Top 30 Crowdfunding Platforms to Fuel Your Next Project

Every Fortune 500 company was once an idea, but it takes a lot of effort to convert that idea into a successful business. Many ideas don’t materialize due to the lack of funds, but different crowdfunding platforms today are helping millions of aspirant entrepreneurs make their dreams come true.

Crowdfunding is an amazing medium that helps startups to generate the initial capital for their business. Large scale investors or generous venture capitalists might not be ready yet to invest in just an “idea”, but on the bright side, the internet is!

Crowdfunding is a practice where the internet users raise funds for projects that they deem promising. Their individual contributions may be small, but with a decent turnover, they can help you scale your idea into a successful business much sooner than you possibly expect.

There are a number of crowdfunding platforms active today that can lend you a helping hand. However, each crowdfunding platform serves a different purpose.

With different crowdfunding platform fees, models, and locations. It can be a fix before you choose a crowdfunding platform that is ideal for your business.

Top Crowdfunding Platforms (With Audience)

If you want to know about the crowdfunding platforms with respect to their target audience only. Then here is a list of top 10 crowdfunding platforms.

1. Kickstarter: All types of audience
2. Indiegogo: All types of audience
3. GoFundMe: Personal fundraising
4. Crowdfunder: Personal fundraising
5. SyndicateRoom: Startups and Businesses
6. Crowdcube: Early-stage startups
7. Seedrs: Early-stage startups
8. Crowdrise: Social Cause and Nonprofits
9. Fuel a Dream: Social Cause and Nonprofits
10. KissKissBankBank: Individuals and Artists

30 Best Crowdfunding Platforms

To assist you in choosing the right platform, here are the 30 top crowdfunding platforms along with their operating structures so that you can make an informed decision and scale yourself in the right direction.

1. Kickstarter

• Target location: Global
• Platform fee: 5% of total funds raised
• Model: Reward-based
• Operating from: Brooklyn, New York
• Ideal for: Artists, musicians, techies, filmmakers, designers, startups, small scale businesses, etc.

Kickstarter is one of the global crowdfunding platforms today. It is a fruitful crowdfunding platform for aspiring entrepreneurs and small scale businesses. In 2018, the “Games” category broke all records in terms of both pledges from backers and the number of funded projects. Backers pledged nearly $200.9 million to the games category last year, an increase of 18% from 2017.

2. Indiegogo

• Target location: Global
• Platform fees: 5% of total funds raised
• Model: Reward-based
• Operating from: San Francisco, California
• Ideal For: Techies, Startups, small scale businesses, service-based causes, etc.

In 2018, individual contributions of nearly 1.4 million people accumulated up to the US $ 2.1 million to various projects on Indiegogo. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best crowdfunding platforms for startups today. Nearly 30 projects generated more than $1 million through this crowdfunding platform. In addition, 250 projects crossed the $100,000 fundraising milestone.

3. GoFundMe

• Target location: Global
• Platform fee: 5% of donations and payment processors take 2.9%, along with 30 cents per donation.
• Model: Donation-based
• Operating from: Redwood, California
• Ideal For: Service-based causes, Startups, Artists, Designers, etc.

Since its inception in 2010, GoFundMe is responsible for generating more than $5 billion for various projects. It receives more than $140 million monthly in donations. In 2016, this crowdfunding platform made $100 million in revenue.

Successful GoFundMe campaigns include the Las Vegas Victims Fund of $11.8 million and the Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund of $22 million, highlighting the fact that this crowdfunding platform is ideal for a service-based cause.

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4. RocketHub

• Target location: Global
• Platform fee: 4% of total funds raised and 4% transaction fee
• Model: Donation-based
• Operating from: New York City
• Ideal For: Small scale businesses, startups, artists, scientists, social projects, etc.

RocketHub is a gloabal crowdfunding platform for venture capitalism, therefore, startups can use it to raise funds for their businesses. You can generate interest in your project by pitching your idea in their ELEQUITY Funding Room, which leads to getting great feedback on your project alongside additional funding.

5. SyndicateRoom

• Target location: Global
• Platform fee: They charge a follow-up fee of 4% on any subsequent investment made by a nominee investor in a future round.
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: Cambridge, UK
• Ideal For: Startups and small scale businesses

SyndicateRoom connects ambitious investors with trailblazing organizations and it is great for multi-sector private investments. Founded in 2013, SyndicateRoom has quickly scaled up to have more than 100 high-growth businesses in their portfolio. This crowdfunding platform has built a solid trust and reputation amongst the fundraisers and contributors.

6. Crowdrise

• Target location: Global
• Platform fee: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
• Model: Donation-based
• Operating from: Detroit, Michigan
• Ideal For: Charity, Social events, etc.

