We’re Going to the Dance…

Posted on May 10, 2012 by SeedUps

SeedUps, the intelligent crowdfunding platform for tech startups, is pleased to announce that it has been nominated in the Digital Category of this year’s Derry Business Awards.

Following on from the nomination in the Innovation Category last year, the company are honoured to be showcased as part of the ever expanding Digital sector of theDerryeconomy.

Since launching in February 2011 in theUKandIreland, SeedUps has attracted over 1400 entrepreneurs and nearly 700 investors. It has recently been featured by Forbes Magazine as one of the companies set to benefit from the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, which is a group of measures outlined by President Barack Obama and his Startup America campaign which aims to make it easier for startups to create jobs and grow.

 The Derry Business Awards are run by the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and the City Centre Initiative, with the black-tie ceremony taking place on June 1st in the City Hotel.

 Derry’s Digital economy and vision is one of the driving factors of the city’s economy. The vision for the digital space within the city of Derry points to the creation of 3,000 skilled jobs, which can be drawn from the innovative courses coming from Magee University and the North West Regional College, as well as the forward thinking Grammar and High Schools.

 This strategy has attracted attention, not least from a recent delegation from Tech City in London, who were blown away by the strength of the digital offering coming from what should be a tiny speck on the UK’s economy.

These awards will mark the start of a year of celebrations as Derry enters 2013 as the UK’s City of Culture, with a year of events focusing on what the City has to offer, from art to entrepreneurship.

 The other companies vying for the Digital Award are 360 Productions, a multi platform media production company who have produced programming for the BBC, Discovery Channel and the Open University, and Dog Ears, who have created the popular children’s character Miss Rosie Red among their books and Apps aimed at kids.

 For a look at the other businesses nominated, please click here, and best of luck to everyone nominated!

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Crowdfunding: Getting ahead of the curve

Posted on May 1, 2012 by SeedUps

Following months of debate and argument in Congress, crowdfunding is finally going to become law. The SEC have been given 270 days, or until the 1st of January 2013 to have the measures in place to police the crowdfunding space.

Although, why wait?

SeedUps have the tools ready to get an edge on the competitors and be ready to expand our offering as soon as the SEC regulations are in place.

With offices in both Silicon Valley and New York, as well as international offices in Ireland, Northern Ireland and London, Seedups has a global crowdfunding reach, and gave offer tech-companies a dedicated base of investors that are looking for opportunities.

With SeedUps you can:

  •  List your startup for free
  • Pitch to an ever growing number of Accredited Investors
  • Use our social tools to spread the word about your startup (if you want)

In the last few weeks SeedUps participated in the Crowdfunding Conference in New York, speaking on how tech-companies can benefit from crowdfunding on a panel including Rockethub and representatives of the University of Virginia.

We’ve also been listed by Forbes Magazine as one of the 10 crowdfunding companies set to benefit from the passing of the JOBS Act.

So what are you waiting for? Listing your business is easy and free, and you’ll be ready to crowdfund your startup.

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The JOBS Act: Where Do I Stand?

Posted on April 2, 2012 by SeedUps

The JOBS Act has now passed through both the House and the Senate in different forms. Where does the American startup stand, and what do they stand to gain from the new laws?

Steve Case, Chairman of Startup America, a long term supporter of Crowdfunding.

The Jumpstart Our Business Act (JOBS) Act, and its crowdfunding element will change how businesses can raise finance, and also who can invest in businesses.

At Seedups, we’ve long been advocates that the funding infrastructure needs to change; too many tech-startups are not getting the funding they need to succeed and that opening up legislation will result in a larger marketplace for investments and will allow more companies to get the funding they need in order to grow.

Two different proposals were proposed and debated: firstly the Senate, led by Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts.  This passed with a landslide, bi-partisan majority of 407-17.  Senator Brown said at the time “The point of crowdfunding is to allow entrepreneurs to flourish, not bog them down in an avalanche of paperwork.” This approach was meant to make it easier for businesses to start, and not be lumbered with the estimated $15,000 of debt that could be added by the paperwork associated with seperate state securities laws.

