RocketHub Gazette

The Triagular Hot Dog Comes to Life - Crowdfunding Innovation from Sweden

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:11:00 -0400

For many years I was bothered with my sausages rolling off the gill into the dirt. Simple problem-solving resulted in the idea of a triangular hot dog. But it was first when I became a parent I saw the full potential of my triangular innovation and just had to do something about it.

People are crazy about the product, they are already writing songs about it. But crowdfunding is new and strange for some and they send me envelopes with money. But I need the on-line support as much as the cash.

The effort of many, putting in small amounts, is worth a lot more than you think. It attracts other funders and having many supporters is priceless in negotiations with suppliers and other partners.

So, if you find a project you like, give it your support. Even if it’s just one dollar.

Choose a project you’re passionate about. Figure out how you can reward your funders, tell everyone you know and go for it! I have at least two other projects that will be crowdfunded after I get this dog out on the market.

Be amused and learn more from my many mistakes inventing stuff at my blog.

- Martin Wande, Inventor, Dad, International Crowdfunding Pioneer

The Dirty Sock Funtime Band - Crowdfunding Kid-Friendly Tunes

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 10:29:49 -0400

The Dirty Sock Funtime Band has had some amazing experiences creating music, music videos and TV episodes for families around the world. When we started, the kids’ music industry was just getting off the ground. We released our first album and within one year, we were on “Jack’s Big Music Show” on Nickelodeon, traveling the country and releasing a new album. As the industry has changed, we have explored ways to change with it. So, instead of seeking out a traditional record deal, we decided to reach out to our fans directly and do a RocketHub campaign. We had been recording a new album, The Dirty Socks Come Clean, and knew our fans really wanted to hear it. But in order to release it to the world, we would have to raise some more finances. One of our friends, Tabitha St. Bernard, used RocketHub to launch her innovative zero waste fashion line Tabii Just, and we were so inspired by her success that we decided to work with RocketHub.

While the campaign isn’t over, people are responding well, especially this week as the campaign is coming to a close. Our fans are attracted to the prizes, from an exclusive EP of new songs to pre-ordering the album. Many have jumped at the opportunity to help. We have also gotten praise and recognition for being able to go out and release the album independently. Other bands who have tried their own campaigns before have been really supportive. There have been challenges. For some fans, this new approach to releasing an album has caused confusion and it has taken explaining all that goes into an album release, such as marketing, manufacturing and making music videos, to help clarify why we’re even doing a crowdfunding campaign.

My biggest piece of advice is to accept that it’s a big project, put all other major projects that need promotions on hold, except for projects that lead directly to RocketHub. Be honest with yourself. It takes time and effort to raise money and it is not an easy thing to do. Secondly, be prepared to work on fundraising every day. Make sure there is no lag time. Keep people engaged daily. Last, it’s important to be realistic about the goal and not overshoot your abilities. If you definitely have the capacity to reach certain goals, then you need to aim for that. Anything else is icing on the cake.

- The Dirty Sock Funtime Band

Invitation to Dance - A Film About Disability, History, Community, Civil Rights, and Dance!

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:16:00 -0400

Though we’d known each other for years, we usually saw each other only once a year at the opening night of the New York Film Festival. Then Christian read Simi’s memoir, My Body Politic and instantly saw it as a film. We’ve been inseparable ever since.

At the beginning, we thought we might make a narrative feature, but it soon became apparent that the real people in Simi’s world and their stories offered richer and more interesting possibilities. And the documentary, INVITATION TO DANCE was born.

We followed the advice we got from Vlad Vukicevic at RocketHub, and Matthew Seig at our fiscal sponsor the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) which was to first reach the people we know, or are part of the groups and organizations that we belong to. From the strong initial response of our “first followers” that strategy certainly seems to be effective. But word is spreading, and INVITATION TO DANCE is grabbing the attention of not only insiders in the disability rights movement and disability arts community, but a broad spectrum of people in the arts, social justice movements, education, the film world, and more.

INVITATION TO DANCE is, of course, about disability, but it is about history, community, dance, civil rights and more.

For crowdfunding success, begin building the community around your project from day one -when you start pre-production. Later on, this will be your first audience. The strength of this group determines your success.

Work with pros, who care about the projects they commit to. The folks at RocketHub and NYFA are very helpful, engaged and knowledgeable. But be prepared to work non-stop for the duration of the campaign. You will have to find dozens of ways to tell your public that your film is important and their contribution will make a difference.

- Simi Linton & Christian von Tippelskirch, Directors, Producers, Crowdfunding Innovators

Dancing Entrepreneurship - Full Force Crowdfunds the Next Step

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:49:39 -0400

Full Force Dance Repertory has been around for about three years now. However for the first two years were seasonal, operating only during the summer months because were in school. Anginese was in graduate school for dance therapy and A.R. Kadeem was in undergraduate for dance. Upon graduation we decided to run Full Force year-round.

