Unix and Overlooked Pop Culture

Show Notes

When you lack funds to get things accomplished, other people can be turned to for help.  On the Internet, this is known as crowdfunding, where money is raised by enough individuals who like what you're doing or support your cause.  The only questions are which site to use and what pitfalls to avoid.

Inc.com has an article to help people get started. If you're using Kickstarter, be aware of the recent security breach.  GoFundMe and IndieGoGo are two viable alternatives.  Just be aware that scammers get caught, so don't do anything foolish.

Success stories include StarCitizen, Ouya, Scott Hall, Cards Against Humanity, and more.

Examples of failures include Ubuntu Edge, Thorium, and the Ladies of Copblock Calendar.  Ubuntu Edge was more of a marketing ploy, but it's important to learn from Canonical; make your goals realistic!  Thorium failed, especially since their promo video was from a Google+ Hangout and was excessively long (make videos about five minutes or less).  The Copblock Calendar was successfully funded, but no calendars were produced; if something goes wrong, always have an exit strategy!

So when doing crowdfunding, always plan, plan, and plan some more.  Set realistic goals, make sure everybody is on the same page, remain as transparent as possible, and have an exit strategy should things go wrong.