Will bootstrapping, crowdsourcing and
crowdfunding be the future for techmedia start-ups?

It seems to me that technology and media
start-ups have always found it difficult to find adequate start-up funding even
in the good times. Now it is even more difficult. However, as founder and CEO
of www.dreamstake.ning.com it
occurs to me that the environment is becoming more conducive to a new more self
contained business model with less reliance on external sources of funding.
Firstly, the bootstrapping of technology solutions has become a real
possibility. The entry point for many technologies is extremely low, sometimes
free of cost. Providers such as Ning, Google and Huddle offer a ‘freemium’
model that makes it extremely easy to launch ‘beta’ services at minimal cost.
Open source also facilitates this process.
Next, there are many excellent individuals available to offer their services at
good rates or even to barter services. The internet allows us to access this
talent pool and consider the ‘crowdsourcing’ of projects as a real option. We
are currently building this model on DreamStake and will announce our approach
very shortly.
Finally, crowdfunding becomes a distinct possibility. In this model a community
such as DreamStake elects to fund certain projects through the membership
voting for the best.
I truly believe that we can change the model for launching ventures. We need to
build up critical mass and put in place the structures to support this approach.
It is all happening as we speak.and I appreciate everyones support and patience
in making it a success.

If you are not already a member please join
on www.dreamstake.ning.com.
 We are having an event tomorrow evening which will be a quick way to find
out more about our plans.

Best regards,

Paul Dowling

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