In our first full year of operation, we wrote our business plan. Writing this was our inspiration because once it was completed, we realized that we needed to have more financial support. We have performed at various venues throughout the past three years, including being featured Off-Broadway, however we never had our own full dance concert. That is something we feel is most definitely needed in order for us to grow as a company. Our goal is to have one by the end of the summer - not to mention paying the dancers is important as well!

Crowdfunding is nerve-racking! Because we are pioneers in the this field, there isn’t a Crowdfunding For Dance Companies for Dummies. We wish there was a manual on how to crowdfund for this sort of genre.

We are always thinking about this project. Once we officially went live with our campaign, we actually both dreamt about the outcome for the first few days. Various scenarios have played in our minds of what could or could not happen. However, we have stayed positive (and been praying) through it all. This means so much to us. This is apart of our dream, so it we can’t help but to consistently think about it.

Our supporters have been responding very well. We know that every crowdfunding project has its ups and downs. There comes a time in which people are constantly donating, then all of the sudden it stops. There is dead moment. When this happens, it is always best to go back to the drawing board to see what can be done differently and more creatively. And that is what we have been doing! For each lull we have, we rework something. We immediately see a spike in our funding after that. Granted, it has been challenging; but without challenge growth is impossible.

For success, be different. This is what we knew we had to do when we first begun our project. There are many projects out there vying for attention and are soliciting support. But the thing that makes one project standout from the other is not necessarily a cool invention or a great organization, it is the uniqueness of it.

Make sure you know who you are first and based off of that see what else is out there so that you can be different.

Reach out to everyone….EVERYONE. Don’t be afraid to ask for support from all people in your network and beyond. You never know how they are willing to support your project.

- A.R. Kadeem and Anginese Phillips, Dancers, Choreographers, Entrepreneurs

Venture for America Announces Fellow Innovation Fund to Support Projects in Detroit, New Orleans, and Other Cities

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:07:23 -0400

Fellows gain access to American Express OPEN Forum’s Network of Entrepreneurs and RocketHub’s Crowdfunding Platform to fund their ideas.

New York, NY — Venture for America, a fellowship program that helps recent grads become entrepreneurs, announced today that it will be offering its Venture Fellows the opportunity to use RocketHub, a crowdfunding platform, giving them the chance to compete for $25,000 in funding for their projects and ideas. For the first time ever, this “Innovation Fund” will offer the opportunity for these young entrepreneurs to access money available only to Venture for America Fellows.

Additionally, American Express OPEN Forum, a sponsor of the Venture for America since 2012, will provide support for VFA Fellows with access to its advice-sharing platform, featuring powerful expert insights and a community of entrepreneurs. VFA Fellows will be able to leverage OPEN Forum’s network of entrepreneurs to exchange advice and make informed decisions related to a variety of business topics.

“We are thrilled to give our Fellows the opportunity through the Innovation Fund to begin launching their projects and ideas,” said Andrew Yang, Founder and CEO of Venture for America. “This is really the first step toward giving our Fellows the opportunity to one day launch their own businesses and create jobs.”

The projects competing in the challenge include a non-profit that teaches entrepreneurship in middle schools in New Orleans and Detroit, a networking app based in Providence, RI, and a sandwich shop in the up-and-coming “Over the Rhine” neighborhood in Cincinnati, OH. The Fellow that raises the most money through RocketHub between now and July 8th will receive $10,000 from the Innovation Fund, with other prizes for second and third place. To learn more about their projects and contribute to their ideas, you can visit VFA.RocketHub.com.

“RocketHub is excited to partner with Venture For America to support their initiative of revitalizing American cities through entrepreneurship,” said RocketHub CEO, Brian Meece. “Crowdfunding now plays an important role in bringing innovation, jobs, and opportunities to communities across the nation.”

Venture for America’s Fellows are recent college graduates chosen through a rigorous, multi-stage application and selection process. By giving these aspiring entrepreneurs a pathway to join startups and providing them with training and mentorship, Venture for America hopes to mobilize these young people as entrepreneurs moving forward. Fellow Innovation Fund Projects can be viewed at VFA.RocketHub.com.

About American Express OPEN Forum:

American Express OPEN Forum is an advice sharing platform featuring powerful expert insights and a community of entrepreneurs. Our focus is on unlocking the collective knowledge of entrepreneurs and growth-minded business owners by creating a community where they can come together and share their experiences.

To learn more visit OPENForum.com.

