Sometimes, you need extra cash probably for an emergency or a business and you have tried all possible alternatives, no way out. Now, you do not know where else to go to get the urgent cash that you need. Now, there is one option left – Crowdfunding, using Crowdfunding websites.
What is Crowdfunding? What are Crowdfunding Websites/Startups and How Do They Work?
Simply put, Crowdfunding is an arrangement whereby the members of the society or community donate money towards the furtherance of a cause. Crowdfunding sites on the other hand are sites where people generate money for all kinds of purposes through donations.
It is not taking a loan. Rather, it is money given freely by donors and will not be paid back. This could be to fund anything from a business idea, a medical emergency, to tuition fees.
GoFundMe, one of the top Crowdfunding Startups in Nigeria
Why should You Use Crowdfunding to Seek Funds in Nigeria?
If you need money for a project or to fund a great idea, Crowdfunding might be your last resort when you have no other means of raising money. In 2015, a whopping amount of 12.3 Trillion Naira was generated worldwide from Crowdfunding alone.
Unbelievable right?
Crowdfunding is not playing a “fast one” on people in case you are beginning to consider it as a preferred way to get rich lazy. Rather, it is an arrangement to support a genuine, legitimate cause. As far as your cause is genuine and it is legal, you could get funds from the society to finance your cause.
For example, the owner of Sahara reporters employed the use of Crowdfunding sites to fund his presidential campaign. He was able to get millions of Naira from donors online just by voicing his cause.
Crowdfunding sites can give that extra boost to your business, career, or academics. It is a great help when all other means of getting money fails. That you seek help through Crowdfunding does not make you a beggar in any way.
Although they are lots of Crowdfunding websites in Nigeria, I will only be giving you the best 10 websites that I think can help you today.
These Crowdfunding sites allow Nigerians to get help.
The list below shows the best Crowdfunding websites in Nigeria and how you can get money through them easily.
10 Best Crowdfunding Websites in Nigeria
(1) Naijafund (www.Naijafund.com)
From the name, you can tell that Naijafund is an indigenous Crowdfunding website tailored to meet the needs of the Nigerian community. Naijafund is a very good alternative to some foreign Crowdfunding sites available on the internet.
The website is also focused on supporting both startups and entrepreneurs alike. However, if you are an individual looking for funds on the platform, you can still get money to power your idea.
With this site, you can share your ideas with your friends and followers on social media and invite them to sponsor your idea(s).
(2) Indiegogo (www.indiegogo.com)
Another great Crowdfunding website you can check out today is Indiegogo because it is a collection of people who love innovation. This website is available in over 100 countries of the world and has assisted millions of innovators.
Anyone who creates content for any industry at all whether it relates to music, health, or travel, can be sure to get funds here to sponsor his/her ideas.
(3) MicroVenture (https://app.microventure.com/Crowdfunding).
If you are looking for donations for any of your projects, MicroVenture.com is a great place to check out. It is popular for helping popular brands like Uber and Spotify get their ideas up and running.
This is no wonder why thousands of businesses use them to solicit funds for their businesses. MicroVenture users are categorized into two: (1) investors and (2) creators. While creators are those who post projects and solicit funds, investors are those who go through various projects posted and donate to one.
(4) CrowdFunder (www.crowdfunder.com)
Crowdfunder is a global Crowdfunding company with a presence in Nigeria. It is popular among entrepreneurs looking to grow or expand their start-up businesses. Start-up companies, as well as individuals can log on to crowdfunder.com and share their amazing ideas with the world.
The donors on this Crowdfunding website have been known to favor startups more. So, it is more advisable for startups to post here than for individuals to do so as the posts of individuals might not even show up on a visitor’s feed.
(5) GoFundMe (www.GoFundMe.com)
Perhaps one of the most popular Crowdfunding websites in Nigeria, GoFundMe has helped thousands of people to acquire funding for different types of projects. It has thousands of active users who utilize its toll to raise their required funds.
The platform even has a list of testimonials you can view to attest to this. If you are worried about charges, signing up and using GoFundMe is completely free of charge.
The site is easy to use especially for payments as it provides numerous payment methods which donors, including NGOs, can use to sponsor their desired projects.
(6) Circle Up (www.circleup.com)
Circleup.com is a site which assists people and companies involved in producing goods or rendering services to consumers. It is not a Nigerian company but still caters to the needs of Nigerians.
Any person or company looking to scale up their ideas can always come here to get funding. Freelancers are not left out as they could also use Circle Up to fund their ideas.
(7) KickStarter (www.kickstarter.com)
Kickstarter is a global platform that is not just limited to Nigerians but is available worldwide.
Many people have testified that this platform helped them get money for projects they were working on. Different kinds of ideas flood the site daily from different areas such as science, tech, and arts.
Any visitor to Kickstarter website is immediately shown the different ideas available and could pick the one that appeals to him/her.
Signing up for Kickstarter is easy as it only requires your basic information. However, you have to explain your idea in full, so that potential donors can be convinced to help you.
(8) Fund an Enterprise (www.fundanenterprise.org)
Fund an enterprise is a good Crowdfunding website that does exactly what its name implies. It is a Nigerian company that has grown so fast and now has a presence in many countries in Africa like neighboring Ghana and far away South Africa.
The company helps both big and small businesses to get capital to start and expand their enterprises. Though lacking in some areas, at least Fund an enterprise allow users to give and receive donations for their required projects with ease.
(9) CrowdCube (www.crowdcube.com)
One of the leading Crowdfunding platforms in Nigeria is CrowdCube. It is mainly focused on providing entrepreneurs and startups with the necessary capital they need for their businesses.
The issue of the unavailability of capital for startups was one of the reasons why the website was established, as the founders themselves found difficulty in starting their businesses.
Crowdcube makes sourcing for funds simpler by providing an app for the users on android and iOS platforms.
(10) Patreon (www.patreon.com)
With Patreon, beautiful projects by content creators can easily receive money to be implemented. Patreon’s approach is slightly different when compared to other Crowdfunding websites.
Here, fans of a particular creator can easily be invited to like and support a particular project after both the creator and fans sign up on the platform. As a content creator, you can find artists, vloggers, sportsmen and sportswomen and other celebrities on Patreon.
