Small amounts, then. But will the 20 crowdfunding platforms that currently exist in the Will they raise the millions needed to continue to exist with many small amounts? Not all of them, predicts Simon Douw, founder of Douw en Koren, a company that advises entrepreneurs who want to crowdfund. He recently conducted a study into the 20 platforms and he does not see more room for platforms.
In fact, “It is hip and hyped. In 2012, a number of platforms will go under,” predicts Douw. He cannot brother cell phone list yet say which platforms these will be. That depends, for example, on the upcoming AFM regulations. These will make it clear what the platforms may and may not do with the repayable funds: the money that is temporarily held until the deadline of a crowdfunding application. The AFM will also look at the extent to which the startups can run off with the money. Because although the platforms often do a screening before an entrepreneur or project owner is allowed to place a crowdfunding application, there is hardly any checking of what is done with the money once it has been received. “In principle, the recipient can go on holiday with the money,” acknowledges Van Schelven. “But he can also do that if he borrows money from the bank for his company.”
It won't go that fast, Simon Douw expects. People who collect money this way often get that money from family, friends and acquaintances. 40 to 60% of the intended amount comes from existing networks. "You don't just cheat them," says Douw.