Shebah, an Australian women-only ride-sharing startup has successfully smashed its target of raising $3 million over its month-long campaign. With this event, it has broken the record for the most amount raised under Australia’s new equity-crowdfunding regime. Women in action. Slaying, right?

McEncroe says, “Just stoked, delighted beyond words. I’m so relieved and amazed, and I feel really supported, and also a bit daunted. I’ve got pressure now from investors, and I’m aware of their commitments and expectations, and I take that responsibility very seriously.”

She further adds, “I’ve bootstrapped for so long, so to have a force and endorsement from so many people is not just a shot in the arm in terms of capital, its confidence that what we’re doing is valuable. I don’t want to disappoint anyone, so we’ll be working bloody hard to make sure we deliver.”

Highlights of the crowdfunding campaign

– The campaign: Shebah is putting the ‘share’ in rideshare, was backed by 2,100 awesome investors, with 94% of them being women.

– Shebah’s campaign broke the record of local neobank up-and-comer Xinja which raised  $2.6 million.

Matt Vitale, co-founder of Birchal that facilitates equity crowdfunding in Australia said, “We’re so thrilled that Shebah now holds this record. Shebah’s founder George McEncroe and her team are brilliant ambassadors, and a perfect case study for what is possible under the equity-crowdfunding regime in Australia now.”

McEncroe did it and so can you.

McEncroe says, “I was hoping we’d hit the $3 million mark, but I didn’t dare say it out loud. I have so much thanks for everyone who believed in our vision.”

Sources: 

Women-only ride-sharing startup Shebah bags $3 million in biggest-ever equity-crowdfunding raise

Main Image: ©Shebah/This Women Can

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“Crowdfunding is creating a new public demand which connects common people with investment opportunities that used to be accessible only by the very wealthy.”

And there is no doubt or secret to the intricacies of investment that crowdfunding has aid to small businesses or the newbies of the startup world by connecting them to the common public for raising capital. Crowdfunding simply means, getting funds from a large number of people with the usage of the internet and an online social media platform. The inception of this modern day crowdfunding dates back to 1997 when a British rock band funded their reunion tour through online donations from fans. Since then, crowdfunding has taken many forms and has emerged as one of the most effective options for entrepreneurs and other project initiators to validate their ideas.

So let’s understand some of these different dimensions of Crowdfunding and gets penetrate about them:-

1. Reward-based Crowdfunding

This model of crowdfunding is mainly used by startups who want to accelerate the pace of their initiative and by other projects of artists or film producers, software development or civic projects etc. Reward crowdfunding is based on the perks or rewards a potential backer gets in return of the investment made by him/her. Rewards can be in the form of product or service, he/she is backing up or any other rewards mentioned in the campaign prior. It is a lucrative method to raise funds as donors donate in the expectation of return. The rewards are differentiated on the basis of backers contributing smaller amounts and the ones who cater gratitude.

Following perks can be rewarded to the potential patrons:

• The backers who contribute less than rs.500 can be revert back with the recognition through the way of a ‘Thank You’ note or a gift card or simply by thanking them personally on the campaigner’s social media page. Make them realize that their every effort is worthy of a count.
• Contributors can be rewarded by services like giving them a discount, or some smaller reward tiers like shout outs or exclusive t-shirts.
• An effective way of rewarding is pre-orders. Backers will back up in the expectation of availing the product they are contributing their money for.

Companies like Catapooolt, Kickstarter and Indiegogo have emerged as the best reward-based crowdfunding platforms of India and are helping hundreds of startups gaining funds for various causes.

2. Equity-based Crowdfunding

SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) regulates the rules regarding Equity Crowdfunding and has made it illegal in India. In this model of Crowdfunding, the backers are termed as ‘investors’ because they invest their money into the company for an amount of share in it on the basis of capital invested. Primarily, these investments are made in companies with the goal of making a return in 5-6 years.

Usually, a large amount of capital is raised through this model and not the smaller ones. This amount is mainly for either launching a company or taking a big leap, not just for backing up a cause. In India, such funds are raised through an angel investor or a VC for a startup. We have been using other forms of crowdfunding that is reward or donation based, so if you want to raise the capital you can avail the advantages of crowdfunding through platforms like Catapooolt for ensuring a swift capital coming in your way.

3. Debt- based Crowdfunding

Also known as ‘Peer-to-Peer Crowdfunding’ or ‘Crowdlending’ is a model based on the process in which investor invests in your project in return of the ‘interest’. Money lent by multiple investors in small amounts through the internet is called Debt-based Crowdfunding. It is somewhat similar to loan except that in crowdfunding, the loan is borrowed from a number of investors in small amounts rather than from a single bank. Debt Crowdfunding has an edge over bank loan because of the interest rates being lower and funds can be garnered with ease by reaching among the masses at the same time.