About RocketHub:

RocketHub is an international, pioneering, open community that has helped thousands of entrepreneurs, scientists, artists, and social leaders raise millions of dollars. Part of RocketHub’s mission is to educate the public on the power of the crowdfunding model. As a result, the founders have lectured on crowdfunding at top schools and conferences around the globe, and have even testified in the U.S. Congress on the power of online fundraising.

Social Palates - Crowdfunding a Local Artistic Business

Wed, 29 May 2013 12:40:49 -0400

I am a chef by trade and a photographer by passion. I have always had a desire to be a strong supporter of my community no matter what professional hat I have worn. About a year and a half ago I finally decided that my body and mind had had enough of the unforgiving, often unrewarding restaurant industry. I initially began as a Social Media marketing agency (consisted of me, myself, and I) and found that so many places/people/organizations did not have the media or photos to create an exciting vibrant engaging Social Media presence. My version of Social Photography was born. I spent almost one year covering (photographing, blogging, sharing) anything I could possibly could from city events and politicians to non profits to giant festivals to local small businesses, 95% of which I did for free.

I live in the Halloween capitol of the world, it is also the home of historic spice routes and a vibrant community of forward thinking people that creates a constantly active and changing facade that provides more fodder than one man can handle! There are at least a dozen events every week in Salem alone. I have accomplished my mission of creating a reputation and almost mystique about my photography. I have been described as the best street photographer in the city and a city’s best friend by the city’s tourism specialists. Just recently I have begun to get paying gigs and figuring out an active business model. An opportunity presented itself to get one of the city run artistic incubator spots and I thought “This is my chance to break out and create something fantastic and new.” Social Photography, in my humble opinion is any photography that evokes that same feeling you get when you are out and experiencing things live and then on the flip side you want to tell everyone about it (That is where my social media background and proficiency really helps).

I have created a business model that is a combination of Photographer, Social Media Marketer, PR, Artist and small business friendly entity. The spot that I am trying to create will hopefully be the hub of am extremely active, yet disjointed artist community. Having this location in the middle of the city is kinda the logical next step and makes total sense since I have immersed myself in the fabric of the community in such a way. Now I will have a home to make it even more personable and I really hope, profitable.

Financially I chose to crowd fund because of all the work that I have done in the past year and the amount of people that I have turned down hand outs from or those that say “I owe you.” Crowdfunding allowed me to still give something back and have those same people invest in artwork or services ahead of time giving me the funds to open a storefront / Studio location and finally purchase my camera equipment (I have been renting at almost $300 a week for a little over a year now, really giving me nothing left to work with at this point). The other reason I thought crowdfunding would work was it was a visual opportunity to show people from outside my circles that I am an up and coming force in the photography world. I used RocketHub specifically after doing a ton of research because I really liked how small business friendly you were.

The support has been tremendous…From my circles, I have not figured out how to get other people invested in this project. There is some pretty fantastic and unique artwork up for grabs (I love the goods model as opposed to me just having a fundraiser or trying for a loan that will crush me with interests rates and such). People are invested in me and what I do and that is such a fantastic feeling and another reason I love the crowd funding model. They are not just supporting me, they know that I will in turn support the community and so it is a fantastic trade off. The cool part for the local people that are supporting me is they have been able to watch my progress (I had actually considered cashing out of the fundraiser because I have 7 days to open the shop and 30 something days left on the campaign, someone didn’t calculate properly haha). But I am trying my best to scrounge up what I can at least for the soft opening and hopefully hit the goal or at least a larger number sooner rather than later.

Honestly the only negativity I have received is people that are frustrated they didn’t try it first or that they don’t understand why they are going to help me raise money for my business and completely are overlooking the goods model (Again its a misunderstanding more than a lack of wanting to contribute).

One of the biggest challenges was the marathon tragedy that happened not 20 minutes from where I am and one week after I launched my campaign. I honestly stopped all promotion and took awhile (And it never has been back in full swing) to start the promotion back up. I can’t and don’t want to try and compete with that. I was on quite a role and then it kinda went stagnant with little pops here an there.

For success, have an active network. It is advice I give to clients as well. If you are not active and engaged in the community then you can not expect people to all of a sudden pay attention to what you are doing. Also, know the proper channels to reach your potential supporters, the back end (i.e.. The share button that pops up the widget) is fantastic if people even know how to use all those things..I almost would tell anyone going forward with a campaign to spend a couple months networking and spending many sleepless nights and countless hours networking and being an active online member of society before even considering going live.

I use a combination of Facebook, Twitter, Buffer, Linked In, Pinterest, the HTML code on my site, newsletters, old school hand outs with QR codes, posters and more. I pulled in favors from blogger friends to write about me and more…I am pretty aggressive when things are full steam ahead.

