access to small to medium enterprises (SMEs). It also ensures fairness within the platform for the protection of the financers. Here are some of what you need to know about those rules:

Crowdfund through registered online platforms only. Research to make sure you are crowdfunding on a legitimate platform. The platforms must submit the requirements mandated by SEC. Crowdfunding through these platforms will protect you from fraudulent risks and other liabilities. Start reading here for the top crowdfunding platforms in the Philippines.

Information transparency. Check how the crowdfunding platform is transparent with how they operate since it involves finances. Relevant information on crowdfunding activities, fees, terms of use, refund process, and privacy policy should be disclosed.

Customer service. If anything goes wrong, you should be able to communicate easily with the crowdfunding platform provider. It could be through a phone call, email communication, or social media pages.

With these few points, we can say that you’re safe and good to go in using crowdfunding for your business in the Philippines!

Crowdfunding in Airfunding

Now that you have a strong conviction in beginning your business journey through crowdfunding, use Airfunding to jumpstart your financial goal. Airfunding has become popular in the Philippines and the whole world. It is a donation-based crowdfunding platform that lets you tell your story and receive funds without returning any of them.

Worldwide community. More than 783,000 inventors, entrepreneurs, supporters, and the general public from all over the world joined the Airfunding community to make a change in their or others’ lives. When the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, Airfunding created a space for those looking for financial support.

Crowdfunding tips. Get to learn different tricks to make your fundraising activity successful with tips prepared by Airfunding. Our community of project owners will also help you with some peer tips to achieve your financial goals.

Yes to all of the above. The things we shared with you above in this article are things you will find in Airfunding. 100% guaranteed! Here’s a success story from Ben Santos of the Philippines that will inspire you. One month of fundraising in Airfunding helped him raise funds amounting to $2,378 (₱132,835.08) for his mom’s medical bills.

So if you’re ready to get started fundraising, register in Airfunding today, and we will help you raise the money you need.

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Fundraising Ideas in the Philippines

6 Powerful Online Fundraising Ideas in the Philippines

Flipino household expenses have reportedly surpassed pre-pandemic levels and are growing. Poverty is and will be a long-standing problem in the country affecting 23.7% of the population if this growth continues. In numbers, it’s millions of Filipinos struggling to live day by day.

So how do they cope? Filipinos have resorted to third-party financial assistance to accommodate their necessities. But with the pandemic still present, most have sought help digitally.

Online Fundraising for a Cause

The digital space expanded at the start of the pandemic. Most everyday activities – work, grocery shopping, medical consultations, etc. – have shifted to virtual set-ups. And so does fundraising.

Despite community quarantines, Filipinos have found a way to show bayanihan virtually. Bayanihan is a remarkable Filipino value showing the spirit of civic unity and cooperation among the Filipino community. Here are online fundraising ideas that Filipinos have used to encourage bayanihan and raise funds for a good cause.

No. 6 Online Shopping Proceeds

The popularity gain of TikTok and Instagram Reels has made everyone craftier than ever. Creativity is used to either build their community or business awareness. And you can do it to raise funds too! Get creative and make things that you can sell. Take a video or photo of it, post it online, and remember to caption that payments are to be donated to your chosen cause.

No. 5 Virtual Garage Sale

It’s okay if you’re not a creative genius. If you have things you don’t need lying around at home, why not host a virtual garage sale? Turn those “trash” to cash! Not only will you be fundraising money for your chosen charity, but you get to clean your house as well. You can invite your family and friends to pitch in with their items and auction them off online via Facebook Live or a private Zoom call.

No. 4 Movie Night Virtual Party

Pandemic has stretched social media platforms to provide more experiences that users can enjoy. In 2020, Facebook introduced the Watch Together feature on their Messenger app. So even if your best friend lives in Nigeria, you can still watch your favorite shows together while you’re in Manila. You can do the same for more people if you want to raise funds for your project. Select a good movie that would make those movie-lovers donate to your advocacy. (We recommend a tear-jerker!)