The 2nd version of the Bill, and the one most recently passed, is a slightly more conservative version, championed by Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregan and Michael Bennett of Colorado which takes into account investor security and has a more structured compliance procedure which will require platforms to register, and make investors aware of the risks associated with making investments.

Seedups has advocated compliance from within: the Wisdom of the Crowd can steer investments and investors in the right direction, as well as approach problems from different angles and apply solutions.

What does it mean?

Basically it means that more small businesses will get funded, more tech startups will start, and more jobs will be started: keeping the wheels of the American economy turning.  The to-ing and fro-ing between the versions of the Bill means that a balance was struck to ensure that Investors are afforded a level of protection, and entrepreneurs have access to the capital that they need. Critics have been vocal about the potential for fraud in crowdfunding, yet new research seems to show that many investment companies spend “surprisingly little” on compliance, which well run crowdfunding platforms will hold central to their offering.

It also opens up the channels of Social Media. Entrepreneurs were previously not allowed to use this lucrative resource to sell equity, unless they happened to have a group of friends made up of Accredited Investors.

This is a massive re-imagining of the finance cycle for many small companies. Since the credit crunch began in 2008, traditional finance methods have dried up, and an equity gap has started to emerge, and with informal investments being so valuable, crowdfunding can quite easily go a long way to solving this problem.

So, we’re going to be left with a more regulated crowdfunding industry, that will help investors along and ensure that risk is minimised. Yet, this is a natural and welcome addition to American startup financing.

 

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Seedups Welcomes Crowdfunding Bill

Posted on March 23, 2012 by SeedUps

Tech Startups in line to Benefit from Senate backed Crowdfunding Bill.

Innovative Crowdfunding platform Seedups leads the way

House to discuss further next week

A measure that will make it easier for tech startups to raise finance passed the US Senate on Thursday.

The so called Crowdfunding Bill, proposed by Republican Senator Brown ofMassachusettsand Democratic Senator Michael Bennett ofColoradoand changes are now expected to pass through the House and be signed into law by President Obama next week.

The bill will allow startups to raise finance using online platforms and their social networks, and forms part of the JOBS Act, which aims to cut down red tape for US startups and help these companies expand and create jobs in the American Economy, ensuring that it is robust and competitive under increased international pressure.

The passing of the Bill was welcomed by Seedups founder, Michael Faulkner: “This is a great opportunity for innovative companies to get to market quickly and start having a real impact on the American economy.”

Seedups is the Intelligent Crowdfunding Platform for technology led Startups to raise money from its crowd of tech-savvy investors.

The company recently launched their American service at SxSW inAustin,Texas. At the same event, Steve Case, the Chairman of StartupAmericaand former CEO of AOL, told people to put pressure on their Senators to ensure that the crowdfunding legislation passed.

Mr. Faulkner continued “We’re well aware of how important crowdfunding can be to the American and worldwide economy, and we’ve been working hard to build a platform that helps entrepreneurs get the funding they need and also allows investors to come together to conduct due diligence and make informed investment decisions.”

Seedups is at the forefront of the crowdfunding movement, with offices in theUSA,UKandIreland. Since launching in February 2011, it has attracted over 1200 tech-entrepreneurs seeking to raise money through crowdfunding.

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Seedups Introduces Crowdfund 1 Million