- John Andrews, Chef, Photographer, Marketer, Entrepreneur, Community Leader, Crowdfunding Pioneer

Studying How Bats Speak and Crowdfunding Science

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:56:00 -0400

I’ve always had an interest in bat ecology, as well as a strong interest in communication and animal behavior. We as humans have always assumed a level of simplicity in the communication signals of animals, and more and more research is proving how wrong we are: animal communication, especially vocal, is so much more complicated than we originally thought. Bats are especially interesting because they can vocalize over a wide range of frequencies, up to 10x human’s ability to create or hear sound. Recent research has shown bats can recognize individuals by their echolocation calls, and I am interested in how this recognition and vocal signatures plays into the larger ecological picture.

Many of my contributors are family and friends and it’s great knowing I have their support for my studies. My mother is a teaching aid at an elementary school and has been able to get some of her students interested in the project and bat conservation, which is especially rewarding. Animals like bats tend to have bad reputations with the general public, so it’s great to get these kids interested in bat conservation so young. I’ve also reached out to some list-servs and group of bat researchers from North America and around the world and received some interesting and helpful advice and thoughts from people around the world, which is amazing.

For success, make sure you can communicate your project in a way that invests the audience; make them care about your cause. Be prepared; I didn’t upload a personal video or include more information about my project till later, I think that it has affected my success. Try to have a plan together before you officially launch your project.

Don’t be afraid to promote it, but don’t overdo it. Share it with your friends and family, encouraging sharing with their friends and families.

- Alyson Brokaw, Biology Graduate Student at Humboldt State University, Bat Ecology Expert, Science Crowdfunding Pioneer

In Plain View - The Art of Crowdfunding a Web-Series

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:20:36 -0400

The inspiration for the story was the brutal execution murder of a Boston Police detective many years ago. The brutality of the murder, he was shot five times in the face in the sign of the cross, compelled me to write the story. As it turned out, telling the true story would prove incredibly difficult and costly, so over the years I decided to write an “inspired by true events” version. I took from many other “real world” events and characters, highly embellished them, then wrote my final script in a full-length feature structure.

The digital age is an enigma, it comes fraught with much hype and clutter, and expectations that are often “stretched.” With that said, once you do your homework and research through the hyperbole, you see a world the real world that offers great opportunity to a content maker, especially those on a modest budget. The bottom-line is simple, although the “New World” of digital distribution offers unlimited possibility, like anything it requires a solid plan, from creating the art to marketing what you create.

This crowdfunding project is showing me that even with a great a project and great cast, an incredibly focused and well executed campaign is required. It is not an “if you build it they will come” scenario by any stretch. Your advocates must be aggressive in campaigning for you, the email list is crucial, but it is the constant reminding, without being annoying, that makes or breaks a project like this. It’s amazing how many crowdfunding projects people are receiving on any given day. You have to have something that stands out, if not a brand already, then something incredibly exciting and different, whether a film or a gadget. Then you have to a great way to market that excitement to potential donors. It’s not easy if done correctly.

With that said, we are doing well, I asked for a lot-$50,000- and I started my campaign on the same day as the bombing tragedy here in Boston. That obviously had an effect, but I’m seeing the crowdfunding power of small donors vs, the heavy hitters. Those smaller donations add up and it’s incredibly exciting when you check your email (like an addict) and see a donation email from RocketHub. The fact that I can call Jed Cohen with questions and for help is an added plus with RocketHub, I don’t believe I could do something like that with any other crowd-funding platform.

Key lesson, most potential supporters must be groomed in a very respectful way and your advocates must do that, if you have weaker advocates, you’re in trouble: And be ruthlessly realistic in what a project not already branded can raise. You really need to eventually get very deep into each circle of influence, stretch it to its max, to be successful. And lastly, it is a very fatiguing process, you will be “on” 24/7 thinking about what you’re missing. It’s a time-locked battle, so have a really trustworthy small team. And remember not everyone will jump at the first chance to give you money: isn’t that surprising? Even some of those close to you. They have busy schedules and must be reminded, or even with some, nicely cajoled into donating. Some advocates will do better than others, so DO NOT get mad at anyone who may not be that aggressive, not everyone is a salesperson. It’s easy to lose sight of the fact that this isn’t life-threatening.

- Joe Conforti, Filmmaker, Screenwriter, Producer, Crowdfunding Innovator

From Canada with Love - Crowdfunding Strategies from Brian Meece

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:02:15 -0400

Our friends at MaRS invited us to lead a crowdfunding workshop and discussion in Toronto, Canada. Here’s the great content that come out of it:

MaRS is an incredible organization in Toronto and beyond. “MaRS is where science, technology and social entrepreneurs get the help they need. Where all kinds of people meet to spark new ideas. And where a global reputation for innovation is being earned, one success story at a time.” So if you’re looking for support and a great community, check them out.

