lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:black'>Will
bootstrapping, crowdsourcing and crowdfunding be the future for techmedia
start-ups?

face=Arial>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 href="http://www.dreamstake.ning.com/">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.

face=Arial>If
you are not already a member please join on href="http://www.dreamstake.ning.com/">www.dreamstake.ning.com.  We are
having an event tomorrow evening which will be a quick way to find out more
about our plans.

face=Arial>Best
regards,

face=Arial>Paul
Dowling

face=Arial>