FinMason Launches Fin-Tech Accelerator Program that Provides Startups with Free Access to Investment Analytics

The FinSpring accelerator is a six-month program for start-ups that share a mission of educating investors / advisors in order to help them make better investment and retirement planning decisions

By Robert Hoskins, Crowdfunding PR

Boston, Massachusetts – FinMason, a Boston-based FinTech and investment analytics firm, is helping industry start-ups overcome one of the biggest challenges faced during the development stage – accessing high quality investment analytics. The firm announced the launch of FinSpring, an initiative that will provide free access to FinRiver, a set of flexible and lightning-fast investment analytics APIs.

Finmason – Institutional Grade Analytics that Investors Actually Understand

“FinTech start-ups face tremendous competition in the marketplace and pressure from their investors to quickly achieve their business goals,” said Kendrick Wakeman, CFA, CEO and founder of FinMason. “We feel that many start-ups and potential start-ups are held back because of the time and expense of building robust analytics platforms. FinSpring lets smart entrepreneurs put analytics anywhere in their product with just a simple API call, leaving them free to focus on prototyping, getting to market and solving consumer problems.”

The FinSpring accelerator is a six-month program available to start-ups that meet four criteria: share a mission of educating investors or advisors to make more informed investment and retirement planning decisions; operational less than two years; under $500,000 in revenue; and, have raised no more than $1 million in funding.

Wealth technology start-ups accepted into the FinSpring program will have access to more than 700 analytical data types, including risk and performance metrics, aggregate factor exposures, scenario analysis and stress testing.

“Part of the strength of the APIs is their simple structure,” said Bob Leaper who runs the FinSpring program at FinMason. “You send us a simple API call containing a list of securities, a list of their weights in the portfolio, and a string of request codes telling us what analytics you want. We then perform the calculations, package the results into a JSON object, and send it back to you. Usually, we do this in under 21 milliseconds. That instantly puts a start-up on even ground with the biggest firms in the world.”

FinMason is a Boston-based financial technology and investment analytics firm dedicated to providing tools that help financial advisors and their clients move forward with confidence. FinMason’s cutting-edge platform analyzes millions of global investments and delivers institutional-grade analytics at scale via three core products:

• FinRiver provides financial technology platforms with robust analytics and proprietary data sets via lightning-fast APIs;
• FinScore Pro provides financial advisors with a quick, intuitive and uncomplicated risk assessment tool that systematically develops a mutually understandable, bright-line agreement on risk from each client and prospect; and
• FinScope provides compliance teams with a way to screen through each client portfolio every night with robust analytics to detect problems before they become problems.

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Robert Hoskins
(512) 627-6622
@Crowdfunding_PR

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Mr. Robert Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns to gain market traction for a wide variety of products and services.

On a regular basis, Mr. Hoskins consults with crowdfunding campaign managers as well as crowdfunding sites, portals and platforms to deliver successful crowdfunding marketing campaigns.

Google search “Robert Hoskins Crowdfunding” to see why Mr. Hoskins runs one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding PR, social media and marketing agencies that has amassed a huge social media following and is dedicated to supporting a wide variety of donation, rewards and equity crowdfunding campaigns.

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SolBid.com Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Raise Funds for Initiative ‘Brighter Classrooms’

Solar energy start up, SolBid has made it their mission to help schools from the looming educational budget deficit in the U.S. through the use of solar energy

By Robert Hoskins

Boston, MA – SolBid.com is a nationwide solar energy services provider, whose services have a profound economic and environmental impact. The brilliant idea Brighter Classrooms was conceptualized when SolBid’s co-founders Nate Raymond and Ian Ricci were mapping out the final iteration of their business model when over lunch talks of education in the U.S. manifested. Educational funding from both federal and state is diminishing, while costs to educate children are rising. This is causing teacher layoffs, termination of critical programs, increased pupil to teacher ratios, and school closures across the country.