No. 3 Social Media Influencer Pledge

Tapping bloggers, vloggers, and other social media influencers to advocate for your charity is a way to reach a bigger audience instantly. Their huge following is an opportunity for you to spread your message with one post on their profile. Finding the right influencer might be challenging. You need to find one who believes in your cause and would openly donate to it.

No. 2 e-Raffle for Big Wins

Raffle off big ticket items for a cause. Raffling is a mutually beneficial method for both fundraisers and supporters. People will donate more for more chances of winning that latest iPhone or that 40” television. It can be a fun experience while making money for your advocacy. All this while doing everything online.

No. 1. Online Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is an online fundraising method to raise money for a cause. It is one of the easiest ways to get financial support. You will find lots of crowdfunding platforms available in the Philippines where people are willing to donate money to support your cause. One of the top choices is Airfunding.

Fundraising in Airfunding

More than 645,000 individuals and organizations have trusted Airfunding not only from the Philippines but also worldwide! It is an online crowdfunding platform designed to help different causes. You can fundraise for your business, medical needs, education, community, and more. Airfunding provides fundraisers the platform to achieve their financial goals by spreading their advocacy to supporters globally.

Fundraise worldwide. Reach out to supporters beyond your family, peers, and the local community. Airfunding has more than 135,000 supporters globally. Someone somewhere will surely donate to your project.

Diverse community. Airfunding provides an exclusive space to share your campaign. You can publish your story in the language you can express yourself. The site will translate it for you into 17 different languages. You don’t have to worry if the supporter is from Malaysia and does not speak English.

Showcase with photos. On your project page, you can use texts or photos to better explain your campaign. Cham Narciso from the Philippines did just that. The details they have shared on their Airfunding project page helped supporters understand what the fundraiser is for and the donations’ impact on the community. One month was enough for them to raise $1,506 (₱84,802.86) that will be used to buy food for the poor.

Start raising money with Airfunding!

Starting an online fundraising campaign is an experience you will never forget. Now that you have the ideas we have shared, try crowdfunding in Airfunding today. With Airfunding’s tools and online community, you can easily spread the word about your campaign to receive donations. Create your project today!

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Crowdfunding Ghana

5 Top Crowdfunding Platforms in Ghana

I for lef Ghana” (in English translation: “I want to leave Ghana”) is a pidgin phrase heard among the Ghana youth. One cannot blame their sentiment. All commodities in the country are now far more expensive than they used to be. Food prices have risen by 30% within one year. Energy costs and inflation have also climbed sharply.

The economic crisis leaves pressures on both the Ghana government and its citizens. Most apply for debts or eat less to live through poverty. Some have invited the generosity of others through crowdfunding to have money in their pockets.

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a great way to fund your next project or business venture. It is an online fundraising method that allows individuals or organizations to raise money for a purpose. It is a relatively new concept that started in the early 2000s. And yet, crowdfunding has been growing rapidly over the past few years.

Read on to discover some of the top crowdfunding platforms in Ghana.

No. 5 FundRaisingAfrica

Started in 2021, FundRaisingAfrica is relatively new in the crowdfunding scene. The site is open exclusively for now to causes or businesses operating within Ghana. Anyone can fundraise for any project. They get all the funds raised with a 5% platform fee deduction. But, project owners are limited to running them within three months.

No. 4 Go Get Funding

Go Get Funding is the go-to platform for community-related campaigns in Ghana. The platform is available for support worldwide. But having your project published in an already-crowded space will be challenging to stand out and be noticed by potential donors. Also, donations are charged with a 6.9% platform fee.

No. 3 Kickstarter

Kickstarter is a donation-based crowdfunding platform with an all-or-nothing clause. If you have not achieved your set goal, all donations are refunded to the supporters. That is why only a few projects are available from Ghana. The platform is best for entrepreneurs. So, if you have a product idea, Kickstarter could be for you.

No. 2 Frankly Green

Frankly Green is an investment-based crowdfunding platform. It is available only to green-related businesses with social impact. Projects undergo strict review and must pass all criteria before getting investors. The company is Germany-based but operates in developing and emerging countries such as Ghana.

