Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What?
Launched in 2012, Holvi is not a ‘traditional’ crowdfunding platform for projects, but instead it offers project groups an online bank service with a visual interface for handling their money and better finance keeping.

How does it work?

• After opening an account, Holvi customers can share the account with, for example, a project group.
• In addition to simply showing the current account balance, Holvi is equipped with tools for budgeting, invoicing and bookkeeping.
• Holvi also provides a possibility to build an online store to sell tickets or merchandise.

Who’s involved?
Project teams, associations or anyone by themselves can use Holvi. Holvi is run by Holvi Payment Services Ltd and backed by investors as well as Tekes (Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation).

Status:
Active. Holvi is currently only available in Finland but will soon be expanding its operations to other countries.

Website:
www.holvi.com

2 Comments

Posted by
Maija Oksanen
on September 15, 2012

Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What?
Mesenaatti is a prototype for a Finnish crowdfunding platform. The project has been shaping for the past couple of years in the developer group and is now taking bigger steps towards becoming reality.

How does it work?

• Waiting for its launch, Mesenaatti has posted some guidelines about how the service works both for project creators as well as project backers.
• Project creators present projects online by video, text and pictures stating the aim as well as supporter rewards, project goal and deadline.
• According to the website, backers are (depending on the project) eligible for profit if the project is successful. However, this is not explained further and the method is unclear.

Who’s involved?
Project creators and backers (registered users can act as both), Mesenaatti team.

Status:
Pre-launch. Mesenaatti is under construction due to launch during early 2013.

Website:
http://mesenaatti.me

No comments yet

Posted by
Maija Oksanen
on September 14, 2012

Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What?
Started in 2010, Voordekunst is a Dutch crowdfunding platform aiming at supporting cultural projects.

How does it work?

• Registered users post projects on the website and run campaigns to fund them by offering rewards to other registered users in exchange for their donations.
• Project creators choose a deadline and a minimum goal of funds to raise. For the project to receive the funding the entire goal must be reached by the deadline. Project creators often upload video, images and other media on the project site and send updates on the project.

Who’s involved?
Project creators and backers (registered users can act as both). Voordekunst was initiated by Amsterdams Fonds Voor De Kunst.

Status:
Active. Voordekunst is currently only available in Dutch.

Website
www.voordekunst.nl

No comments yet

Posted by
Maija Oksanen
on September 13, 2012

Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What?
Indiegogo is an international crowdfunding platform launched in 2008. Indiegogo has many of the same basic features as, for example, Kickstarter. Indiegogo is open for projects internationally and anyone with a bank account can start a project or contribute to projects.

How does it work?

• Like in many other crowdfunding services, the project needs a project page to explain visitors what the project is about, what is happening, how the users can help and what unique returns they’ll get for becoming contributors. Ownership of the campaign remains with the project initiators.
• Indiegogo uses an algorithm called the gogofactor. After a funding campaign is launched, sharing, tweeting, and “likes” of the campaign boost the gogofactor and once raised enough the project can be featured on the Indiegogo homepage.
• Indiegogo offers two funding types: Flexible Funding allows projects to keep the money they raise, regardless of whether they meet their goal. Fixed Funding refunds the money back to contributors if the goal is not met. Indiegogo retains 4% of the funding and 3% goes to third parties for processing credit card fees. An extra 9% is retained with Flexible Funding if the project does not meet its goal but they keep what they have gathered.

Who’s involved?
Project creators, backers (registered users can act as both). Indiegogo is run by Indiegogo Inc.

Status:
Active. Indiegogo is an international platform with campaigns running in over 200 countries.

Website:
www.indiegogo.com

No comments yet

Posted by
Maija Oksanen
on September 12, 2012

Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What?
Kiva is a non-profit organisation founded in 2005 leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions to alleviate poverty. Kiva enables individuals to lend small amounts, as little as $25, to help create opportunities around the world for those in need of little extra capital.

How does it work?

• After registration members can make a loan on Kiva. Lenders and their need for loans are featured on the Kiva website. All loans are vetted, administered, and disbursed by Kiva Field Partners (microfinance organisations around the world).
• Kiva sends email updates during the loan period and updates on progress are also posted on the website.
• After the borrower repays the loan, the money becomes available as Kiva Credit in the lender’s account. Kiva Credit can then be used to fund another loan, donated to Kiva, or withdrawn from the service.

Who’s involved?
Lenders and borrowers around the world. Kiva is supported by a wide range of corporations and foundations offering their support through discounted services and free software as well as grants and financial backing.

Status:
Active. Kiva offers micro loans in over 60 countries.

Website:
www.kiva.org

No comments yet

Posted by
Maija Oksanen
on

Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What?
Launched in January 2012, Lucky Ant is another example of extending crowdfunding to local businesses. Like Smallknot, the service gives small business owners a way to raise money in the form of small donations to fund improvement projects.

