RequestFunding.com - ideas?

[SerialEntrepreneurs.]

Fellow entrepreneurs,

Of all the domain names in my portfolio, RequestFunding.com is up there on my list of favorites..... I've always dreamed of creating a platform where as you might guess entrepreneurs and investors could meet, network and request funding for business ideas...

I have yet to launch this because I keep asking myself "how is this site going to be different than a GOBigNetwork.com, RaiseCapital.com, FundUniverse.com, etc., etc. but than I recently had an "aHa" moment and wanted to get your feedback.....

What if I promote/advertise/market RequestFunding.com as THE SOURCE for ALL your funding needs and than essentially sell advertising space/listings to the companies mentioned above and more...in other words I can advertise and drive significant traffic to RequestFunding.com and then in turn offer "visibility" to other funding sites and organizations.....what do YOU think?

thank you very much for your time and feedback, I DO appreciate it very much.

[KPatel]

It's a very interesting concept. I too was thinking about doing a similar project, but I just didn't have the cash to put it together. I like your idea, and I think it could work. Here's an idea (and I'm not sure if this has been done): What about micro funding? Taking into account the social networking world is booming, why not go into that format. If you have a huge network of people looking to invest into businesses, I'm sure that microfinance could work. Now, I'm not aware of the legal issues that may arise, but hey it's just an idea I'm throwing out there.

If you do take this project forward (regardless of my idea), I'd very much like to be involved, provided you'd actually want anyone on board.

[akula]

hi andrew...i'm not gonna comment on the domain it self, matchmaking services or whether the kind of site you're proposing would be successful...because, hell if anyone can predict that sort of thing

what I will say is that it's generally pretty risky to start a business if you only have 3 potential customers like GOBigNetwork.com, RaiseCapital.com and FundUniverse.com who are gonna pay you for referals...because if one one of your prospects turns you down, you're looking at a significant strike out rate...the more potential customers any business has, the better

overall, I don't really see a well defined problem or an solution with what you're proposing...if requestfunding was an market place for small business loans and credit, that would be different..you can create an online auction platform where entrepreneurs can post the amount of money they need..and then you can have hundreds of lenders, loan sharks etc bid for that loan...that's a product I would be interested in using

[itstruyou]

"you can create an online auction platform where entrepreneurs can post the amount of money they need..and then you can have hundreds of lenders, loan sharks etc bid for that loan...that's a product I would be interested in using"

yuppp, we all neeed a site like that!!

[SerialEntrepreneurs.]

thanks....I have actually thought about micro-lending...even got qotes thru eLance to develop....have you seen Get a Personal Loan at a Great Rate! - Apply Online Today - Prosper ? Same thing but for entrepreneurs was what I was thinking....

It's a very interesting concept. I too was thinking about doing a similar project, but I just didn't have the cash to put it together. I like your idea, and I think it could work. Here's an idea (and I'm not sure if this has been done): What about micro funding? Taking into account the social networking world is booming, why not go into that format. If you have a huge network of people looking to invest into businesses, I'm sure that microfinance could work. Now, I'm not aware of the legal issues that may arise, but hey it's just an idea I'm throwing out there.

If you do take this project forward (regardless of my idea), I'd very much like to be involved, provided you'd actually want anyone on board.

[justjoan]

VERY interesting concept! I would definitely be a regular visitor, not just for me but for my clients who want to expand on their businesses and aren't sure where to turn.

[KPatel]

thanks....I have actually thought about micro-lending...even got qotes thru eLance to develop....have you seen Get a Personal Loan at a Great Rate! - Apply Online Today - Prosper? Same thing but for entrepreneurs was what I was thinking....

I've looked into starting a microloan website, and it is hard work. There are quite a few sites which do this sort of this. Off the top of my head, there's Prosper, as mentioned, Loanio (which launched just recently), CommunityLend, and Zopa.

From what I've seen, though, I can't see anything that really caters to the Entrepreneur. It seems to me, that these guys are looking at personal, small-time loans.

I think you're onto something, mate.

[SerialEntrepreneurs.]

thanks...my idea is to launch something like Kiva.org for either entrepreneurs or YOUNG entrepreneurs who can't get bank loans (30 yrs and younger)

Anyone know what laws might apply?