7 Reasons StartSomeGood Has the Highest Success Rate in Crowdfunding
When we started StartSomeGood, it was because we saw a real need for a platform designed specifically for social entrepreneurs. We saw the existing crowdfunding platforms, and knew we could craft something better to get better results.
And that’s exactly what we did. When you start a crowdfunding campaign with StartSomeGood you have the better chance of success than with any other platform*. Here are 7 reasons why:
1. We were created by social entrepreneurs, for social entrepreneurs.
Who knows what a social entrepreneur needs better than another social entrepreneur? Before we put pen to paper, we sat down and discussed what challenges we had faced in securing funding for changemaking projects. We talked about how raising money for social good is different than raising month for other projects. And then we created a product specifically designed to meet those needs.
2. We have a unique tipping point model.
“What in hell is a tipping point?” –question we get a lot. Sometimes people have no idea, and sometimes people think we’re talking about that Malcolm Gladwell book. But no, the tipping point is our unique approach to structuring a crowdfunding campaign.
With some crowdfunding platforms you don’t get your donations unless you fully meet your goal, which can be challenging to project creators: should they make the goal the full amount needed, or go with a lower number that will still effect change?
With other crowdfunding platforms you get all the donations no matter what, which can be a deterrent for backers: if a project doesn’t get the full amount, what happens to their donation? Can the project use it for whatever they way?
So we found a better way: the tipping point. Projects set two goals: the first “tipping” point is an amount of money necessary to start good. The second “stretch goal” is the amount to fully fund the project.
With two checkpoints, entrepreneurs can be ambitious with their goals, and backers can know exactly where their donation is going.
3. We give you the best advice and support.
Helping project succeed is so important to us, we have a global team dedicated to it. When you start a project with StartSomeGood, you’ll be assigned a designated team member who can help you optimize your pitch and help solve any problems you encounter. This personal touch is a key to our success rate.
4. We back the organizations and entrepreneurs that back themselves.
StartSomeGood helps entrepreneurs in many ways: our beautiful website, sharing tools, linking your campaign to our community, our global support team, etc. All of these tools are important, but the most important factor to success is the commitment of the entrepreneurs and organizations using our site and their ability to inspire a community around them. We simply do our best to help boost their efforts.
5. We have the most dedicated team in the business.
As mentioned, StartSomeGood was created by social entrepreneurs, and we have been staffed by social entrepreneurs ever since. From our web team to our communications team to our support team, our staff and volunteers are passionate about creating lasting social change, which means they are passionate about helping you succeed.
6. We have innovative partnerships to help you double your money.
We partner with businesses, foundations and governments to boost the funds raised by selected social benefit projects on our site, often by providing up to half your funding goal up-front. This is called “Crowdmatch.”
Crowdmatch sees a funding partner support a group of projects either from the start of their crowdfunding campaign, by providing up to half of the funds they are seeking, which then needs to be matched by the community, or at the end, based on meeting specific goals.
The goal of Crowdmatch is to better connect philanthropic giving with community aspirations and impact investing with market input.
The combination gives social entrepreneurs and nonprofits the best chance to raise the funds and rally the community backing they need to do good, while making institutional funding more targeted and impactful.
7. We’re a certified B Corp.
Okay we’re not actually sure this boosts your success rate but it does mean that when you succeed you can feel good about who you are partnered with. B Corp is a global holistic certification for companies that act in the best interests of people and planet. There are now more than 1500 B Corps globally and we’re proud to be one of them! Find out more about B Corps here.
Ultimately, what this all comes down to is that we really care about helping you raise the funds you need to change the world. Many crowdfunding platforms, including in the social change sector, are not optimized to do this. Their focus tends to be launching as many projects as possible with as light a touch as possible, even if the vast majority then fall short of their goals. But we’re not into that. We work with few projects at a time but we actually work with you to help you reach your goals, because it’s only when you reach your fundraising goals that you can launch your project to change the world, and that’s what we’re here for!
So, let’s change the world together!
If you need to raise funds to change the world, we’d love to help. Just click “Start a Project” on our homepage and tell us what you’re working on!
*Source: Entrepreneur Magazine, January 2016. Platforms reviewed were Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, Fundrazr, Crowdfunder and Rockethub.
