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Until now, crowdfunding has most likely been a good deed for investors. It is sending money to someone to assist them in achieving a goal. It could be done to raise funds for medical treatment. Perhaps it's to assist someone in publishing a book. Perhaps the person is developing a product, and your contribution will assist them in establishing a business.

Kanye West is no longer a billionaire. His supporters want to change that. Therefore, they started a GoFundMe campaign to make the rapper and fashion designer a billionaire again. Financially, October was not a good month for him. Instead of earning money as has been his custom for years, he lost millions. He lost the most money when Adidas dropped him. His net worth went from $1.5 billion down to $400 million.

A fresh start for Kickstarter and hope for aspiring writers. Kickstarter has a new CEO and he’s ready to go. On October 3, 2022, Everette Taylor, CEO of Kickstarter announced his mission and vision in his first Project Update. Mr. Taylor, former CMO of Artsy said, “he’s passionate about supporting creators and helping to provide resources for those who want to make their dreams a reality…” Click here for the full video.

I have to admit I am very tempted by one of the most recent E-Bike campaigns on Indiegogo. The bike of the moment is the ENGWE X26, and the features read like a laundry list of must-haves.

File this article as another example of “Downs” in Crowdfunding. After receiving a promising update on my purchase of the Rocket Bike in October, imagine my surprise when receiving November’s soul-crushing newsletter.

Thinking more significantly, I wanted to contribute once again to a couple of more oversized ticket items. I had some minor success and now seemed like the right time to branch out again. Given my recent interest in E-Bikes, an opportunity came upon me which check several boxes of “wants” by myself.

My next contribution seemed to be well justified and founded. My wife had bought me a gift for my office, which I loved. The item was an aquarium named Ecoqube C. I loved having a small, ultra-low maintenance aquarium for my office. It proved to be a friendly habitat for a Betta fish and home for a small basil plant. When the Ecoqube C+ was announced on Indiegogo, I was instantly sold. It promised everything of the previous model, but with a larger tank and more plants could be grown. The fish produces waste, the built-in filter turns the waste into fertilizer, and the plants flourish while keeping the tank clean. A handy LED lighting system is positioned above the aquarium. The LED lighting is fully equipped with a timing system and color-changing ability. I was an early backer and immediately invested in the dual aquarium offer saving 50 dollars bringing the total to around $200.

Crowd Working TogetherPhoto by Camylla Battani on Unsplash. Crowdfunding was always appealing to me, as it was exciting to see what technological ideas someone could bring to the market based on monies invested by Joe Public. Someone could build a better mousetrap, market the item themselves on sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter, and people like myself could buy-in. Generally speaking, you could buy in with a “contribution to the project at a discounted amount to receive one of the first units off the production line. There was always the option of just donating to the cause with a few dollars, and you could feel good about being an original backer.

All the rage today is about bringing smoking to the home, and it is unlike the past when smoking and curing played a part in preserving the food. Today this process is primarily used to improve or add a new dimension to the food we enjoy daily. Over the last few years, there has been an explosion in the types and amounts of smokers available at the local retailers. Available in all sizes and combinations and with a plethora of features, there seems to be no end to the excitement.

(Elsa Olofsson on Unsplash) (Denver, Colo.) The 420 Hotels Inc., owner of the historic Patterson Inn, launched an equity crowdfunding campaign through investing platformRepublic.com to fund a new era of cannabis hospitality.