It took me a while to settle on the idea of running a funding campaign - it is quite a departure from where I once stood on the subject of asking for stuff. If dad ever forgot to give me dinner money, I wouldn't ask him for it, i'd rather go hungry - times have changed, my hunger hasnt. I have an ambition that I am driven to realise - for reasons I explain in my first post. The usual means of funding this goal are not available in my situation - more of that later too, but essentially I have had to think outside of the box and away from the normal avenues. Steadily I taught myself about crowdfunding and at the same time I was made to realise I also have something to offer.

The premise of crowd funding has been around for centuries, in many differing forms but the term "crowdfunding" was reportedly first coined in 2006, and crowdfunding as we know it today really took off after the 2008 financial crisis. The founders of Kickstarter and Indigogo saw a host of entrepreneurs, creators, non-profit orgs and charities looking for new avenues to fund their ventures. The growth of these platforms coupled with the dawn of the social media era, has contributed to a really inspiring movement of people seeing their creative projects, their innovative inventions and wildest ambitions come to fruition. Last year $5.1billion was raised through crowdfunding.

I believe the success of the industry is not just down to it being a pragmatic solution to a problem. I believe that it appeals to some inherent traits we possess as humans. I believe that we are, more often than not, and in increasing amounts, a very giving species (the argument of wether this is altruism is an interesting one, but maybe for another place). It is undeniable though, that it feels good to help people - think of the jolliest most light hearted, fun and jovial person you know... I bet they're a perpetual helper in your community or social circle, I bet they'd be the first person to help you out of a crisis, wether you asked or not. I think sub-consciously we know that helping others helps us help ourselves.

The other aspect that is vital to the growth of crowdfunding is our desire to belong. By backing someone or something we become an integral part of its creation - its success, in-part, belongs to us. So when that ground breaking bit of technology or award winning film or headline hitting project becomes a household name we still belong to it, and it us. We are responsible for it - and that also feels great.

So in truth I really like the advent of crowdfunding, I like what it has done for people who maybe 10 years ago had less of an opportunity - check this story out, it is one of my favourite crowdfunding success stories -Flowhive,

#crowdfunding #gofundme #flowhive #giving