Posted on March 12, 2012 by SeedUps

Intelligent crowdfunding platform Seedups launches Crowdfund 1 Million at SxSW Interactive. Crowdfund 1 Million is a unique opportunity for tech-startups across the USA, UK and Ireland to reach out across their networks and raise substantial seed capital. The entire $1 Million prize fund will be raised from the crowd, and one startup will walk away with $500,000. Seedups is the intelligent crowdfunding platform for technology led startups to raise money from its crowd of tech-savvy investors. The company and its founders have been leading supporters of the proposed changes that the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act will bring, and recognize the importance that this could have to the American and global economy. Seedups founder, Michael Faulkner, said “this is a great opportunity to prove the power of the crowd. We believe that Crowdfund 1 Million will showcase some great start-ups and highlight how important crowdfunding can be to raising finance and launching new businesses.” The Competition highlights the increasing focus on crowdfunding for tech startups. Crowdfunding has the potential to create a new funding landscape, with President Obama recently declaring it as being a key part of “the backbone of an America built to last.” Mr Faulkner says “the appetite for crowdfunding startups is growing, and with the current political momentum, this will be a great way of showing what can be achieved. Crowdfund 1 Million is a timely test of how people are willing to crowdfund startups, and how this important source of new funding could be unlocked for the innovation led economy.” Seedups is at the forefront of the crowdfunding movement with offices in the USA, UK and Ireland. It wIntelligent crowdfunding platform Seedups launches Crowdfund 1 Million at SxSW Interactive. Crowdfund 1 Million is a unique opportunity for tech-startups across the USA, UK and Ireland to reach out across their networks and raise substantial seed capital. The entire $1 Million prize fund will be raised from the crowd, and one startup will walk away with $500,000. Seedups is the intelligent crowdfunding platform for technology led startups to raise money from its crowd of tech-savvy investors. The company and its founders have been leading supporters of the proposed changes that the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act will bring, and recognize the importance that this could have to the American and global economy. Seedups founder, Michael Faulkner, said “this is a great opportunity to prove the power of the crowd. We believe that Crowdfund 1 Million will showcase some great start-ups and highlight how important crowdfunding can be to raising finance and launching new businesses.” The Competition highlights the increasing focus on crowdfunding for tech startups. Crowdfunding has the potential to create a new funding landscape, with President Obama recently declaring it as being a key part of “the backbone of an America built to last.” Mr Faulkner says “the appetite for crowdfunding startups is growing, and with the current political momentum, this will be a great way of showing what can be achieved. Crowdfund 1 Million is a timely test of how people are willing to crowdfund startups, and how this important source of new funding could be unlocked for the innovation led economy.” Seedups is at the forefront of the crowdfunding movement with offices in the USA, UK and Ireland. It was selected to present at the UK trade and Industry Demo Day, highlighting 20 of the most innovative companies at SxSW. Crowdfund 1 Million officially launched today at the prestigious SxSW festival in Austin, Texas; the largest gathering of interactive and digital companies in the world. Information is available at Stand 218, or www.seedups.com.as selected to present at the UK trade and Industry Demo Day, highlighting 20 of the most innovative companies at SxSW. Crowdfund 1 Million officially launched today at the prestigious SxSW festival in Austin, Texas; the largest gathering of interactive and digital companies in the world. Information is available at Stand 218, or www.seedups.com.

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Seedups Welcomes the JOBS Act

Posted on March 9, 2012 by SeedUps

Today, the JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Startups) Act passed through the House of Representatives today with a 390 to 23 majority, which is a major step toward Crowdfunding startups in America being legal.

 
Seedups has long been a supporter of these law changes, which will make it easier for US startups to raise money from larger pools of smaller investors, who can purchase equity in the companies.

 
Seedups, the Intelligent Crowdfunding Platform, for tech-startups & technology savvy investors,  are the only equity crowdfunding  platform exhibiting at SxSW this week & if you want to find out more about how crowdfunding can work for your tech-startup, come see us at Staand 218 at the trade show, or at the UKTI Demo Day on Sunday.

 
The Seedups team has long been a supporter of the law changes, which update legislation that has existed since 1934. We also realise that the laws protect investors, and we believe that the due diligence process carried out using the “Wisdom of the Crowd” will ensure that investors are informed & we believe that our Standard Term Sheets & Legal Documents can ensure that the legal process is as easy as can be.

 
The Bill now passes to the Senate, where the Senate Leader Harry Reid is introducing similar legislation next week, so crowdfunding American startups is becoming ever closer.

 
Seedups will have more exciting news to announce from SxSW tomorrow, please stay tuned, and in the mean time, please follow us on Twitter for more updates.

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Seedups at SxSW 2012

Posted on March 5, 2012 by SeedUps

As the crowdfunding debate heats up in the Senate, Seedups, the intelligent crowdfunding platform for tech startups is pleased to announce that it will be showcasing itself at this year’s SxSW Interactive festival.

