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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420FundMe.com Launches Equity Crowdfunding Site to Tap $100 Billion Marijuana, Weed & Cannabis Industry

Aimed at cannabis related ancillary companies, which are not directly involved in the actual growing or selling of cannabis, 420fundme focuses on individuals that are bringing unique new products to the industry

By Robert Hoskins

San Francisco, California – The IPAmediagroup announced the official launch date of www.420fundme.com, a highly anticipated crowdfunding platform to crowdfunding for cannabis, marijuana and weed related projects. The site launch is set for September 15^th and will enable individuals, groups and businesses to fund a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from individuals online.

420FundMe.com Launched a highly anticipated platform for crowdfunding cannabis, marijuana, and weed-related projects, startups and business expansion

Aimed at cannabis related ancillary companies, which are not directly involved in the actual growing or selling of cannabis, 420fundme focuses on individuals that are bringing unique new products to the industry. Working within a potential $100 billion industry, according to Economist.com, since August 1^st the site prelaunch has allowed registration for new projects to be listed on launch day.

“We have beat all expectations and are already seeing a large influx of highly exceptional new products that are simply going to change the industry,” Jon Greene, 420FundMe’s Chief Operating Officer confirms.  “From lighting, security, paraphernalia, and grow products to research, genetics, publications and even real estate services as well as a number of artists, websites, glassblowers, and even filmmakers we can already see we created a necessary platform that is going to be well used.”

Centered on making certain each and every campaign is a success, 420fundme has implemented a number of unique solutions that are not only new to the cannabis industry but also new to crowdfunding and alternative financing. This includes facilitating inline promotional abilities and applying third-party partnerships directly through the platform.

With uninterrupted connections from the project page any campaign has direct access to high quality third-party marketing, publicity, advertising, and media services as well as packaging and branding services and solutions.

“It is a seamless partnership that will enable every campaign to create success at the same time providing our partners and advertisers a huge new market,” Greene added.

Visit 420FundMe.com to pre-register your project and to find out more about how to utilize crowdfunding to raise money to launch your cannabis, marijuana or weed related business or how to sponsor a campaign, become a partner, and explore advertising opportunities.

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Reward-Based Crowdfunding Seminar: Everything You Need for Success! – Presented by the NYC Crowdfunding Meetup Group in New York

Crowdfunding Subject Matter Experts Will Be Covering the “A-to-Zs” of Crowdfunding Strategies Including Important Case Studies, Research Strategies, Buzz Generation Techniques, Shooting Viral Pitch Videos as Well as How to Protect Intellectual Property

By Robert Hoskins

New York, NY – To meet the demand from entrepreneurs, startups, and small businesses, the NYC Crowdfunding Meetup Group will be hosting a special Crowdfunding Seminar on April 1, 2014 at 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The event will be held on the 60th floor of the Empire State Building in the 1800 Accountant Office, which is located at 350 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10118.

Lucy Norris is a British correspondent who is now based in NYC. She freelances at a variety of media outlets including Alleywire, Millennium Magazine, the TV show “On Deck With Lucy”

Alex Feldman, the event organizer, has assembled an excellent team of crowdfunding subject matter experts that will be sharing tips, tricks and strategies on how to research, plan, and launch successful Rewards-based Crowdfunding campaigns. The event will be videotaped by the Reality Crowd TV crew.

Featured Speakers:

• 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm
  Registration
• 6:30 pm – 6:40 pm
  Introduction to Reward-Based Crowdfunding Campaigns
  Alex Feldman, CEO, CrowdsUnite
• 6:40 pm – 6:50 pm
  Crowdfunding Case Study: How I raised over $22,000!
  Alicia Hansen, NYC Salt Founder & Photographer
• 6:50 pm – 7:00 pm
  How to Research Existing Crowdfunding Projects
  Helen Donnelly, CMO, CrowdFunding4All
• 7:00 pm – 7:10 pm
  How to Create a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
  Brian Meece, CEO, RocketHub
• 7:10 pm – 7:20 pm
  How to Make a Viral Crowdfunding Pitch Video
  Lucy Norris, Managing Editor, AlleyWire
• 7:20 pm – 7:30 pm
  How to Create Buzz for Crowdfunding Campaigns
  Howard Sherman, President, CrowdFundBuzz
• 7:40 pm – 8:30 pm
  Crowdfunding Question & Answer Session
• 8:30 pm – 9:00 pm
  Social Mixer & Business Networking Event

Reservations:
Tickets are $50, but early birds who sign up before Wednesday, March 26th will receive a $20 discount. The event is open to the general public, but seating is limited, so sign up ASAP at: http://www.meetup.com/NYC-CrowdFunding-Networking/events/171128902/.

Media:
Reporters get in free, but need to RSVP prior to the event with Crowdfunding PR Campaigns by sending Press RSVP request in order to enter the Empire State Building and proceed to the 60th floor. Members of the press should email rhoskins@frontpagepr.com for more information.

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Fundable Research Pegs Crowdfunding Industry to Inject $65 Billion in 2014

Fundable Infographic Predicts Crowfunding Industry Growth in 2014 to Inject $65 Billion and Create 270,0000 Jobs

By Robert Hoskins

Fundable.com’s infographic below details some great facts for people who are writing business plans and reporters looking for some great stats to quote for blogs, online media outlets and print/broadcast media.  These numbers are going to grow as more and more people become aware of the booming crowdfunding industry.

This is just the beginning, but report reports, white paper and trade press articles continue to paint a rosy picture for the accelerated Crowdfunding industry growth rate that is predicted for the combined fundraising economic stimulus forecast for donation-based, equity-based and perks/rewards crowdfunding campaigns in 2014.

Fundable’s Crowdfunding Statistics predict that:

• In 2014, Crowdfunding will add 270,000 jobs and inject $65,000,000,000 into the worldwide economy.
• Crowdfunding companies create 1 new job for every $37,702 invested/donated.
• For every $1 invested in Crowdfunding startups leads to $6.36 in revenue.
• At this growth rate, Crowdfunding will contribute $500 billion in funding per year by 2020.
• This $500 billion in funding will generate $3.2 trillion in economic value per year by
• In tandem, Crowdfunding will create 2.2 million new jobs by 2020

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Start A Cure Donation-Based Crowdfunding Platform Launched to Streamline Cancer Research Donations

Upset at the Amount of Donations Actually Donated to Cancer Research, Start A Cure Lauches World’s First Crowdfunding Site Directed Entirely to Cancer Research Funding

By Robert Hoskins

Start A Cure is the world’s first patient focused research crowdfunding platform to be entirely directed at cancer. Start A Cure launched with a call to action to a small portion of our cancer researcher contacts to upload projects for funding beginning on June 1, 2013 for beta testing. Start A Cure is the crowdfunding for cancer research project created by the national patient advocacy nonprofit, Malecare, which is one of America’s largest men’s cancer support and advocacy national nonprofit corporations.

Upset at the Amount of Donations Actually Donated to Cancer Research, Start A Cure Lauches World’s First Crowdfunding Site Directed Entirely to Research Funding

Listening to its large cancer survivor community, Malecare learned about the large untapped pool of potential donors who want more control over where their money goes. Right or wrong, these potential donors are cynical about the way research projects are selected by government agencies and foundations for funding. They would rather choose specific projects to fund and have the opportunity to connect directly with the scientists guiding those projects. Many are also unhappy about the small percentage of donated dollars that researchers receive from government and charitable foundations. Malecare and its all-volunteer cancer survivor leadership decided to act. The emergence of crowdfunding websites, like Kickstarter and Indiegogo and pro bono finance sites such as Kiva provoked an opportunity to create a new kind of platform that both informs and empowers cancer patients and their family, friends and allies to directing their funding dollars towards research that can have meaning in their lives. Start A Cure instantly received support from the cancer researcher community. Dozens of cancer project managers from leading institutions and academic centers like Harvard, John’s Hopkins, UCLA and MD Anderson requested that their research be part of Start A Cure’s launch. By posting text and video of individual researchers and their current projects, Start A Cure raises both funds and awareness for cancer research. Donors search and browse through a menu of current research projects and choose to donate funds to projects that resonate in their own lives. By creating an efficient web based distribution system, Start A Cure is able to distribute 92% of funds raised directly to researchers, far more than any other cancer research funding scheme. Start A Cure also helps inspire students and provides hope to our cancer survivor community, by highlighting the people working night and day to develop better treatments and cures; helping us all live happier and longer lives. Projects include those that have already received foundation, government and other grants, along with projects seeking proof of concept funding. Start A Cure will quickly become the fundraising platform for all tumor types. Start A Cure is entirely complementary and supportive of the existing fundraising foundations and modalities and will only grow our cancer research capacities, worldwide.

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Kickback Machine: The World’s Best Tool for Researching Kickstarter Crowdfunding Platform Campaign Successes vs. Failures

Planning a Crowdfunding Campaign? Use the Kickback Machine to Research Prior Kickstarter Crowdfunding Campaigns First!

By Robert Hoskins

Thinking about launching a Crowdfunding campaign? Wouldn’t it be nice to find a tool that allows you to research past  KickStarter Crowdfunding campaigns to see which ones were successful and those that failed?