- The RocketHub Team

Astronaut Abby Takes Flight with Crowdfunding

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:41:27 -0400

When I got invited to view a Russian Soyuz launch I was ecstatic! The Soyuz is the only spacecraft currently capable of transporting humans to space and as an aspiring astronaut it would be an out of this world experience to see it blast off! For the past few years, I have been blogging and talking about my journey to becoming the first astronaut on Mars. I wanted to use this blog as a platform to inspire kids and adults alike to get excited about space exploration and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). While blogging and social media is an excellent platform to spread the word, for this once-in-a-lifetime experience I felt like I needed more to extend my reach beyond my online community. Hence the #SoyuzAdventure was born.

The #SoyuzAdventure started with me brainstorming with supporters about ways to expand my reach to inspire people not only in my core community – but also around the world. I finally decided on crowdsourcing, and, I developed a six-month outreach project, which includes:

Speaking to classrooms both in person and through Skype
Speaking at conferences and events
Writing for several mainstream publications both for kids and adults
Hosting a fun email pen pal program.

And much, much more! The positive support I received from my community proved to me that this was a worthwhile project to embark on.

I honestly didn’t realize I was a pioneer with this project. I’m just a 15-year-old with a huge dream - and an amazing community of supporters. Using crowdfunding as a way to help me increase my outreach efforts and make a positive impact on the world has been an incredible experience. The response from my online and offline community has been phenomenal! From the beginning, I have had support from people around the world both with funding as they join my #SoyuzAdventure crew on RocketHub as well as helping me spread the word.

My community motivates me everyday to believe that I will be successful with both my fundraising and outreach efforts now, but also in my ultimate quest to get to Mars. It will take a collaboration of nations and many people around the world to make my Mars dreams a reality and the support from this campaign shows me there is a desire to make it happen.

My advice for others looking to crowd fund a similar project would be to start with building a strong community both online and offline. I was online for several years, participating in the space and STEM community, before launching this project. My core community has been so important to helping me spread the word and I could not have done it without them.

I believe to run a successful crowdfunding campaign you also need a great project that your community can believe in. It’s important that you are absolutely passionate about your project and that you are able to articulate that in writing as well as through images and video. Crowdfunding can be incredibly time consuming and if you are not passionate about your project it will be hard to keep the momentum going throughout the campaign. Don’t be afraid to talk to people in your community and ask for advice in creating the project. These advisers will become your advocates and ambassadors when you run your campaign.

Finally, you have to be determined and realize that there are many ups and downs during a campaign. A successful campaign means you are living and breathing it all day, everyday while it is running. I was surprised at how all encompassing this campaign has been. At some point during your campaigning it may seem l like your goal is not attainable, but you have to keep working toward it and know in your heart you will make it to the finish line. If you believe in yourself other people will believe in you too!

- Abigail Harrison a.k.a. Astronaut Abby, Aspiring First Astronaut to Mars, Teen Crowdfunding Pioneer

Ali Dreams Big and Crowdfunds Independent Music

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:09:53 -0400

Nowadays making an EP independently, and doing all the other things that go along with it, can be really expensive. I decided I wanted to try RocketHub to see if I could get some help from my supporters around the world because I’m SO excited to get my original music out there!

So far it’s been really great. I’m totally amazed at how quickly my fans responded and wanted to help me in making my debut EP a reality.

I definitely recommend crowdfunding, especially for people who are doing this on their own without any label supporting them. It’s a really great way to reach your goal while still offering some really cool prizes to thank your supporters for being so incredible.

- Ali Brustofski, Singer/Songwriter, Rising Music Star, Successful Crowdfunder

The Asoka - Empowering Major Music without a Major Label!

Fri, 10 May 2013 11:38:52 -0400

I feel that RocketHub is revolutionizing not only crowdfunding but the creative arts as well. So I wanted to be a part of that movement that brings the power into the hands of the people! And I’m so glad I did.

It’s been very exciting! The contribution from my supporters has been very touching. I’ll share a story with you. Within the first couple of weeks. I had somebody donate $500 to my cause. They sent me a note along with their contribution. It said, “I believe in you and I’m supporting your project. The only thing I ask for in return is that down the line, when you are established in your career, that you donate $500 to charity in a third world country that helps children, either medically or with education.”

And within that instant my RocketHub campaign became so much more than just funding an album. It became something so beautiful and personal.

For success, I would say awareness is key. Make sure you communicate personally with your peers and your supporters. I made it a point to talk to everybody about my campaign directly and personally. Then I followed up with everyone via emails. It’s a beautiful feeling when you see people supporting you. I’d definitely encourage anyone thinking about launching a campaign to do it. It’s been an incredible journey thus far and look forward to completing it!