Crowdfunding is a trending topic around Washington DC at the minute, and is set to be a key financing option for American startups in 2012, and having worked with our legal team over the last 12 months, Seedups are ready with a solution for the American Crowdfunding market.

President Obama has pinpointed crowdfunding as being a key driver in “a backbone to an America built to last,” and the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act is waiting to pass through the Senate after passing through the House with a 95 percent majority.

“We’ve kept a very keen eye on the developments in Washington, and believe that our solution fits closely with the proposed law changes, and we have features built into our system which will make it easier for entrepreneurs to raise money through crowdfunding” said Seedups founder Michael Faulkner.

With an office in Mountain View and operations in Ireland and the UK, Seedups have attracted more than 1,200 entrepreneurs and nearly 600 investors in the last year, and following key additions to their advisory panel in the last year, expect these numbers to increase dramatically this year.

Startups can raise up to $500,000 through Seedups, and with investors able to invest from $250, this can give startups the chance to develop, while allowing investors to spread the risk, and increase their investment portfolio. Seedups allows startups to sell equity investments in their firm, and our matching engine allows investors to make blind bids on startups whilst valuing them. This goes a long way to the age old problem of valuing startups.

Seedups will be at the SxSW Interactive tradeshow, at booth 218. If you want to hang out, and talk about how crowdfunding can be of benefit to your business, or how you can start making investments, we’d be happy to talk: catch us on twitter @seedups, or email connor@seedups.com.

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What Michael Jordan can tell us about Crowdfunding

Posted on January 11, 2012 by SeedUps

Michael Jordan is probably known to you as one of the most famous basketball stars ever produced. Even to those uninitiated and unfamiliar with the sport, the name is instantly recognisable and transcends sport to stand for achievement, hard work and success.

But what can he teach us about crowdfunding?

Well, Michael Jordan is one of the prime examples of why the wisdom of the crowd can sometimes beat the wisdom of one.

Why?

Well, let me introduce you to Clifton “Pop” Herring, who was Michael’s high school basketball coach. You’d expect that someone like Pop would be lauded as giving Michael his big break, and starting Jordan on the road to his success. Pop was a talented man, devoted to his craft of coaching high school ‘ball and devoted to his charges. He was one of the youngest varsity coaches in North Carolina, and could play a little as well. But, he cut Michael Jordan from his first squad.

This is why the crowdfunding model works: the knowledge of a lot of potential investors can come together and make sure the best opportunities do not fall through the cracks. If more than one person is conducting due diligence, covering different angles and seeing fresh sides of a business.  That’s what Seedups allows you to do.

The theory comes from James Surowieki’s snappily titled “The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many Are Smarter Than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nations” which outlines how collective knowledge can result in decisions that are more informed than that of a single decision maker.

It seems to have worked out OK for Michael Jordan. His talent, coupled with his amazing work-rate and desire for success meant that he eventually towered over most other athletes, building a business empire, clothing range, and let’s not forget: movie career. But for many others, they don’t get a second chance. Startups need cash quickly, and they mightn’t have the time to sit in the varsity squad for a few years. For some of the best ideas, their idea is their high school try out, FA Cup Final and stock market flotation rolled into one. It’s up to the crowd to see the benefits in the best of them.

Kickstarter yesterday announced that pledges in 2011 hit $99m with 46% of projects being  funded. At Seedups we’re a long way from having statistics like that, but if you apply intelligent crowdfunding to startups, then maybe we can find a few Michael Jordans of the tech-startup world.

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2012: The Year of Crowdfunding

Posted on January 3, 2012 by SeedUps

2012 promises to bring major changes in the way that startup businesses can raise funds, and intelligent crowdfunding company Seedups is set to be at the forefront of this financing  revolution.

Seedups Intelligent Crowdfunding

Seedups founder Michael Faulkner explains how the funding landscape is changing, and how it can benefit startups here: “Barack Obama has leant his support to a bill known as the Entrepreneur Access to Capital Act, which essentially changes the law of how American businesses can raise money.