SolBid Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Raise Funds for Initiative Brighter Classrooms

“Because of detrimental budget cuts to education, we are taking away critical resources from our children and their teachers are being laid off. These children are our future leaders and something needs to be done. Schools spend an estimated $8billion a year in energy costs, the second largest budget item behind personnel. Instead of cutting personnel costs, why aren’t we tackling energy costs? Now there’s an idea!” said Nate Raymond, CEO.

The two co-founders found themselves in a situation where they could make an impact. SolBid’s solar solutions harvest energy from the sun to produce electricity, are virtually maintenance free, have an average life span of about 30 years, and can offer a return on their investment in little as 4-5 years. Beyond the economic benefits, solar is also a clean energy source that can help offset the use of damaging fossil fuels that release toxic carbon dioxide and mercury emissions that lead to harmful pollution and climate change.

What better than the use of solar energy on schools to reduce operational costs, alleviate budgets and help foster a better education for our children all while saving the environment.

So the men have vowed to take their patronage further by creating a business model which includes donating a portion of SolBid’s sales revenue for the life of the company to an initiative they are calling, Brighter Classrooms. Through this program SolBid will provide solar energy systems to disadvantaged schools across the U.S. and have them installed by local solar installers, generating yet another positive effect on the economy in the school’s surrounding area.

The school in turn will receive up to 30 years’ worth of free, zero-emission electricity generated by solar, saving school districts a tremendous amount of money. This will allow schools to funnel more dollars directly towards the education of our children, and potentially save a number of teachers from unwanted layoffs.

The vision of Brighter Classrooms is to free up school budgets and in return helping schools provide a better education for our children while at the same time reducing our carbon footprint and saving the environment.

There are over 120,000 schools in the United States that could greatly benefit from a solar power system. To support the cause SolBid is launching a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo beginning this Earth Day, April 22, 2015. The campaign will assist in launching the program and in donating the 1st solar energy system. For converting this idea into reality, the founders of SolBid seek the support of the people and are looking for contributions in favor of this campaign.

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New Equity Crowdfunding Platform Allows Accredited Investors to Begin Investing in Fine Art Portfolios

Arthena Fine Arts receives investment from Beamonte Investments to create new cooperative investment platform that focuses on providing fine arts equity crowdfunding opportunities

By Robert Hoskins

Boston, MA – Beamonte Investments, a leading private investment firm in Boston, announced it has invested in Arthena, a cooperative investment platform that focuses on crowdfunding for investments in fine arts. Operated by Arthena Fine Arts, Inc., Arthena’s goal is to lower the cost basis for investments in fine arts, aiding in the diversification of investor portfolios without the cost and commitment of research, purchase, and storage.

Beamonte Investments is a private investment firm founded in 2000 that has specialized in private equity investments and structured lending and now fine art portfolios

Based in New York, NY, Arthena was founded by Madelaine D’Angelo and a team of experts from top universities in the US with backgrounds in the financial, law, art, and tech sectors. By combining access, expertise, and crowdfunding, the company seeks to give investors access to asset-class artwork with leaders from the art world through their platform. World leaders in art are able to get backing from accredited investors, yielding higher returns. Investors get access to exclusive lectures, gallery shows, and art fairs.

“It goes without saying that art is an asset class. Until now, it’s been difficult to know if you are partnered with the right advisor and have the right access to the right works. Arthena is bringing transparency to the world of art investments. Through our partnership with Beamonte, we believe that we are poised to bring art investment to the next generation of global collectors,” said D’Angelo.

“We are very excited to bring the opportunity of investment in art to the whole world. Before Arthena, the market for investment in fine art was limited to a few players with means and connections that took years to develop; Arthena allows the democratization of investing in art. Now, this excellent avenue of portfolio growth and diversification is available to investors across the globe,” added Federico Benavides, Analyst at Beamonte Investments.

Similar to AngelList Syndicates for start-up investment, Arthena helps to bring transparency to the opaque world of art investment. Arthena’s fund advisors are proven experts in their fields, and are committed to promoting the value of art. Arthena’s fund advisors expertise includes modern, contemporary, and emerging works of art.

Luis Trevino, Senior Managing Director at Beamonte Investments, commented, “It is immensely gratifying to see how the Arthena team has developed a unique product that brings access and transparency to the art industry; we are looking forward to working with Madeleine and her team, leveraging the Beamonte Investments platform.”

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Arc Angel Seeks Dealers, Ecommerce Sites, Franchises, Resellers, and Manufacturer’s Representatives to Pre-Sell Stun Canes, Pet Defenders and Tactical Stun Devices (TSD)

@ArcAngelStunGun prepares to place its first large-scale manufacturing run and would like to pass along big discounts and savings to dealers and wholesalers who help achieve higher-volumes and lower prices

By Robert Hoskins

Los Angeles, CA – After receiving strong customer demand for its Stun Canes, Big Sticks and Pet Defenders, Arc Angel (www.aastuncane.com) is now building out its sales and distribution channel network and plans to place its first large manufacturing production run earlier than expected. To secure better pricing for its distribution partners, Arc Angel is now offering up to 50% discounts for a limited time to retailers/dealers, resellers and distributors who are willing to place orders now to help increase Arc Angel’s volume for its first large manufacturing production run. Larger order quantities will achieve better volume production discounts and provide more margin for Arc Angel’s channel partners.

Arc Angel Stun Canes, Stun Sticks and Tactical Stun Guns offer a Non-Lethal Self Defense Weapon for Consumers and Law Enforcement Agencies

“Arc Angel Stun Canes and Pet Defenders are manufactured with rugged, industrial-strength, aircraft aluminum form factors, long-lasting NiMh batteries and are manufactured to compete directly against the Taser Stun Gun as an affordable, non-lethal force option for law enforcement agencies,” said Glenn Willey, Arc Angel’s CEO. “Our products are built to last with intense daily use, not just by consumers, but by large professional security forces with brute strength requirements.”

“Right now Stun Canes, Big Sticks and Pet Defenders are marketed to consumers seeking self-protection options,” Willey continued. “But soon Arc Angel will be introducing a new line of Tactical Stun Devices (TSDs) that will target police, military, emergency first defenders, federal government, homeland security and other types of tactical security/law enforcement agencies that will benefit from using non-lethal force as an alternative to loaded firearms in order to avoid wrongful death lawsuits like the Darren Wilson/Michael Brown ordeal in Ferguson, Missouri when possible.”

If Darren Wilson had been carry a Tactical Stun Gun instead of a gun, Michael Brown might still be alive.

All channel partners that sign up to participate in Arc Angel Channel Marketing Program will receive a special preview briefing on the new TSD product line after signing a NDA. They also will be allowed to participate in bringing this product to market in an upcoming Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, which will be supported by a nationwide advertising, PR and social media cooperative marketing campaign.

Tactical Stun Gun Channel Marketing Partners Wanted:

• Self Defense Ecommerce Sites – Arc Angel seeks eCommerce centers, online stores and blogs that sell self defense stun guns, Tasers, tactical weapons, police gear and/or uniforms to resell its products.

• Tactical Gear Retailers, Gun Dealers, Stores – Arc Angel seeks retailers and dealers that sell stun guns, Tasers, tactical weapons, law enforcement gear and/or uniforms to stock its tactical stun gun and self defense products.

• Non-Lethal Self Defense Franchises – Arc Angel seeks franchisors/franchisees that would like to add Arc Angel’s Stun Canes, Pet Defenders and Tactical Stun Devices to their franchise’s self-defense product portfolio.

• Stun Gun Resellers, Distributors, Wholesalers – Arc Angel seeks resellers, and distributors that sell stun guns, Tasers, tactical weapons, police gear and/or uniforms that would like resell and distribute Arc Angel’s Stun Canes, Big Sticks, Pet Defenders and Tactical Stun Devices.

• Self Protection Manufacturer’s Representatives – Arc Angel seeks manufacturer reps that sell complementary law enforcement, military tactical gear and self-protection product lines into big box retailers and would like to add Arc Angel Tactical Stun Device (TSD) products to their non-lethal, self-protection and law enforcement portfolios.

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Indiegogo Campaign Raising Funds for Armband Thermometer iPhone App that Allows Parents to Monitor a Sick Child’s Fever Throughout the Night

 iTherm bracelet works with iPhone app to set up automated reminder system for medication administration and to record all data to help the pediatrician with diagnosis and treatments

By Robert Hoskins

Boston, MA – How many times have you lost sleep when one of your children was running a dangerously high fever? When your child is sick and running a high fever, it is very wise to check the child’s temperature every few hours.  But instead of waking up the child in the middle of the night to see if their temperature is stable or rising, wouldn’t it be nice to check the temperature via  a smart temperature sensing bracelet worn by the child and your iPhone from the comfort of your own bed.

iTherm bracelet works with iPhone app to set up automated reminder system for medication administration and records all data to help the pediatrician in the diagnosis and treatment

That is the solution that iTherm is crowdfunding via an Indiegogo $29,000 fundraising campaign. The  iTherm is a $39 bracelet that measures body temperature via a wireless smartphone app. Now parents can set alarms to alert them when the temperature has reached a certain limit.

Marcos Oliva, entrepreneur and founder of the project, had the idea when his first child was born. When his son had his first cold and fever the pediatrician told him and his wife: “Watch out that the temperature does not get too high by giving him antipyretics every 8 hours for 2 days. If there is no improvement bring him back.” That night they organized shifts every 2 hours to monitor the fever and the next day the whole family was very tired. With the birth of his second child the sleepless nights increased.

There had to be a solution for these problems:

• Waking up again and again when most of the time there is no need
• Awakening the child when what he/she needs is to rest and recover
• Sleeping concerned about the possibility that the fever rises

Using Bluetooth 4.0 Marcos attached a temperature sensor to a bracelet, so that by placing it in the child’s arm the temperature could be monitored without waking the child. This system also allows to set alarms to wake parents if the temperature rises but the whole family can rest if it does not.

iTherm also includes an automated reminder system for medication administration and it records all data to help the pediatrician in the diagnosis and treatment.

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To Celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the 2012 JOBS Act, Front Page PR Offers Low-Cost License Fee to Start Crowdfunding Training Classes throughout the United States

License Agreement offers Chambers of Commerce, SBA Offices, Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), SCORE & Startup Incubators and Business Accelerators the Opportunity to Offer Front Page PR’s Content to Launch Their Own Crowdfunding Training Programs

 By Robert Hoskins

AUSTIN, TX – Front Page PR announced a new low-cost licensed crowdfunding training class that will provide non-profits, economic development, Meetup groups and government agencies such as the Small Business Administration (SBA) with the basic training materials needed to begin educating entrepreneurs, veterans, startups, small businesses, high schools, junior colleges, universities and employment agencies on how to use crowdfunding to eradicate unemployment by facilitating new businesses and creating new jobs throughout the United States.

Front Page PR is the #1 Crowdfunding PR firm in America

For only $300 per year, licensees will receive the training materials needed to launch a crowdfunding advocacy training program in their community. The low price point should allow crowdfunding educators and experienced public speakers to break even on the very first class by charging attendees $25 or more to attend the seminar. Click here to buy a one-year license.

“Most Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) charge an average of $49 per class to attend classes on how to write a business plan, how to get a bank loan, how to seek venture capital, or how to seek alternative financing to start up a small business,” said Robert Hoskins, Front Page PR’s Director of Crowdfunding Campaigns. “At this price tag, our Crowdfunding Training Program will only take six paying customers to fund a full year’s subscription. After the initial cost, training 20 people per month at $49 would generate approximately $11,460 per year in revenue.”

Front Page PR will provide free Crowdfunding Training Class Workshops for instructors who want to provide the Crowdfunding Training Class, but have no knowledge of the crowdfunding industry or experience in teaching their communities how to launch successful crowdfunding campaigns. In addition, the workshops will include free press release templates and teach instructors how to utilize cost-effective PR/media relations programs to raise awareness for the classes within the local community.

Front Page PR’s Crowdfunding Seminar materials include:

• How to Plan a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
• How to Conduct a Crowdfunding Competitive Analysis
• How to Shoot a Crowdfunding Pitch Video
• How to Write a Persuasive Crowdfunding Profile
• How to Offer Effective Perks & Rewards
• How to Set Up a Realistic Fundraising Goal

Even Fortune 500 corporations can get involved. Many large companies such as IBM have launched intranet crowdfunding programs to incentivize their employees. Crowdfunding campaigns can be used as an excellent research and development tool. Internal crowdfunding campaigns can be used to fast track great business ideas upward to management based on employee support, which completely bypasses the typical roadblocks that thwart innovation.

Front Page PR’s crowdfunding training class rollout will target Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, D/FW, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Washington, DC and Wichita. Additional markets will be added based on market demand.

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New Equity Investment Fund Setup by Launch Angels to Invest in Women-Led Startups

PayPal shows support for women and the crowdfunding industry by sponsoring the Finding the Bright Spots: Women & Capital Event on March 4th

By Robert Hoskins

Launch Angels, an investment platform focused on equity crowdfunding deals and based in Boston, MA, is now offering two programs programs that will allow investors to begin backing women-focused startups.

New Equity Investment Fund Setup by Launch Angels to Invest in Women-Led Startups

First, Launch Angels and co-sponsor PayPal are hosting Finding the Bright Spots: Women & Capital, a March 4th event on how women entrepreneurs and investors are finding “bright spots” in equity.

Second, Launch Angels is opening its Women-Led Fund to accredited investors. This is the first fund dedicated to searching equity crowdfunding platforms for investments in women-led startups.

Finding the Bright Spots features a panel on funding sources disrupting male-centric models. It will explore how women entrepreneurs and investors are succeeding empowered by crowdfunding, accelerators, angels and venture capital.

Kara Miller, host and executive editor of “Innovation Hub” (which airs on 89.7 WGBH and SiriusX) will moderate. The keynote will be delivered by Michelle Watson, CIO of First Republic Investment Management. Panelists include Daily Grommet CEO Jules Pieri, Techstars Managing Director Katie Rae and ClearSky Data CEO Ellen Rubin. The free event is set for 6:00-8:30 PM at One International Place, Boston, with reservations through EventBrite.

Launch Angels CEO Shereen Shermak will kick off the evening. Shermak observed, “I’m an entrepreneur and angel, so I’ve seen that women are underfunded and under-represented in the C-suite. But trends—including equity crowdfunding—are changing the story. Launch Angels is pleased to be part of that through this event and our Women-Led Fund. Matching angels with women-led and -focused businesses needing capital benefits women, investors and the economy.”

A good example of crowdfunding at work is the event caterer, Mei Mei. This Boston-based company recently expanded their business from a food truck to a restaurant thanks to a crowdfunding campaign. Two members of the sibling management team are female.

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How to Use Crowdfunding to Exceed Your Fundraising Goal in a Week: The Story of One Fund Boston

By Stephanie Kapera, Software Advice

In light of tragedy and disaster, crowdfunding can be a particularly successful fundraising strategy if a multichannel approach is taken. The One Fund Boston was formed in response to the Boston Marathon bombings. In just a matter of days, the organization raised more than $20 million, and stirred quite a media frenzy with their impressive figures.

Software Advice helps software buyers find the right software

Though disasters of any sort are always tragic, nonprofit organizations can raise considerable money for a cause by launching immediate campaigns as a response. In the case of The One Fund Boston, there was immediate support from donors wishing to help those impacted by the bombings.

The One Fund Boston’s use of Teespring and Pinterest drew mass attention quickly, and the subsequent dollars the organization was seeking. Teespring allowed several individuals to create custom t-shirts in honor of the tragedy. From there, clever use of thought leaders and social media tools flourished.

Based on The One Fund Boston’s success, here are five tips your nonprofit organization should keep in mind when trying to launch a response crowdfunding campaign:

1. Act Quickly: The window to act is very small. It’s crucial to launch a response campaign as soon as possible following a “focusing event.” It’s important to also keep in mind that online donations after disaster drop within just one week. Acting quickly is pertinent for a successful campaign.
2. Leverage Online Influencers: Leveraging those who already have an established footprint in the social media sphere is also very valuable. In this particular case, several of those involved in The One Fund Boston reached out to Joe Waters, a well-known figure in the nonprofit sector. Waters then gathered support through his Twitter and Pinterest accounts, both of which have significant followings.
3. Use Multiple Channels: Using Pinterest and Twitter together led to a more widespread outreach in this case. In other cases, it’s important to also use Facebook, other social media sites like LinkedIn, and blogs. Using all the available tools during a response campaign can spread a message like wildfire. k
4. Create a Hashtag: Hashtags are essentially bookmarks. By creating campaign-specific hashtags, not only does it brand the campaign, it can also lead to special partnerships like the case of #TeamAutism; Samsung and the Dan Marino Foundation established a partnership where Samsung agreed to donate $5 for every “#TeamAustin” tweet. In just three days, more than $100,000 was raised.
5. Get Visual: Infographics and visual support are proven to stir more interest in a campaign. Most learning occurs visually, so using visual tools along with social media strategy can help improve the success rate of campaigns.

Collectively, these tools can help maximize the success of your crowdfunding campaign.

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Crowdfunding Conference Planned for Berkeley in Northern California, June 9th

By Robert Hoskins

Last year crowdfunding platforms raised $2.7 billion and successfully funded more than 1 million campaigns, according to California-based research company Massolution. Business executives that want to learn about this crowdfunding phenomenon and to meet leading industry insiders should register to attend the  CrowdFunding California Conference which will be held in Berkeley on June 9th.

California Crowdfunding Conference in Berkeley, CA on June 9, 2013

The Crowdfunding West Conference is presenting an unprecedented lineup of experts from crowdfunding platforms, legal firms, investment community and entrepreneurs who have risen (combined) almost $2,000,000 for their projects through crowdfunding.

The morning session will consist of discussions about rewards-based crowdfunding. Special panel is devoted to community programs. The afternoon session will help the entrepreneurs better understand their fundraising options, including equity crowdfunding, peer-2-peer lending, angel investments and rewards based crowdfunding. Opponents of crowdfunding movement will have a chance to present their position at the debate moderated by David Drake, well known New York investment expert and speaker.

Among the speakers are the representatives of the global leader in microcredits, Kiva, crowdfunding platforms WhenYouWish and Realty Mogul from Los Angeles, Upstart from Palo Alto, “Investment bank for startups” MicroVentures, Colorado-based portal Community Funded and CrowdIt from Missouri, world’s largest network for entrepreneurs EFactor, fundraising platform for kids PiggyBackr, investment consulting companies North Capital, Inc. and Cutting Edge Capital, payment services platform BancBox, SaaS portal VentureDocs, well known lawyer and blogger Antone Johnson, CEO of uBiome,  Jessica Richman, the creator of the fifth most successful campaign on Indiegogo Sonny Vu and the founders of  Mothership HackerMoms community from Oakland.

Crowdfunding California Conference is created by Crowdfund Productions, the organizer of investment and crowdfunding events in the USA. Other 2013 conferences will be held in Boston, MA, Charlotte, NC, Seattle, WA and Chicago, IL. On January 6th – 7th, 2014 Crowdfund Productions will be hosting Global Aspen Investment Forum in Aspen, CO.

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