Looking to finance your business idea? Top global & Romanian crowdfunding platforms

Many people who want to find success for their business idea, product prototype or charitable initiative have turned to online crowdfunding platforms, where they are can make their case to potential donors and convince them that they should donate funds to their cause.

There are some very well-known global platforms, but Romania also has a number of fundraising and crowdfunding websites that can help turn dreams into reality.

Global platforms

Kickstarter – total raised: USD 3.7 billion+

Launched in 2009, Kickstarter is a famous platform that has helped launch many great projects such as the Fidget Cube, the popular Exploding Kittens card game or the Pebble Smart Watch. Kickstarter’s focus is on creative projects rather than on charitable actions and it claims that almost 15 million people have backed at least one project.

GoFundMe – total raised: USD 5 billion+

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GoFundMe is the largest social fundraising platform, and they aim “to change the way the world gives”. Most projects on GoFundMe are about helping poor or disadvantaged communities, about people raising money for themselves for education or research, and other similar initiatives.

IndieGoGo – total raised: USD 1.5 billion

IndieGoGo campaigns are about tech and innovation, and it also features a marketplace where people can purchase “clever and surprising innovations in tech, design and more”, and most products are sourced from successful crowdfunding campaigns. Many crowdfunding campaigns offer special perks and pricing for early backers.

YouCaring – total raised: USD 400 million+

YouCaring was founded in 2011 by three people in California when they returned from two years of international mission trips that deeply inspired them and made them want to continue helping others from home. The platform grew rapidly and has helped raise more than USD 400 million in support of individuals, families, communities and nonprofits looking to save lives, remember loved ones, recover from disasters, fund humanitarian efforts and much more.

Romanian platforms

Crestemidei.ro – based on an “all or nothing” principle, meaning that donors will get their money back if the projects don’t reach their goal, the platform had 107 campaigns between 2012 and 2017, of which 55 percent were successful. There were 5,515 donors and an average donation was of RON 108. The total sum raised in their campaigns went up to almost RON 600,000.

Sprijina.ro – aiming to become the largest online platform to “support, promote and finance Romanian authenticity”, Sprijina.ro allows projects of any kind to raise money. One of the most popular campaigns on the platform is “Catalog Bucuresti”, which aims to refurbish thousands of historical buildings in Bucharest.

Multifinantare.ro – it was the first crowdfunding platform in Romania, and it splits projects into three categories: corporate capital projects, creative projects and charitable projects.

PotSiEu.ro – the platform raises funds for sustainable projects with social impact, so it targets NGOs, foundations and social entrepreneurs that want to drive change in society.

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