Crowdrise was acquired by GoFundMe in2017. This crowdfunding platform is ever ready to help organizations that want to tackle real-world issues instead of funding for-profit ideas turning into a business. It is also a useful platform for raising funds for birthdays, weddings, college scholarships, and other similar events, etc.

7. MightyCause

• Target location: Global
• Platform fee: 2.9% and $0.30 card processing fee
• Model: Donation-based
• Operating from: Alexandria, Virginia, USA
• Ideal For: Social causes, engaging donors with online fundraising, non-profit organizations, etc.

Remember Razoo – the online fundraising site for underfunded nonprofits? That’s called MightyCause now. Like its predecessor, this crowdfunding platform is not geared much towards for-profit business funding as it is all meant for assisting “worthy causes.”

This is one of the most popular US crowdfunding platforms that has successfully generated more than $600 million for addressing causes that actually matter. From multi-million dollar corporations to everyday people, donations are collected for those who are in need.

8. Equitise

• Target location: Australia
• Platform fee:  7.5% of the funds raised
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: Sydney and Auckland
• Ideal For: Early-stage startups, small scale businesses, filmmakers, etc.

This is an ideal crowdfunding platform for private investors who are willing to invest in early-stage startups against their equity. Founded in 2014, Equitise has helped many tech startups to generate an ample amount of funds in order to pursue the journey of their dreams.

9. Venture Crowd

• Target location: Australia
• Platform fee: Free registrations
  •  Investors generally choose 0% transaction fee & 20% performance fee on exit (excluding GST). The performance fee is not incurred against the principal investment and occurs only on a successful exit.
  • Companies choose 6% on capital raised (excluding GST). $4,000 campaign fee (excluding GST)
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: Sydney
• Ideal For: Property crowdfunding, equity crowdfunding, Getting investments for small and large businesses

VentureCrowd raised Australia’s largest equity crowdfunding platform of $4.2 million, for a taxi-booking and payment software business during May 2015. This particular deal ranks on the 8th position in the list of highest funded equity crowdfunding projects.

Moreover, during June 2016, this crowdfunding platform generated more than $900,000 for a Western Sydney residential project in Riverstone East, in partnership with the property developer ClearState. Also, in August 2016, another project generated $1,700,000.

10. Birchal

• Target location: Australia
• Platform fee: 6% of funds raised (plus GST)
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: Melbourne
• Ideal For: Investors, venture capitalists, startups, small scale businesses, etc.

Birchal is an amazing crowdfunding platform that offers a pleasing alternative for raising capital for your business. The multi-award winning Speakeasy Group from Australia recently completed a successful CSF offer on Birchal. They were able to raise more than $1.36 million from approximately 486 investors.

Moreover, PARK Social Soccer Co. also recently completed a successful equity crowdfunding round through this crowdfunding platform. With an amazing response, they managed to raise $300,000 with more than 100 investors contributing from as low as $50 to as high as $50,000.

11. Crowdcube

• Target location: UK
• Platform fee: A success fee of 7% and 0.75% -1.25% of all funds raised
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: Exeter, UK
• Ideal For: investment, business, start-up, startup, entrepreneur, small business, equity, crowdfunding, angel investors, business finance

This crowdfunding platform allows investors to choose promising projects they wish to back. More than 325 companies opted for CrowdCube to raise funds in 2017. This platform enjoyed year-on-year growth of 23% last year, showcasing that fast-growing young startup are increasingly seeing crowdfunding as their preferred medium to raise funds for their ventures.

12. Seedrs

• Target location: UK
• Platform fee:  7.5% on any profit made
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: London
• Ideal For: Startups, small scale businesses

With 186 successful pitches during 2018, this crowdfunding platform managed to invest £195M in the platform. Seedrs has a 74% pitch success rate. The largest amount of funds raised on this platform was by TransferGo who raised €11.2 million from more than 1,000 investors. The largest EU funded deal was Sono Motors who raised €6.1 million from over 760 investors.

13. Crowdfunder

• Target location: UK
• Platform fee: 5% of the funds raised
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: UK
• Ideal For: Personal Fundraising

If you’re aiming for a venture capitalist or an angel investor to lay their eyes on you, Crowdfunder may be your ideal choice. Projects that needed not more than a million dollars or two, were able to raise more than $5 million to $8 million through this crowdfunding platform. Perhaps this can prove to be an ideal crowdfunding platform for your business.

14. FundRazr

• Target location: Canada
• Platform fee: No platform fee. However, 2.9% + $0.30 (depending on your country) standard third-party payment processing fee will be charged by PayPal, Stripe or WePay.
• Model: Donation-based
• Operating from: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Ideal For: organizations, charities, and personal causes

This Canadian crowdfunding platform got its Facebook app released in 2009. FundRazr allows its users to start fundraising campaigns by creating pages on Facebook to raise money for their causes varying from medical care, memorials, to animal rescue.