It can be an optimum method for businesses that might get failed to raise loans from banks. But as the saying goes, nothing comes exquisitely. The drawbacks faced by debt-financing are the regular interest payments and the security that companies have to pledge against their assets. Thus, it may be suitable for companies who have already established venture and adequate assets or sufficient cash flow credibility.

A Quick Collation

A major asset that Debt Crowdfunding has over an Equity Based Crowdfunding campaign is that the campaigner doesn’t have to lose any share in its company. Thus, investors are serviced only with the profit share and the owner continues to enjoy his ownership. Equity Crowdfunding is illegal in India. Therefore, for newly established ventures, an imperative option can be to go for the reward and donation-based models of crowdfunding. Whatever the model you choose, just go dig well before in the advantages and disadvantages it chalks up.

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The funds raised through this campaign will be used to pay for free theater screenings of “Captain Marvel” for young women and girls. ‘Send Girls to See Captain Marvel’ campaign has already hit $61,000. Do you know what is the amazing thing that has happened? The target hit is three times its original goal and is still counting.

NBCUniversal’s E! News and Ellen DeGeneres’ “The Ellen Show” each donated $ 10,000. Oculus co-founder Brendan Iribe also donated $2,500 taking the donors tally to 1,170.

With DC’s Wonder Women release, gone are the days when female superheroes were considered a rare exception rather than a norm. Birds of Prey will be DC’s second female superhero movie which is bringing back Suicide Squad’s Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn.

The #CaptainMarvelChallenge crowdfunding initiative has been organized by We Have Stories in partnership with Girls Inc. of Greater Los Angeles, which serves girls in Title I schools in South Compton, Los Angeles and Watts. These are the same guys who were behind the tremendous success of #BlackPantherChallenge, which successfully raised more than $1 million. Isn’t that a staggering number? That campaign provided free screenings of “Black Panther” for 73,000 children. Amazing right?

We Tell Stories and Girls Inc. LA says, “Everyone should have an opportunity to see women in roles they can aspire to one day be, roles that show women as strong, smart and bold. From a teacher to a fighter pilot — or a superhero. This is an opportunity to continue to empower girls to be just that.” A supercool step towards women empowerment.

Funds collected through the campaign will help rent out theaters for “Captain Marvel” showings and to purchase tickets, ie. free tickets to nearly 2,000 kids. If we look at the cost break down, it will cost $13 per child ticket, $17 per chaperone ticket and $13 in refreshments per child. Additional funds raised shall go toward We Have Stories and Girls Inc. LA to support different programming efforts.

Sources:

‘Captain Marvel’ Crowdfunding Campaign to Hold Free Theater Screenings for Girls Tops $60,000 – Variety

Send Girls to See Captain Marvel – gofundme

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As per the Election Commission of India, the permissible expenditure limit for Lok Sabha elections is Rs 70 lakh. Atishi Marlena, AAP’s East Delhi parliamentary seat in-charge, is betting big on this and has already launched a crowdfunding campaign on Wednesday, 6 February, which has successfully raised Rs 19 Lakh. As per the party leaders, the campaign shall continue online with a target to raise Rs 70 lakh.

AAP has nominated in-charges on six of the seven Lok Sabha constituencies in Delhi. They now are expected to be soon declared as the official candidates of the party in the upcoming elections, reported PTI.

Yashwant Sinha, Javed Jaffrey and Jignesh Mevani are some of the early contributors among others.

Yashwant Sinha, former Indian politician tweeted a video appreciating, “Atishi’s efforts have dramatically improved the condition of Delhi’s government schools. Someone like her needs to have a voice in Parliament. I appeal to the people of East Delhi to vote for her and elect her to the Lok Sabha.”

Delhi Dy CM @msisodia's ex Advisor @AtishiAAP has been instrumental in transforming Delhi's govt schools, and will contest the Lok Sabha election from East Delhi. People like her need to be in Parliament! आतिशी जी को मेरा पूरा समर्थन है! #ISupportAtishi https://t.co/8PWNujUK5d pic.twitter.com/ELpm57vbKV

— Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) February 6, 2019

A short film showing Atishi’s efforts towards bringing about change in Delhi’s government schools as the former advisor to Education Minister Manish Sisodia was also released as a part of the ongoing campaign.

Do not miss this short film on @AtishiAAP's story of making change happen in Delhi's government schools.

Atishi needs your support in the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Will you invest in India's future? #ISupportAtishihttps://t.co/ZpbfuUgLiQ pic.twitter.com/UK05uRmg9I

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 6, 2019

You can witness the support Atishi is getting from the crowd with  #ISupportAtishi on Twitter.

Fundraising in politics is the new sexy

Aam Aadmi Party ran a successful crowdfunding campaign called “Donate to AAP” in 2015,

BJP had also launched a micro-funding campaign through the NaMo app in October 2018.

In the recently concluded Karnataka elections, Congress too crowdfunded its campaign for a candidate from Molakalmuru.

Sources:

Ahead of 2019 Elections, Atishi Marlena Begins Crowdfunding Drive – The Quint

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