If you’re a developer, you know how hard funding and traction are to come by. Most software startups try crowdfunding and fail — they’re doing it wrong! To crowdfund your app, and supercharge your business, let’s look at what works, what doesn’t, and get started right! It’s no secret that the crowdfunding industry is booming. It seems like every day you hear about an exciting new startup crushing their campaign goals and launching their company via Kickstarter or Indiegogo.
Despite the rapid growth of SaaS crowdfunding platforms and campaign successes, crowdfunding is still a foreign concept to most. As such, let’s briefly explain the mechanics and guidelines for a more solid foundation before exploring launching crowdfunding for software startups or SaaS crowdfunding.
What Is Crowdfunding?
Why SaaS Crowdfunding Has Been So Successful?
7 Best Crowdfunding Sites For Your SaaS Startups
Conclusion
FAQ
What Is Crowdfunding?
In its simplest form, crowdfunding is getting others to finance the creation of a product, project, business, or work of art. It’s extremely advantageous for entrepreneurs and eliminates the overbearing upfront costs that stop most startups before they begin.
Why SaaS Crowdfunding Has Been So Successful?
With the advance and expansion of e-commerce, individuals are shopping locally less, now being able to buy anything with the click of a button. This has democratized the consumer–business relationship because customers have a far greater choice.
With the power to choose, consumers are opting more for small startups and more personal connections. Hence the explosion of Crowdfunding SaaS. Furthermore, backers prefer to be early adopters, people who get the product first and are actively part of the startup’s success. In addition, entrepreneurs who were once unable or unwilling to pursue financing can now cut the risk and crowdfund instead.
Crowdfunding for software startups seems the perfect platform to launch an app or software product. Unfortunately, non-tangible products are poorly received. This stems from the origins of crowdfunding because crowdfunding was originally conceived as helping creative people create that which could never exist without funding.
Crowdfunding SaaS your next business venture can be a fast and relatively easy way to raise money. However, you should know which type of crowdfunding is best for your business and what it requires. Here are the most common types of business crowdfunding:
Equity Crowdfunding
The most traditional type of funding in this list is equity crowdfunding. You sell a piece of your business to an investor or groups of investors and they provide you with the funding (capital) to move your business forward.
Donation Crowdfunding
If you’re a nonprofit or local business, donation-based funding might work for you. It simply requires you to create a campaign asking for donations for your business. The money is donated, and there is nothing to repay.
Debt Crowdfunding
Also called “marketplace” funding, debt crowdfunding is when business owners borrow money from other individuals, instead of from a bank. You borrow at a set annual percentage rate, and loans are often structured similarly to those of a traditional business loan.
Rewards Crowdfunding
This is likely the most well-known type of crowdfunding. Made popular by sites like Kickstarter, funders are offered products, services, or other gifts in exchange for a set donation amount. For example, if I’m trying to fund my dog walking business, I might offer one hour of puppy snuggles to anyone who donates $50. For those donating $100, I might offer one hour of puppy snuggles plus a free grooming session.
Rishabh Rathi
7 Best Crowdfunding Sites For Your SaaS Startups
INDIEGOGO
INDIEGOGO offers both live crowdfunding campaigns and a marketplace for innovative products. It’s helped entrepreneurs raise over 1 billion dollars for more than 650,000 projects. Acquire starter capital and find out quickly whether your idea has legs with INDIEGOGO’s “global network of early adopters.”
And with this platform, you don’t have to stop raising money at a specific time. There are no fundraising targets or deadlines. Plus, you can apply equity, offer securities, revenue sharing, and even cryptocurrency sales.
INDIEGOGO charges a 5% platform fee for all projects. If you’re raising money for a cause, you won’t pay a dime on Indiegogo’s sister platform, GoFundMe.
Kickstarter
Kickstarter crowdfunding helps artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and other creators connect with the resources to bring their ideas to life. Since its launch in 2009, the company has helped 15 million people pledge $3.7 billion to successfully fund more than 143,000 projects. Funding is all or nothing, so you must meet the goal you set within the allotted time or everyone gets their money back.
It’s free to create a project on Kickstarter, but if it’s successfully funded, Kickstarter for SaaS applies a 5% fee to collect funds. There will also be processing fees between 3-5%.
Rishabh Rathi
Experiment
An Experiment is a platform funding scientific discovery. From dinosaur fossil excavation to the historical study of medieval monasteries — Experiment backers will fund it if it “pushes the boundaries of knowledge.” The fund project scientists themselves, so there’s no overhead like the 50-60% that comes with a university grant.