No. 1 Airfunding

Airfunding is a donation-based crowdfunding platform. It is available in Ghana and other select countries for any fundraising campaign – from community projects to medical assistance. More than 1,000 Ghanaians have trusted Airfunding to help them with their financial needs.

Raising Money in Airfunding

Have the campaign to fund? Here are some Airfunding tips to have a successful project:

Account verification. To get your funds at the end of your campaign period, make sure your Airfunding account is all set up. Here’s a quick guide on how to verify your account.

Details. Details. Details. Proper detailing of your campaign is something supporters will look for. They want to see where their money will be going and how it will help you. Mitsuo Ishimoto did just that to raise funds for the Farm for Livelihood Association in Ghana. With the information he shared on the project, they raised $2,728 (GH₵ 22,229.88) within a month.

Standout with creativity. Thinking outside the box will help you achieve your financial goal. You can include photos to tell your story. In Airfunding, you can upload videos as well if you want to better showcase your project.✓ Play with emotions. Using the right words in telling your story will attract supporters. Showing how passionate you are will excite your donors and support your cause. Daniel Adams from Ghana shared his desire to finish his education on his Airfunding project. One month of sharing his dream with supporters led him to raise $1,575 (GH₵ 12,834.33).

Debt No More, Ghana!

Join Airfunding today and pool together money to support your cause. Loans will just take months to get approved. In Airfunding, you can get the financial help you need with just a few clicks. Start your fundraiser today!

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5 Common Myths About Crowdfunding

5 Common Myths About Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is an innovative way to raise funds. The rise of crowdfunding in the early 2000s started global communities connecting people with the same vision and values.

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a new way to fund different projects – medical assistance, disaster relief, community development, travel fund, school tuition, business capital, pet care, and so much more. It is a method of raising funds with the help of a large number of people. Online crowdfunding platforms made it easier than ever to raise money worldwide with its remote support feature.

But there are some common misconceptions about crowdfunding that may hold you back from taking the next step. In this article, we debunk five popular crowdfunding myths so you can clear your path and raise funds today.

Myth #1: Crowdfunding is only for big companies.

Many people think that crowdfunding is too complicated for small businesses. Thus, they opt to believe that crowdfunding is only for big organizations. In reality, crowdfunding is for startups or even ordinary individuals too! There are now hundreds of thousands of small businesses crowdfunding to raise capital. Small nonprofit organizations use crowdfunding to raise money for their cause.

Myth #2: Crowdfunding is exclusive to the rich.

Not true! Anyone can start a fundraising campaign on crowdfunding platforms like Airfunding. As long as you have a story to tell, funds to raise, valid documents, and a bank account, you can start crowdfunding anywhere, any time. Check out Ana from Mexico and see how she raised more than $13,000 for medical bills.

Myth #3: Crowdfunding is not safe.

The modern digital world has many threats nowadays. Your anti-virus software may no longer be able to cope with keeping your data safe from cyberattacks. In Airfunding, we need to keep our community protected against hackers. Multiple layers of security have been put in place within our platform so your donations get to you safely. You may read more about it from our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Myth #4: Crowdfunding is expensive.

A lot of people say that they cannot afford to raise money. It is a myth! You can open a fundraising project in Airfunding for free! No cash out is needed so you don’t have to worry. An 8% platform fee will be deducted from your donations once your funds are processed for transfer.

Myth #5: I need to have a huge social media network when crowdfunding.

Truly, you don’t. Individuals like Eduardo can tap into a network of supporters through crowdfunding platforms. These could be supporters they cannot get on their own. Airfunding has more than 134,000 supporters worldwide. You can be assured that help will come to your door when you least expect it.

Get funded with Airfunding

Now that those myths are out of the way, get started with your fundraiser in Airfunding now. Airfunding is a donation-based crowdfunding platform. More than 639,000 have told their stories in Airfunding to connect with supporters worldwide.

You can join them too by signing up today!

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