Mr Faulkner continues: “previously, it was almost impossible for US startups to raise money from anything but a small group of people, so this allows people to expand their potential investment networks, and allows startups access to more funds. It also allows people to become their own Dragons: unlocking the potential of many who want to make investments, but feel they lack the necessary finance and expertise.

Seedups’ fundraising model has attracted nearly 1000 entrepreneurs since being launched in February 2011. The fledgling companies have been attracted by the growing investor pool, which stands at over £27 million. Investors have been attracted to the wide range of opportunities, from a variety of tech based industries. With new startups listing every week, it allows investors to spread their investments over a few different opportunities, spreading risk and diversifying their portfolio.

The firm’s innovative valuation process allows investors to address a problem which has long been debated: namely valuing the startups. By using “wisdom of crowd” methodology, Seedups users value startups as they bid to gain access to deals. Seedups ensures that the best deal possible is presented to startups, who can choose to accept or reject the bid.

Startups are the backbone of the economy in the USA, with most new job creating coming from early stage companies. The crowdfunding equity market is estimated to be worth $2billion a year, and the change in the law is aimed at helping kick-start the economy, releasing funds that were previously unavailable to startups, giving investors a range of new opportunities and chance to become involved more closely with the economic development and startup landscape. To see how important early-stage businesses are to the US economy, look at this research done by the Kauffman Organistaion.

Seedups is committed to helping tech-entrepreneurs across Northern Ireland, the UK and Ireland move their ideas from the planning stages to fruition. The current funding model is broken for startups, with many great ideas failing to get off the blueprint stage, as they are too high risk for banks, and too small for the venture capitalists. Using crowdfunding they can get seed money and develop quickly.

If you have a tech-startup that needs crowdfunding, or want to gain access to this growing pool of investment opportunities, please visit www.seedups.com for more information. or follow us on twitter or Facebook.

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Celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week with Seedups

Posted on November 14, 2011 by SeedUps

Intelligent Crowdfunding site has a £22,580,000 investment pool available for tech startups.

Do you know a tech business that needs funding? Seedups can help.

Seedups at the Business Startup Show, stand 260


This week, entrepreneurship is being celebrated over the world, and with dynamic innovative businesses and entrepreneurs being championed, Seedups, the intelligent crowdfunding site, is highlighting its investment pool, which stands at nearly £23m and is available for tech businesses.

Seedups was founded by Michael Faulkner in 2010 as a means of connecting the best tech-startups with tech-savvy investors. “We knew there was a gap in the funding cycle for disruptive tech-based entrepreneurs and we also knew that Angel Investors were struggling to find enough opportunities to fulfil their investment goals, so Seedups was born from that.

Seedups uses an evolved approach to crowdfunding, which has been thrust into the spotlight since it was highlighted by President Barack Obama when launching his recent Jobs Bill. As a means of raising money for creative projects it has been successful for Kickstarter and Indiegogo, but Seedups is the first platform concentrating on equity investments for tech-startups. Mr Faulkner explains “we know that tech companies are the ones with the greatest scale, but most ideas stall in their infancy, and we know that crowdfunding can help this.

Mr Faulkner continued “It’s impossible to underestimate the importance of entrepreneurial activity: most new jobs are brought about by new companies, not larger ones. They really are the lifeblood of the economy.

At the heart of the Seedups’ concept is the need to give Startups a fair valuation and ensure that companies can gain access to the funding they need to survive. Seedups uses a “wisdom of crowd” matching engine to give a fair valuation of a startup’s worth. Investors compete with micro-bids to ensure they can are part of the equity deal, and tools are in place to ensure that Investors can network and conduct collective due diligence on various startups and place bids on projects. It is free to register for both parties.

Seedups: Intelligent Crowdfunding for tech startups

Since going live in February of this year, Seedups has attracted nearly 900 entrepreneurs and nearly 400 investors from the USA, UK and Ireland. This week, Seedups is going to be at the Business Startup Show in Earls Court, London, talking to entrepreneurs about how crowdfunding can help their business. Come along and say hello, or talk to us on Twitter

Posted in crowdfunding, Entrepreneur, intelligent crowdfunding, Investment Opportunity, Investor, Seedups | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment