Startup Revolution

Agree with this post. You might think crowdfunding around Christmas would be great. Not so much since there is so much NOISE and competition for every dollar.

Can you tell a great story and still get crowdfunded in 4Q? Sure, but exceptions make rules. The possible exception may be nonprofits whose donations would be tax deductible.

Even then every nonprofit is aware of the end of the year rush to take advantage of tax deductibility and because people feel good will toward each other during the holidays (or that is the theory :).

My preference would be to come in after the first of the year. Wait too long and you miss planning cycles, go too soon and you can get caught up in New Year's resolution and post-holiday assessments.

My second time would be dog days of summer. That timing may seem strange, but after July fourth nothing much happens until back to school begins in mid-August.

The other lesson I learned by launching http://www.curecancerstarter.org, our crowdfunding cancer research website, is to seed your campaigns. Launch when you have 25% of the funding set.

Seeding creates a sense of momentum and excitement. Most crowdfunding campaigns start strong, bow in the middle and then finish up strong (as they head into deadlines). Saw a stat on Kickstarter that campaigns with at least 25% in by the end of the first week have an 80% chance of being funded.

Have a "funding party" and line up your donors on a "roll call" count basis. If you are asking for $10K, and most Kickstarter campaigns are funded for $10K or less, then make sure you have $3K (or so) in the campaign in the first few days.

YOUR list is very important too. Your list is the key to reaching "friends of friends" (or people you don't know). Great to think your idea would be picked up by the NYT, but better to work your list and ask for two things:

$ MONEY.
Advocacy (with their friends).

Make giving both of those as easy as possible.

Find more #crowdfunding tips on GPlus:
https://plus.google.com/102639884404823294558/posts/LtuwAmMpcF3

Scooped here: http://sco.lt/9GA5Sr

Thanks to the Cure Cancer Buzz Team we are off to a GREAT start with 3% funded on CureCancerStarter.org in the first 3 Days (UNC Lineberger is in the numbers above but not accepting donations yet, take them out and we are at 3% funded in 3 days). 

You can HELP by donating to:

Vitamin D & Lunch Cancer Research
https://www.curecancerstarter.org/campaign/roswell-lungcancerresearch 

Brain Cancer Vaccine
https://www.curecancerstarter.org/campaign/roswell-braincancerresearch

Personalizing Treatments For Colorectal Cancer
https://www.curecancerstarter.org/campaign/personalizing-treatment-for-colorectal-cancers

Here is my challenge to anyone creating or working in a #startup today. DONATE to one of those 3 campaigns and I will MATCH your donation dollar for dollar up to $1000. 

If you email martin(at)storyofcancer.org or tweet to @ScentTrail (http://www.twittre.com/scenttrail) or @curecancerstart (http://www.twitter.com/curecancerstart ) I will post a link to your startup across our social network (about 10,000 followers who have another 500,000 followers). If your startup gives $500 or more I will write 500 words about how cool and great you are and post on Atlantic BT's PR5 blog. 

If we exceed $1,000 by Friday then I will write 500 words about EVERY startup who emails me!!!

I know startups are POOR with all money and energy into the THING you are creating, but here is your chance to make a powerful content marketing ally for $50.

I've created 4 companies and am not making a PENNY from this one (true this one is COSTING me money not making any nor will it ever since I did it as a PAYBACK to cancer researchers and docs who've saved my life), but together we LAUNCH YOUR STARTUP and cure cancer in our lifetime. 

Thanks, Marty 
Martin(at)storyofcancer.org 
Martin.Smith(at)Atlanticbt.com 
cancer survivor
Founder, CureCancerStarter.org 
http://www.curecancerstarter.org 

 

I believe in sacrifice. For the last year I've put everything into the completion of what I now think of as my triptych:

* Martin's Ride To Cure Cancer (bicycle ride across America Summer of 2010). 
* StoryofCancerStore.org - shop to cure cancer http://www.curecancerstore.org  
* CureCancerStarter.org - corwdfunding cancer research (http://www.curecancerstarter.org) should launch on Monday 10.14 if the creeks don't rise. 

We celebrated last week with an amazing Google+ Hangout on Air and then an invisible hand tried to strangle me last night. The post explains how life should never be taken for granted and tiny things (like flu shots) can create BIG impacts. 

The lesson no to hidden in the story of how an asthma attack almost killed me is don't let your life become so out of balance that such a dramatic reminder is required. 

I believe in the sacrifice too, but sacrificing yourself for the dream your building is moot and a bit goofystupid (says the man who almost died last night from letting his life get out of balance :). 

 So do as I SAY not as I DO :). 

Marty 

Thank You STARTUPS and FOMs (Friends of Martin)
That is me yelling at my doctor in the video image above (lol). Dr. Han van Deventer's Fibrocyte cure cancer research is now 45% funded after only a week on our brand spanking new #startup CureCacnerStarter.org (http://www.curecancerstarter.org).

THANK YOU to my friends who run, are creating or want to create a new startup. Your support, ideas and encouragement is why we got HERE. And HERE is pretty cool

Here is using the web to help cure cancer. It takes COURAGE to step up and use a new idea (bumps and strange things like wiping out your donation choice and moving it back to $5 after you save a creditcard). We are working on the car as we drive it, but to see people who have the courage to STEP UP and do something HERE AND NOW to change the world is inspiring.

https://www.curecancerstarter.org/campaign/fibrocyte-cancer-research-at-unc-lineberger

There are 4 other great cancer research campaigns on our startup too:

Brain Cancer Vaccine From Roswell Park
https://www.curecancerstarter.org/campaign/roswell-braincancerresearch

Vitamin D & Lung Cancer From Froswell Park
https://www.curecancerstarter.org/campaign/roswell-lungcancerresearch

Creating A Reolution In Colorectal Cancer Care from UW Carbone

https://www.curecancerstarter.org/campaign/personalizing-treatment-for-colorectal-cancers

Saving Generations Of Lives In Malwai UNC Lineberger Cancer Center

https://www.curecancerstarter.org/campaign/treating-cervical-cancer-in-malawi

YES would be how most people would answer this question. If you could change the world in 5 minutes for $50 would you? Hope you will join the brave dragon fighters that have already answered YES.

Thanks to my fellow startups for your support!

BTW, 100% of all CureCancerStarter.org donations go to cancer research. No house money here as we are funding with my Atlantic BT Marketing Director salary and a generous grant from Atlantic BT, best damn website and software developers on earth (or the southeast anyway :). Marty

Looking forward to discussing my startup - CureCancerStarter.org (http://www.curecancerstarter.org) and #curingcancer with my friend Mark Traphagen and BuzzWire's Todd Hartley. 

A dedicsated team is creating the first crowdfunding platform created by a cancer survivor (me) dedicated to cancer research, cancer patients, their friends and families.

Friday 11:00 EST (7:00 PST)