- Asoka, International Hip Hop Phenom, Crowdfunding Pioneer

Facing Life's Decisions: The Search for Truth in Alternative Medicine

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:25:31 -0400

After learning of my mother’s cancer diagnosis in January, I went into panic mode. Pretty normal, right? As an only-child living in a foreign country thousands of miles away, I felt immediately helpless. To top it off, my mother was adamant about pursuing alternative therapy. She didn’t want any chemo or radiation. That was her final decision. Period.

I found myself suddenly facing a big fat moral dilemma: Do I support what my mother wants simply because that’s what she wants or do I convince her to go with what science says is most effective? Moreover, what is the worth of overall happiness when facing possible death? And what is my responsibility as a daughter? Do I even have a say? Another issue, will insurance cover the alternative therapies my mother wants to pursue? And how much will this all cost? Frankly, my head was spinning!

Out of this confusion however arose the need to understand how we humans deal with decisions under extreme pressure. More importantly, I became interested in my role as ‘family member’ during this process. I believe that many people can relate to this exact problem, and so I decided to open myself up to the world and to publicly meditate on this universal dilemma through the medium of film. I am hoping for my story to be a source of help for others when dealing with stressful, scary life-threatening situations.

Tackling the world of alternative medicine is a very hairy business. There are a lot of theories out there – most of which are based on one individual’s experience. The majority of Americans want facts and figures – scientific proof that something works, a golden seal of approval if you will. Considering this fact, I was quite nervous when I began my campaign. Opening up to my network however has surprisingly given me enormous strength! The support from my friends and colleagues is humbling and powerful. I am thankful that my experience thus far has been so positive. Starting a crowdfunding campaign was possibly the best decision I could have made considering my current position.

Within the last few weeks I have talked with hundreds of people and no matter what their stance is on alternative cancer treatment, there has been a general consensus: patients should have the right to choose how they want to be treated, and this decision needs to be supported and respected by our healthcare providers. I believe that because my film’s investigation is about decision-making rather than proving what is ‘better,’ I have been able to remain in a middle-of-the-road position, which has the power to persuade even strict believers of traditional therapy into supporting my project.

For success, don’t go out there prophesizing what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong.’ Passion is essential don’t get me wrong, but tact is also a major key to gaining support! Find an angle which hasn’t been tackled before, and get your supporters excited enough about your project so that they want to start telling others about it. Fighting for something as taboo as alternative cancer treatment can be alienating to many. I was weary when I first decided to stand by my mother’s decision, but since then I have become a real believer in the power that nutrition and detox have in helping a body heal. I am open about this fact when I am campaigning and my honesty has won me the support of many non-alternative believers. Like I already mentioned, this campaign has given me a lot of strength as well as wisdom. Even my mother has been reaping the benefits of this campaign. She is in high spirits and ready to beat this thing! And I will be there to document her journey.

- Sarah Volage Bellin, Director, Filmmaker, International Crowdfunder

Successful Return to RocketHub - 2nd Line & Crowdfunding Music History

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:40:00 -0400

RocketHub is a fantastic advocate for creative expression. In my experience, they have gone out of their way to support and promote the work I do, and help me find the market of people who would also be interested in supporting it. On top of that, I was really interested in their new association with A&E. The idea that, as you are crowdfunding, your work could get noticed, supported, and promoted by a big network, is invaluable.

“2nd Line” comments on the indisputable power of music as told through the context of Charles Neville’s experiences. The way we structured production of “2nd Line” had a profound effect on the way we viewed our goals of the film. In doing Charles’ interview before traveling to New Orleans and experiencing the music scene, we could only begin to imagine its powerful effects. Though after living and breathing New Orleans music, both in clubs and on the streets, we walked away completely mesmerized by its influence; Charles Neville’s stories suddenly clicked. We want to deliver a film that will guide an audience through an emotional transformation similar to the one we made on our trip.

I think the biggest mistake we made the first time around (and admittedly still a bit the second time) was not properly identifying our demographic group. Trying to run a crowdfunding campaign that appeals to all kinds of supporters is incredibly difficult. Think about the types of audiences your film will attract, and reach out to them. For us, both friends and family, but also Charles Neville and jazz enthusiasts, were our biggest contributors. Narrow down your market as much as possible; you will never be able to make a film that pleases all!

- Charles Frank & Jake Oleson, Co-Directors, Filmmakers, Crowdfunding Pioneers

The Many Voices of Rumi - A New Concert Experience

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:44:12 -0400

Darren Lougee: The great 13th century Sufi mystic and poet/philosopher, Jalal ad-Din Rumi, is the most natural and obvious “bridge” between Islam and the West. My ensemble, ActorCor (a choir of NYC actors), was created in 2008 with the mission of building bridges between Christians, Muslims and Jews with music. We have performed in over 30 interfaith dialogue events, peace services and marches. Our signature program, SAY YES! is a concert that celebrates the commonality of the three “Abrahamic” faiths by singing music from each tradition. It includes everything from English cathedral anthems to Pakistani Qawwali, Shabbat folk, Brooklyn Gospel and much more. We sing in Hebrew, Arabic, Yiddish, Urdu, Persian, Latin and English.