The Kickback Machine Crowdfunding Campaign Research Tool

A new Crowdfunding research tool called the Kickback Machine now allows researchers to search by keyword and various business categories to find and research past Crowdfunding campaigns to find out what works in the Crowdfunding business and what does not.

This tool allows both investors and future Crowdfunding campaign managers to analyze a wide variety of Crowdfunding variables such as Crowdfunding profiles, pitch videos,  fundraising goal, perks and rewards offered, campaign length, marketing strategies, successful PR campaigns and the publicity they generated.

Before Crowdfunding campaign managers launch their Kickstarter campaign, it’s important to research past projects, so they can understand what works and what doesn’t.

For example, Kickstarter’s website does a good job of helping you find past successes, but it is very difficult to find past projects that failed to meet their funding goal.  The KickBack Machine allows fundraising campaign managers to browse past successes and failures to help you better plan your own campaign.

Here are a few of the sorts of things you can find with the KickBack Machine that you can’t easily find at Kickstarter.com:

• Documentary Film projects that tried to raise approximately $25,000
• Design projects that tried to raise approximately $100,000
• Performance Art projects that didn’t meet their funding goals

Want to give it a try? Click on the Crowdfunding categories below to research what have been done in the past.

• All Crowdfunding Categories
• Art Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Comics Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Dance Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Design Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Fashion Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Film & Video Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Food Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Games Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Music Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Photography Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Publishing Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Technology Crowdfunding Campaigns
• Theater Crowdfunding Campaigns

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AlumniFunder Launches Crowdfunding Platform Where Alumni Can Back Student Entrepreneurs

By Rip Empson

TechCrunch – AlumniFunder launched in beta this week with a simple mission: Help create a deeper relationship between current students and alumni, while supporting collegiate entrepreneurship and creativity. To do that, AlumniFunder wants to give alumni a platform by which they can invest in innovative projects created by students at their alma mater. Whether it be for a new science lab, natural language processing research or a documentary film, the startup also wants to help give students access to the capital they need to get their ideas off the ground.

AlumniFunder Launches A Crowdfunding Platform Where Alumni Can Back Student Entrepreneurs

Riding the crowdfunding wave, the startup is essentially putting a spin on (or splitting the difference between) Kickstarter and education-focused, P2P funding platforms like SoFi and CommonBond. Not unlike these platforms, AlumniFunder has no affiliation with a specific college, instead providing a marketplace for those with ideas that need funding to connect with those looking to open their wallets to a worthy cause.

In other words, the platform works like this: Those registering for AlumniFunder are split into “Doers” (those looking to create a project) and “Alumni” (those looking to browse and fund projects). Doers are required to register with a “.edu” email address to set them up as part of a particular collegiate and alumni network, and then, like Kickstarter, their projects are posted to that network for a specified duration — usually between 30 and 60 days.

If the team or student hits their funding target, the money is then transferred via Stripe to the team; if not, no credit cards are charged. AlumniFunder provides a layer of oversight during the process to make sure the projects meet a minimum level of decency and appropriateness, while providing students with tools from Prezi and Vimeo, for example, to help them build and share their presentations with alumni.

The core value behind AlumniFunder, co-founder S. Ryan Meyer tells us, is to create a more direct and transparent channel for alumni to connect with students, in turn supporting alumni engagement in on-campus programs and entrepreneurial initiatives. Rather than crowdfunding being the focus of the platform, Meyer sees it as a technological tool for pooling resources — not a panacea for every capital-raising scenario and every hobby project out there.

Meyer started AlumniFunder last July as an “elaborate work-around,” he says after experiencing problems raising money for “the technology spinoff” of his brick-and-mortar, children’s brain-training company, Minds-in-Motion. Looking into crowdfunding as an alternative and, after considering using Crowdtilt’s white-label product, Meyer and team decided to create their own solution.

Meyer has raised $125,000 thus far, mostly from friends in his alumni network, he says, “crowdfunding it the old-fashioned way” through phone calls and in-person meetings. Crazy, I know. The team has since grown to five, including CTO and co-founder Brandon Goldman, who was the 13th employee at Box and is building the site in Node.js.

As for pricing, at launch, the site is free to all users, save for the requisite credit card processing fees. Going forward, AlumniFunder plans to launch an equity investing platform (set to launch at some point this summer), which will also be free-to-use. The team is currently raising a fund (at an undisclosed amount) that it will likely use to co-invest one-third with the accredited investor crowd in equity-based campaigns, “using crowd-vetting as a way to deploy capital to early-stage investments,” Meyer says.

Read more…