Startup funding

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jmumby

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#95673 10-Jan-2012 14:21

Ok so we all have the million dollar idea thats going to be the next big thing, but were do you go or how do you find VC's to even present it to? With my current project Smartorder I am at the point of needing a bit of guidance and funding to go huge. I live in the middle of nowhere so it makes it difficult to attend any of these 'dragon' type thingy's

JamesL

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#566942 10-Jan-2012 14:44

http://www.kickstarter.com/

Don't know how well it'll work for a NZ project

networkn

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#566966 10-Jan-2012 15:35

How much funding are you looking for ?

jmumby

141 posts

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#567014 10-Jan-2012 17:51

Realistically 6 figures. I have a road map layed out and the current service is the tip of the iceberg which will have splinter projects that could be successful in their own right.

jmumby

141 posts

Master Geek

#567069 10-Jan-2012 20:36

defnz: http://www.kickstarter.com/

Don't know how well it'll work for a NZ project

Only open to US citizens. How dire, I am going to have to start a kickstart page in NZ to help people kickstart to find funding to give myself a kickstart.

johnr

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#567070 10-Jan-2012 20:38

6 figures no problem!

As long as it cents

mattwnz

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#567076 10-Jan-2012 20:50

jmumby: Ok so we all have the million dollar idea thats going to be the next big thing, but were do you go or how do you find VC's to even present it to? With my current project Smartorder I am at the point of needing a bit of guidance and funding to go huge. I live in the middle of nowhere so it makes it?difficult?to attend any of these 'dragon' type thingy's?

You will probably need more than just a million dollar idea to get a 6 figure investment. Any such investment is considered very high risk, as so many ideas don't ever work out.
Don't want to be harsh, but you may want to hire a web designer for your website, as it looks like it has borrowed elements and styles from half a dozen websites. Also quite a few grammatical errors. Your website would need to look awesome and professional to get the investors/cusomters in, especially being an online one.

Your idea does sound interesting though? I presume you have got patents to stop other companies stealing the ideas?

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jmumby

141 posts

Master Geek

#567116 10-Jan-2012 21:30

mattwnz:
jmumby: Ok so we all have the million dollar idea thats going to be the next big thing, but were do you go or how do you find VC's to even present it to? With my current project Smartorder I am at the point of needing a bit of guidance and funding to go huge. I live in the middle of nowhere so it makes it?difficult?to attend any of these 'dragon' type thingy's?

You will probably need more than just a million dollar idea to get a 6 figure investment. Any such investment is considered very high risk, as so many ideas don't ever work out.
Don't want to be harsh, but you may want to hire a web designer for your website, as it looks like it has borrowed elements and styles from half a dozen websites. Also quite a few grammatical errors. Your website would need to look awesome and professional to get the investors/cusomters in, especially being an online one.

Your idea does sound interesting though? I presume you have got patents to stop other companies stealing the ideas?

Agreed, the site is dated and generic. In it's defence the demographic is cafe and takeaway shop owners who's website demands aren't as stringent as tech savy Geekzone members. If it were up to me it would be mothballed for a swish slick looking thing but it all comes down to green stuff.

Not sure what I was thinking saying 6 figures, must of finished off a can of V and my mind was flying off on some tangent.

Investment can come in many forms, such as perhaps someone could invest in making a decent website for a proportion of the company rather than financial. I essentially have the project going which is 90% of this stage, it just looks dated as you mentioned.

As far as patents a 'professional' advised me that the procedure itself can't be patented but the software should be copyrighted.

technicaljoe

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#567136 10-Jan-2012 22:02

Have you look into ICEHOUSE?

freitasm

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#567200 11-Jan-2012 08:33

Have you thought of contacting someone like Rowan Simpson?

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freitasm

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#567202 11-Jan-2012 08:37

Before you contact him though I suggest you READ THIS.

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LookingUp

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#567220 11-Jan-2012 09:09

Check out http://www.cii.co.nz/

I used to work for one of the guys that was, and possibly still is, heavily involved in this. He used to operate on exactly the "Dragons Den" model - take an equity stake in the company and a small retainer, on the basis that nobody listens to free advice and that everyone wins if it comes off.

I'd also be really interested to see how you get on, as I can see how the service would work for at least one business I know of that relies heavily on phone orders.

Things are LookingUp.... A photo from my back yard :-)