A concert dedicated to the writings of Rumi is completely in line with our mission. Two of my favorite Rumi lines, that we sing in Say Yes! and in this upcoming concerts is “Welcome you who love lovers, this is your home.” and “We rarely hear the inward music, but we’re all dancing anyway!.”

Jennifer Griffith: Darren’s been working with interfaith groups as a way of bringing together musicians and audiences for several years with his group ActorCor and their Say Yes! concerts. Rumi embodies the three major faiths in his work (among others) and he speaks to us individually as well. Darren, Zahra and I were all interested in Rumi’s poems and philosophy as an obviously exciting theme for a concert, and we played around with other ideas before deciding this was too important to overlook now.

People get excited about Rumi, they also want to support live performances, but I think they get stalled at the point of actually going to the site and donating. My last experience with crowdfunding for a live performance was quicker in terms of getting donations. This was a few years ago and perhaps the folks who donated then did so because I hadn’t asked before. Some donors went quickly to the site again, but many have not. I’m having to do a lot more in terms of informing people about the importance of the concert, in terms of Rumi’s powerful influence on us today, his social and emotional understanding of different kinds of love, and to my artistic development and the logistics of producing a concert, than I needed to last time.

For success, I would say what I’m telling myself right now: Hang in there, keep plugging away, do a task or two everyday toward getting your potential donors excited about the project—so that they in turn might spread the word. Seems like a ‘step-by-step’ attitude can help feed my enthusiasm, rather than looking only at the longterm goal, which can lead to an ‘Oh, no, we’ve got so far to go!’ panic. Having a specific concert and a subject that I’m excited about really helps keep me looking for ways to inform and enthuse people.

- Jennifer Griffith and Darren Lougee

A&E Project Startup First Week - Big Vision Empty Wallet Joins the Movement

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:50:16 -0400

The first week of RocketHub’s partnership with A&E has been an incredible success. PROJECT STARTUP is bringing the power of crowdfunding into millions of homes. The world is taking notice and press coverage from CNN, Forbes, and many other publications has helped to propel the movement.

Most importantly, we are helping to bring new awareness to awesome RocketHub projects and partners. Today, we’re excited to announce that our partner, Big Vision Empty Wallet, has joined the PROJECT STARTUP movement.

Much more to come in the coming weeks and months.

- The RocketHub Team

Saving the Legacy of Important Art

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:42:00 -0400

We launched our 2013 RocketHub campaign to raise funds for our second documentary film, capturing this year’s ART CART: Saving the Legacy process. Getting this on film will help us to raise the profile of the ART CART project, the efforts of our artists and student fellows, and this incredible interdisciplinary, intergenerational experience.

Our first documentary (2011) was a great success and RocketHub provided the platform. Since the pilot in NYC, ART CART has expanded to Washington, DC, taking on a national voice. As a DC Fellow and now the RocketHub Project Leader for ART CART, I have developed my understanding of the artistic process and realized the importance of documenting our nation’s creative legacy. We have returned to RocketHub to raise the funds needed for our second documentary, helping us to continue the expansion of the program to six locations by 2015.

This is my first time leading a fundraising project. It has been an exciting experience for me to see the variety of people and levels of support emerging in response to the ART CART: Saving the Legacy 2013 RocketHub campaign. Funders range from friends, family, and colleagues, to arts administrators, researchers, professors, graduate students and alumni, as well as ART CART artists, their working partners, fellows, and faculty. Supporters are located on both coasts, from California, to New York, Washington DC, and North Carolina. I look forward to welcoming others into the ART CART network over the next few weeks as we carry out our project, as well as learning more about their interests in the arts.

When I was first approached to lead this crowdfunding project, I found RocketHub’s Success School materials to be very helpful in developing my understanding of RocketHub’s crowdfunding process and maintaining a strategic mindset. Joan Jeffri, the Director of the Research Center for Arts and Culture and Founder of ART CART, also made sure to introduce me to the 2011 project leader in order to learn about our first documentary campaign. My advice to others who are considering their own crowdfunding campaign would be to:

Create a well-thought-out plan for the content and implementation of your project (if your project has a Director/Founder like ART CART, make sure s/he is an integral part of the process and aware of the project’s development throughout).
Have someone who cares about the project proofread your project description and appeals.
Maintain a dynamic project page with frequent status updates, a variety of media, and news related to your project. Don’t forget to share your excitement with your social media connections, too!
This may be a personal standard of mine, but I believe in prompt “thank-you’s.” No matter the size of the gift, show your gratitude for each funder’s support. I send an individualized thank-you to every person who gives to our campaign and helps bring awareness to our project.
Have a passion for what you’re doing. If you don’t believe in the project, why should others?
Be creative!

