You have a great idea, but no/not enough financial backing. What can you do? Partnerships are a great asset (we at Impact Hub Basel would know), but not applicable to many later-stage start-ups or small businesses. Enter crowdfunding. This form of gaining awareness and fundraising can act as a huge boost for projects, whether solely in the area of sustainability, or in another (such as creative or tech).

And since ’tis the season of giving—and stress from way too much to do—IH Basel is here to save (part of) the day! If you are struggling with all the waste and consumerism at Christmas and want to give something with more meaning and impact, why not try donating to local crowdfunding campaigns? If you’re absolutely lost in this world, but like the idea, check out Lokalhelden,  fundeego, or GoodFestival for inspiration.

Online crowdfunding has taken the world by storm since the launch of IndieGoGo, Kickstarter, and GoFundMe in the late 2000s. While people worldwide were funding thousands of entrepreneurs and projects, I was rocking frosted lip gloss, bedazzled jeans, and Uggs (no judgement, it was middle school). Online platforms took some time to reach the Swiss market but are increasingly gaining popularity. Why? Switzerland is a world leader in innovation, and residents have a higher-than-average level of disposable income. There are around 50 crowdfunding platforms currently operating in Switzerland. 

With all that said, let’s get down to business, and introduce Crowdfunding 101. Impact Hub Basel has compiled a comprehensive list (in no particular order) of current Swiss-based crowdfunding platforms, as well as a small dictionary of relevant terms.

We hope this entry will benefit both our entrepreneurial and investing members. And if you are planning on a crowdfunding project, let us know! Our guide will (hopefully) help guide you to the right platform for your project, to maximize your impact, lower your risk, and meet your fundraising goals as quickly as possible.

Happy Holidays from all of us at IH Basel, and a “guter Rutsch” into 2019!

References

Fintech Schweiz Digital Finance News – FintechNewsCH. (2018). Crowdfunding Players In Switzerland. [online] Available at: http://fintechnews.ch/crowdfunding/crowdfunding-players-switzerland/15701/ [Accessed 3 Dec. 2018].

 

Caroline Steiblin

 

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