Informed Investment Networks
Description
This method involves the pooling of money (typically through micro-finance) by a collective on a speculative basis in order to make projects happen, support a particular cause or individual and seek return on that investment. This has similarities with the social sharing and commodity exchange methods.
Related Methods
Purpose
The purpose of this method depends on the context. In terms of supporting projects, it puts consumers in control of what they consume before it is consumable and liberates suppliers by allowing them to produce what might normally be impossible to bring to market by those in a position of power who consider their ideas as untenable. Typically the investors get a return on their contribution comparable to the level of their initial investment (based on an ‘offer’) once the total amount of money requested has been reached.
Category
Do
Strengths
- Creates a more diversified market.
- Reduces the debt burden for borrowers and risk for lenders.
- Participants can make ethical investment decisions.
- Promotes creativity among a populous.
Weaknesses
- For investors, return on investment is reasonably high risk and comparatively weak
- Relies on trust between participants.
Examples
| Name | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Zopa Borrower | Micro-financing | http://uk.zopa.com/ZopaWeb/ |
| Kickstarter | Raise funds for new ideas and projects | http://www.kickstarter.com/ |
| Unbound | Publishing website for investor readers | http://unbound.co.uk |
| Spacehive | Crowdfunding for regeneration projects | http://spacehive.com/ |
Tools
| Name | Link |
|---|---|
| People Fund It | http://www.peoplefund.it/ |
Profile
| Item | Descriptor |
|---|---|
| Should the activity have an emphasis on getting participants ideas and opinions to diverge, converge, or both? | Irrelevant |
| How important is it that you gain insight from your participants, such as statistical reports on participant demography etc? | Not important |
| To what extent do you envisage your intervention in participation? | Depends on application |
| How does the digital engagement activity need to integrate with other activity? | Web based methods |
| To what extent should participants take ownership of the activity? | Just between participants |
| How public should the engagement activity be? | A mix of private and open |
| At what stage of your overall project will this engagement activity relate? | Not applicable |
| How quickly are results required? | Quickly |
| How important is it to know the identity of the participants? | Depends on application |
| Are you hoping to engage a particular audience? | Can help those with special needs, such as consumers who have been declined credit |
| How would you describe the resources you have available to this activity? | Free / minimal cost |
| On what lines are participants likely to be grouped? | Typically segmented by supporters and non-supporters by nature |
| How many people should the activity engage? | Best suited to large groups and above |