You can distribute your campaign via social media, emails or even embed a third-party website in order to solicit donations from supporters who want to contribute to any cause by commenting, sharing, liking, and donating, which are all visible on Facebook.

15. Vested

• Target location: Canada
• Platform fee: No platform charges
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Ideal For:  Small scale businesses and startups

Crowdfunding in Canada has been gaining traction and momentum lately. Vested allows investors to contribute as low as $100 in promising startups. This crowdfunding platform specializes in helping private organizations, raising more or less under $250,000. An individual investor can invest up to a maximum of $1,500 in any project.

The best fit for Vested are organizations with an exit strategy in place. Some of the most successful campaigns include energy, cannabis, and mining sectors.

16. SVX

• Target location: Canada
• Platform fee: 5% for transactions below $10,000 and 2% for transactions above that.
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: Toronto
• Ideal For: Small-Medium scale businesses, startups, social and environmental causes, etc. 

SVX is a crowdfunding platform ideal for social and environmental organizations. The funds come from private firms, investment funds, the general public as well as from the debt or equity investments. With approximately more than 20 projects currently being supported, SVX has successfully mobilized $7 million over the past year.

17. Catapooolt

• Target location: India
• Platform fee: 10% + 18% of 10% (GST)
• Model: Reward-based
• Operating from: Mumbai, India
• Ideal For: Sports, politics, social enterprises and startups

Catapooolt is one of the biggest crowdfunding platforms in India. It is the first ever industry-backed and the most crowd engaging platform for movies, music and performing arts. It is ideal for people seeking crowdfunding for independent and creative ventures.

It also helps you to seek resources and professional assistance for making, production, distribution and release of your creative projects. Their team continues to seek valuable partnerships with leading industry luminaries to unleash a new cinema and creative revolution.

18. Fuel a Dream

• Target location: India
• Platform fee for “Normal Campaigns”:
  Processing charge: 3000 INR plus GST per campaign 9%Contract charge: 6% of the total amount collected payment gateway charges: 3% of the total amount collected.
• Platform fee for “Group Campaigns”:
  Processing charge: 3000 INR waived off-contract charge: 9% of the total amount collected payment gateway charges: 3% of the total amount collected.
• Model: Reward-based
• Operating from: Bangalore, India
• Ideal For: Social causes, creative art, and charities

Fuel a Dream is yet another crowdfunding platform from India that is helping individuals to fuel their dream and turn it into a reality. It is a popular crowdfunding platform among the locals of India as it has helped numerous social causes and has provided many individuals the opportunity they needed to shine. They were able to raise funds for 260 plus campaigns over the last few months and generated more than INR 17CR.

19. Oneplanetcrowd

• Target location: Netherlands
• Platform fee: 7%
• Model: Rewards, Donation and Equity
• Operating from: Amsterdam
• Ideal For: Startups, Small Scale Businesses, Social Causes, etc.

Oneplanetcrowd offers crowdfunding solutions with both financial sustainability and returns. The form of securities that Oneplanetcrowd facilitates are not straight equity, but rather subordinated loans with the option for equity conversion.
There must be a clearly defined reason or motive for the activities that are planned in order to use those funds. Additionally, the fundraising goal should range between €100,000 and €2.5 million. Also, before any public campaign goes live, the startup should be able to generate a minimum of 20% of its fundraising goal privately.

20. Lendahand

• Target location: Netherlands
• Platform fee: Annual fee of 3-5% on the loan volumes
• Model: Equity and Donation-based
• Operating from: Rotterdam
• Ideal For: individuals, startups and small businesses

Lendahand has managed to successfully help more than 2000 projects to alleviate poverty, create sustainable jobs and provide access to the basic human needs in underdeveloped countries. Overall, this crowdfunding platform has raised funds for projects from more than 20 different countries.

21. Startupxplore

• Target location: Spain
• Platform fee: N/A
• Model: Equity-based
• Ideal For: Investments and startups
• Operating from: Valencia

Startupxplore invests their own funds in promising projects. They say that magic begins when they invest. From that moment onwards, a long-term relationship begins. Speed is also an essence of this crowdfunding platform. They take only 21 days to close a fundraising round. It is mandatory to have a lead investor, investing at least 10% of the round for all the businesses who wish to raise funds with Startupxplore.

22. Goteo

• Target location: Spain
• Platform fee: 5% of the total funds
• Model: Reward-based
• Operating from: Spain
• Ideal For: Individuals, startups and small scale businesses

This crowdfunding platform holds impressive numbers for the year 2018. Goteo was able to raise an average of €8,948 for 222 projects in the previous year. Their percentage of successful projects is 92.12% which is a major consideration factor for those who are willing to opt for crowdfunding.

