Creatives and inventors don’t need a record label, a movie studio or a wealthy uncle any longer – now, community websites let fans be benefactors. But how do these platforms stack up? We spoke with each of the main crowdfunding sites. Here’s what they did – and didn’t – tell us…
Site |
Start |
Projects Submitted |
Projects Financed |
Projects Realised |
Total Supporters |
Amt Pledged |
Amt Paid Out |
Avg pledge |
Site’s commission |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apr 09 |
12,000 |
5,000+ |
3,500 – 4,000 |
400,000+ |
$35m+ |
– |
$71 |
5% of |
|
Jan 08 |
15,000+ |
4,000+ @ $500+. |
“Thousands”. |
– |
– |
“Millions of dollars” |
$79 |
4% of payout (9% |
|
Aug 06 |
– |
54 |
38 CDs |
– |
€524,675 + ¥6.6k |
€2.7m |
€41 |
15% of |
|
Oct 10 |
169 |
53 |
80% |
4,818 |
€100k |
€70k |
€32 |
0% |
|
Feb 10 |
350 |
75 |
– |
– |
$400k |
€300k |
– |
8% of |
|
Jun 07 |
– |
31 |
26 albums |
– |
– |
€750k |
– |
– |
|
May 10 |
– |
29 |
– |
– |
“Confidential” |
– |
– |
7.5% of |
|
Jul 09 |
2,700+ |
77% |
132 |
74,000 |
“Confidential” |
– |
$92 |
15% of |
|
May 09 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
|
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
|
Apr 10 |
1,500 |
13 |
12 |
3,500 |
– |
– |
€46 |
0% (shares |
|
Dec 07 |
18,000 |
36 |
15 |
30,000 |
€5m |
€360k |
€150 |
0% (shares |
Research conducted December 2010 to February 2011, including interviews with crowdfunding sites.