It’s free to start a project, but once you receive full funding, the Experiment charges an 8% platform fee plus payment processing fees between 3-5%.
Rishabh Rathi
LendingClub
LendingClub provides personal loans up to $40,000 and business loans up to $300,000. LendingClub is not a bank. They connect borrowers with investors. In exchange for solid returns, investors purchase Notes that correspond to fractions of loans. LendingClub screens borrowers and facilitates all transactions. It is one of the best startup funding websites.
For business loans, get all your capital upfront, one-to-five year terms, no monthly payments, and no prepayment penalties. They recommend their loan program for large, one-time expenses. LendingClub also requires you to be in business for 12 months or more, have at least 50,000 in annual sales, no recent bankruptcies or tax liens, and ownership of at least 20% of the business.
Expect an origination fee of between 1.99 and 8.99% and total monthly payments per $10,000 borrowed of between $227 and $955 with total annualized rates of between 9.77% and 35.71%.
Crowdfunder
Crowdfunder is a community of 200,000 entrepreneurs and investors offering equity crowdfunding — which allows entrepreneurs to sell shares in their company to accredited investors. Their network of 12,000 VCs and angel investors has helped startups of all kinds raise money (Over $150 million) from Pre-Seed to Series A.
Crowdfunder offers Free, Starter ($299/month), and Premium ($499/month) plans – each with a variety of services, from document storage to personalized support.
Patreon
Patreon allows artists, musicians, writers, and more to get paid by running a membership business for their fans. Providing a meaningful revenue stream, fans pay you a subscription amount of their choosing in exchange for exclusive experiences and behind-the-scenes content. Over $350 million has been paid to creators, and the average patron pays a monthly fee that’s more than most consumers pay for Netflix or Spotify.
Patreon SaaS takes 5% of successfully processed payments. There’s also a payment processing fee each time a payment is processed (usually batched at the beginning of each month). You can also expect payout fees charged for moving funds from your creator balance to your bank or PayPal account.
Rishabh Rathi
Fundly
“Raise money for anything,” no raise requirements or startup fees involved. That’s what it says on the Fundly homepage. They fund everything from personal health needs to politics and even trips. Create a page, manage your campaign from the Fundly app, and use Fundly’s Facebook OpenGraph integration to maximize your reach. There’s no minimum amount to raise to keep your funds, payments can be withdrawn within 48 hours of the donation, and automatic transfers can be arranged.
Everyone pays a platform fee of 4.9% plus a credit card processing fee of 2.9% and $.30 per transaction (depending on your country).
Conclusion
The rapid growth and success of crowdfunding are only going to continue. Up to this point, most software startups have failed to take advantage of this growing movement. So, try out these crowdfunding platforms in India and find out which one works the best for you. Please let us know your views in the comments section.
Rishabh Rathi
FAQ
What type of crowdfunding is fundable?
Fundable is a crowdfunding platform that focuses exclusively on helping entrepreneurs and startup businesses to find funding. Businesses can participate in two types of crowdfunding, exchanging either rewards or equity for funding.
How do I start a crowdfunding platform?
6 Easy Steps to Create a Crowdfunding website:
- Find a Crowdfunding niche as every new Crowdfunding website/platform is dedicated to a niche.
- Use Crowdfunding technology (Search for the right technology that you want to use for your Crowdfunding website).
- Connect the payment gateway.
- Add the content.
- Launch the platform.
- Market the platform.
What is Equity Crowdfunding?
Equity crowdfunding is the process whereby people invest in an early-stage unlisted company (a company that is not listed on a stock market) in exchange for shares in that company. Previously only wealthy individuals, venture capitalists, and business angels could invest in startups.
What are examples of crowdfunding?
Examples of successful SaaS crowdfunding sites:
- Kickstarter.
- GoFundMe.
- LendingClub.
- Indiegogo.
How much does it cost to use Patreon?
Patreon SaaS Lite takes the same financial cut as Patreon’s existing service: a flat 5 percent fee, plus the cost of payment processing. Pro and Premium are more expensive: Pro has an 8 percent commission, and Premium has a 12 percent one, with a minimum fee of $300 per month.
What is Patreon used for?
Patreon is used by YouTube videographers, webcomic artists, writers, podcasters, musicians, adult content creators, and other categories of creators who post regularly online. It allows artists to receive funding directly from their fans, or patrons, on a recurring basis or per work of art.
What are the best startup crowdfunding sites?
Best Startup Crowdfunding Sites:
- Kickstarter.
- Indiegogo.
- Crowd Supply.
- Crowdfunder.
- Experiment.
- Chuffed.
- Patreon.
- Fundable.