Engaging in this project has been rewarding for me in many ways. I have learned a lot about the crowdfunding process and even more about the ART CART artists participating in the project. Through our project on RocketHub, I have witnessed the power of ART CART to bring people of all ages together in support of a common goal – one that will impact future generations.

- Catherine Starek, ART Cart Project Leader, Crowdfunding Pioneer

The Agents of Change are Crowdfunding a Movement

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:48:00 -0400

52% of Americans feel creative, while one-in-four believe they are living up to their creative potential. Global surveys reveal 80% of respondents believe creativity is critical to economic growth. I launched a 40+ city initiative called, Agents of Change, to explore this gap.

Each city’s creative economy is an underground engine that indicates their economic well-being. It consists of entrepreneurs, artists, and social influencers. Our goal is to investigate the models they use through research, events, and documentation. By examining how this class uses technology to build their own initiatives and engaging them to collaborate on a local level, we can initiate a longer-term, broader engagement of a Change Agent Network (CAN), that will national models become more agile and effective.

It’s been an interesting experience crowdfunding this tour. There are people who really get it and understand the work that we are trying to do. Trying to build up a community or rebuild in some areas can be challenging. But with a collection of models that individuals can use and a network of people who have accomplished what you’re trying to accomplish at your finger tips is HUGE! And the people who have supported the tour get that.

What I have also found is that people are extremely interested in spreading the word because they believe in the work. However, these people have mentioned to me is that they don’t feel directly connected to the project. Though I am writing two books from my research, it is the product (the books) that they can wrap their heads around and get behind. So, I intend to do another campaign around those specific project.

You first few days are vital. Begin to set the stage a few weeks before you begin the campaign, so that people know that it is coming. Also, I recommend tapping into peoples primal motivators (example: Food, money, shelter, etc.) The more your project can connect to people’s basic needs, the more incentive people will have to contribute to your project.

- Ja-Naé Duane, Agent of Change, Synamic Ppeaker, Strategist, Social Scientist, Artist, Creative Economist, and Author

RocketHub Partners with A&E to Launch Project Startup

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 12:48:00 -0400

We are proud to announce that RocketHub has teamed up with A&E to launch PROJECT STARTUP. This partnership will support a new wave of entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers to help bring their businesses to life.

A&E will work with RocketHub to identify key entrepreneurs who have current projects in development on RocketHub’s platform that reflect the network’s commitment to the new entrepreneurial spirit. A&E will support these projects with a significant seed money contribution to help them reach their fundraising goals, in addition to potential national exposure on all of the network’s platforms – including on-air and online.

“A&E remains committed to using our power to reach millions of viewers who invite us into their homes daily to help improve the lives of those we touch,” said Dr. Libby H. O’Connell, Senior Vice President of Corporate Outreach for A+E Networks. “Through our partnership with RocketHub, we will be able to use our platforms to help entrepreneurs throughout the country see their vision brought to life.”

In addition to supplying funding and exposure, PROJECT STARTUP will offer workshops, community town halls, entrepreneurial tips from A&E talent and original educational content on crowdfunding. A&E will also be creating co-branded sponsorable custom on-air vignettes for potential advertisers who are looking to link their brands with this groundbreaking initiative.

“Project Startup provides an outstanding opportunity for entrepreneurs who can now raise more funding and access new audiences,” said Brian Meece, CEO of RocketHub. “RocketHub is honored to be a part of the A&E family to expand opportunity for entrepreneurs across America.”

Click here, for more information.

- The RocketHub Team

Sparking Crowdfunding in Jacksonville, Florida

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:46:34 -0400

The world’s first Crowdfunding Festival, One Spark 2013 will be held in Downtown Jacksonville, Florida this week from April 17 - 21. The five-day festival will include almost 900 entrepreneurs displaying their projects at about 60 venues throughout the downtown Jax area. RocketHub’s own CEO Brian Meece was invited by One Spark to lecture on crowdfunding success patterns.

“With One Spark, we are seeing so many talented people come together to put on a great event for the good of our city,” said Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown. “This is not only a great opportunity to ensure our best and brightest have a venue to compete, it’s an opportunity to open new doors for Jacksonville by drawing thousands of people to our Downtown for a truly unique experience.”

Brian Lectures on Saturday April 20th at 2PM in the Terry Theatre @ The Times Union Center

Click Here for more details.

- The RocketHub Team