23. Companisto

• Target location: Germany
• Platform fee: Free registration
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: Berlin, Germany
• Ideal For: Individuals, Startups and small scale businesses.

Companisto has its focus on investments that lie between €350,000 to €2.5 million in innovative startups at the seeding and early-stage. Companisto has successfully raised funds for diverse sectors like software, ecommerce, electronics, food, and beverages, etc.
One of the real strengths of this crowdfunding platform is their network of co-investors in the business angel and venture capital space. It greatly helps in fulfilling one of their key promises i.e. extreme speed. They’ve been advertising that it is possible to go from initial application to money in the bank in less than 12 weeks.

24. Seedmatch

• Target location: Germany
• Platform fee: 5-10%
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: Dresden, Germany
• Ideal For: Startups, high-growth companies.

Seedmatch is one of the largest crowdfunding websites that are ideal for startups. It holds a market share of nearly 30% of the capital collected as a part of successfully backed projects. The company was launched in 2011, but by the end of 2012, they were able to collect more than €100,000 in financing. “Projekt AoTerra” in 2013 was their first project that generated €1 million in a successful crowdfunding round.

25. Ulule

• Target location: France
• Platform fee: 6.67% of all funds received via credit card, 4.17% of funds received via check or PayPal
• Model: Reward-based
• Operating from: Paris
• Ideal For: Small Scale Businesses, creative startups, individuals, artists, social projects etc.

Ulule funds mostly creative projects and they’ve helped more than 16,000 artists and entrepreneurs in 198 countries.  This crowdfunding platform caters to two audiences: the project owners who can be individuals, nonprofit organizations or startups and the supporters of the cause or project, who represent an interested community for artistic, humanitarian, technological projects.

26. WiSeed

• Target location: France
• Platform fee: N/A Model: Reward and Equity-based
• Ideal For: Individuals, Startups, Real Estate investors, Commercial investors, etc.
• Operating from: Toulouse, France

WiSeed assists both professional and retail investors to invest in mature startups and small and medium scale businesses. They offer three options: invest in startups for as low as €100, on real estate properties and getting funds via cooperatives.

One of their unusual features is the fact they don’t showcase a “campaign progress bar”. It is useful for project owners in order to evaluate the investments for their campaign.

27. KissKissBankBank

• Target location: France
• Platform fee: 5%
• Model: Reward and Equity-based
• Ideal For: French films, artists, musicians, creative individuals etc.
• Operating from: Paris

Since its inception in 2009, KissKissBankBank created more than 140,000 projects and raised almost €100,436,624. Their rate of successful projects has been increasing year after year and crossed 70% in 2017.

28. SeedInvest

• Target location: USA
• Platform fee: 7.5% on the total funds raised, paid only upon completion of your offering.
  • 5% warrant coverage or equity based on the total amount raised.
  • Up to $0 – $10,000 in due diligence, escrow, marketing, and legal expense reimbursements.
• Model: Equity-based
• Ideal For: Individuals, Small Scale Investments, Investment Startups, etc.
• Operating from: New York City

SeedInvest offers a great range of guidelines for both investors and startups on how to generate capital. A unique aspect about this crowdfunding platform is their “Auto-Invest” feature which lets the investors to easily create a portfolio of various startups, for as low as $200 per startup.

29. Republic

• Target location: USA
• Platform fee: 7%
• Model: Equity-based
• Operating from: San Francisco and New York City
• Ideal For: Startups, Small-Medium scale Businesses, Investors, etc.

Republic offers openness to its audience. That too, with a low barrier to entry. It resulted in lots of satisfying testimonials from happy startup owners from across the globe. This crowdfunding platform also offers an affiliate feature where it is possible to earn approximately $1,000 for every startup that you refer, and it goes on to successfully raise their desired capital through the fundraising rounds.

30. Next Seed

• Target location: USA
• Platform fee: 1% of the profit
• Model: Equity-based
• Ideal For: Business owners and investors
• Operating from: Huston

NextSeed has successfully funded seven projects, all in Houston. They range from a beauty salon to a luxury flotation spa in Montrose. Their latest success came from a Houston restaurant Peli Peli, which generated nearly $358,000 from 128 different investors, however, their big fundraising rounds are yet to come.

By and large….

Using a crowdfunding platform – to generate initial funds – is an excellent opportunity for you to fuel your idea and accomplish your dreams. By now, you must have already evaluated a few best crowdfunding platforms, and hopefully, you have found the relevant ones that can help you scale your idea. If you’ve previously used any of the aforementioned platforms, feel free to share your experience in the comments section below!