How does it work?

• Lucky Ant uses a one-project-a-week model instead of featuring several projects at the same time. This is done to allow people to focus on one project which will hopefully lead to a higher conversion rate.
• Registered users receive an email at the beginning of the week informing about the most recent campaign. Campaigns need to reach their goal to receive the money for the project.
• Community members receive special rewards, VIP treatment and other perks in exchange for supporting their local businesses.
• Lucky Ant charges a commission fee from the businesses for featuring the campaign.

Who’s involved?
Citizens, local businesses, Lucky Ant Inc.

Status:
Active. The service is currently only operating in New York.

Website:
http://www.luckyant.com

No comments yet

Posted by
Maija Oksanen
on September 11, 2012

Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What?
Created already back in 1988, the Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) program provides community groups with resources from the City of Seattle for community-driven projects enhancing and strengthening their own neighborhoods. City of Seattle sees strong neighborhoods and active residents as one of Seattle’s assets and the NMF program promotes collaboration between the City and the community as well as community building.

How does it work?

• All projects are initiated, planned and implemented by community members in partnership with the City.
• There are three funds within the Neighborhood Matching Fund Program for projects of different size.
• An award from the City is matched by resources of volunteer labor, donated materials, donated professional services or cash from neighborhoods or communities.
• For example physical projects (e.g. a playground or public art, etc.) require a 1:1 match meaning the community match must equal the funding request. Non-physical projects (e.g. design, planning, events, etc.) require a ½:1 match meaning the community match must equal at least half of the funding request.

Who’s involved?
Citizens, City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods.

Status:
Active. Since 1988 some 4 000 projects have been awarded through the program.

Website:
http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/nmf/

No comments yet

Posted by
Maija Oksanen
on September 10, 2012

Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What?
Launched in early 2012, Smallknot lets people invest in the small businesses in their community in exchange for goods, services, special perks and other benefits. Smallknot serves exclusively to the needs of local businesses looking to expand and grow but need a little extra capital. Banks often don’t lend to the smallest businesses and often projects like these get pushed forward.

How does it work?

• After finding an interesting business among the available campaign, users can invest in campaigns by choosing one of the offered returns. Money is charged only if the business hits its stated goal. Supporters will be contacted about how to claim their return.
• Project contributors do not earn interest on Smallknot. Supporters do not take any kind of ownership in the businesses they support.
• Smallknot retains a 10% commission on any successful campaign. In addition an additional 2.9% is charged for payment processing.

Who’s involved?
Citizens, local businesses, Smallknot Inc.

Status:
Active. Smallknot operates primarily in New York but are looking into expanding to other cities in the US.

Website:
www.smallknot.com

No comments yet

Posted by
Maija Oksanen
on September 7, 2012

Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What?
Launched in July 2012, Neighbor.ly is a crowdfunding platform designed to accept projects only from local governmental and civic-natured entities which are then funded by local citizens.  Also included is a project proposal system for citizens to propose a project for the local government to take on.

How does it work?

• Neighbor.ly’s focus is on improvement projects within transportation, sports, entertainment, education and public amenities.
• Individual citizens are not able to start projects, but instead they have to be initiated from the local government side.
• If a project doesn’t get fully funded, the backers will receive credit for their contribution in the form of Neighbor.ly credits, which can then later be used to back other projects. Neighbor.ly retains 5% of contributions made on the platform.
• Contributions are handed over when projects are officially approved either within the city or given permission by the respective authority.

Who’s involved?
Citizens, local government, Neighbor.ly Inc.

Status:
Active. Neighbor.ly has been launched in Kansas City, Missouri.

Website:
www.neighbor.ly

No comments yet

Posted by
Maija Oksanen
on

Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What? Started in the summer of 2011, Change by Us is a developed version of Give a Minute, featured in our previous Fact Card. Change by Us is an online bulletin board for New Yorkers to publish their ideas on how to turn the city more greener and turn them into action by creating projects and building teams.

How does it work?

• Citizens submit ideas which then get registered on a billboard graphic appearing on the website.
• Based on ideas submitted to the platform, the service then connects visitors, and invites them into project groups. Project groups have their own project page with more information, upcoming events, feedback, etc. Projects can also form connections to existing city resources and community organizations.
• In July 2011 City of New York invited volunteer-led community groups to apply for a Change by Us NYC grant to fund ongoing projects.

Who’s involved?
Citizens, City of New York officials. The service was created by Local Projects together with CEOs for Cities and it received funding from the Rockefeller and Knight foundations.

Status:
Active. Change by Us is also running in Philadelphia.

Website:
http://nyc.changeby.us

No comments yet

Posted by
Maija Oksanen
on September 3, 2012