New Source for Funds!

[bizdev]

Fanatik you and I are kindred spirits. YOU DO GET IT. You totally get what I'm trying to do with Preneuraholics Unite. Thank you for taking the time to articulate your feelings about this.

Daniel (akula), you can object all you want and you can take the premise of this idea (peer to peer giving) and twist it into something ugly in your own mind (handouts), but it doesn't change the fact that this can work. The business model is not about giving handouts to losers. On the contrary, it is about giving a boost (monetarily and emotionally) to an entrepreneur who has a great business plan and can prove his/her worthiness to their fellow entrepreneurs who can empathize with their situation.

Like ramirezhenry55 said, it can lift the spirits of entrepreneurs that have been shot down by the system.

Rather than "teach dependance and encourage irresponsibility" as akula believes, this can teach us that hope and kindness and encouragement are alive and well and being used to resurrect the great American dream.

[ZingerIntl]

that's the thing, i wouldn't..i'm the perfect target market and i think that cash donations to entrepreneurs are morally objectionable because donations teach dependance and encourage irresponsibility...i think any entrepreneur looking for a hand out is pretty pathetic...and entrepreneurs generally agree with me...that's why grants/donations are a virtually non existent funding source for americal entrepreneurs...people in business just don't feel right going around soliciting charity...charity belongs elsewhere

on another hand, if i had the opportunity to write micro loans to people in my local community i would jump on board right away..the main attraction being the chance to hang out with cool people and make lifelong friendships

what i want is an effective service for startups, that's why i'm writing this critique

I do agree with this. I also am glad Akula writes stuff like this when many people will not or can not. Someone has to keep us big-dreaming-entrepreneurs grounded. It does not mean that there are not some people that will use the service and represent it well. Even on this site there are a few (real young) people looking for small amounts of funding for legitimate ideas.
I hope this business does well and if you read my posts I have tried to make sure I give good advise on this topic. It has actually given me an idea, that is totally unrelated, but stemmed from a thought tangent of this thread. So maybe this website can make a huge impact on my life with out receiving any free money. Who knows.

[bizdev]

Zinger, I belong to many, many small biz discussion forums and have been posting and advising entrepreneurs for several years. I can assure you and akula that there are countless others, not just the "real young" here, that are looking for "small amounts of funding for legitimate" business ideas.

Once again, just because an entrepreneur is not looking to start up a multi million dollar enterprise, that is no reason to discount their business ideas or their very real needs. THOSE are the people I am targeting.

Keeping big dreaming entrepreneurs grounded does not equate to shutting them out as the U.S. govmt (and akula) seem to believe.

I am quite naturally extremely curious about your new idea that is supposedly totally unrelated but came from this discussion. Do tell.

[akula]

sylvia, your reasoning about this opportunity is affected with confirmation bias
as such, you are misreading what i'm saying to you and ignoring the facts....and the fact is that after 1k pageviews, you hardly have anybody here putting their hand up to offer donations to struggling founders...more than that, look at what happens when entepreneurs ask for small donations on this forum:

q. "im looking for a $200 donation to start up a ps3 trophies site"
a. "Your a walking joke you know that... "

get the facts right, starting this venture is not about your ego, it's about you listening to what your potential customers are telling you..be a professional, alter the "i need to prove my self right" diatribe

[bizdev]

Akula, you see 1K pageviews and all negativity. I see 1K pageviews and the majority positive. Just because there are not 1K people here committing to a donation (which by the way I have not asked for here) that does not mean they will not participate. I wouldn't necessarily post in a public place that I was willing to give money to a stranger. I can see all the cyberbeggers inundating my mailbox with requests. But, anonomously? You bet I would give. And I have no doubt many others will too.

And you still don't get the basic premise. I am not going after the guys that want to sell tshirts and need $200 to get started. Come on. Give me some credit here for knowing my own target market. There are countless entrepreneurs with viable business plans and the experience and the intelligence to pull it off if only they could find the last $10 or $20K to complete their start up needs.

Akula, you and I so obviously move in different circles. How about we agree to disagree and stay out of each other's business? I know you believe you have all the answers and anybody that doesn't follow your one way reasoning is destined for failure. But, this is also not about YOUR ego. Let it go.

[akula]

meh, it's your time...shame that you wanna punt it on hunch rather than a workable financing solution for small business. Buena suerte amigo!

[bizdev]

meh, it's your time...shame that you wanna punt it on hunch rather than a workable financing solution for small business. Buena suerte amigo!

Hey, at least I'm trying to bring about change to a system that clearly does not work for the little guy. You gotta start somewhere and if I choose to do my part this way, just let it be. Don't sweat it amigo. (And I would be amigA...female. See, I CAN teach you something.)

[ZingerIntl]

OK, I have to admit, I like to stay positive, this is a great idea, its not proven so you have to prove Akula wrong. His argument is backed up by 1000s of scams and crooks and people that want the cheap easy way. Not saying you will attract these type of people but my guess is you will get some. And how you handle them will make or break your business. Now, Akula has you thinking about this a lot so you will be well prepared. Thats good.

Here is what I see happening that would be on the negative side. Few people will donate because there is nothing in it for them. People are all about me me me. Give them something to win and you will raise a lot more money. Not just a donations receipt.

When you do raise money, you give it to the wrong entrepreneur and it will be gone waaaay faster than you raised it. But... this may be something that corporations like to donate to for the tax purposes so who knows, you may find that pepsi wants to donate $10,000 a month. BUT thats because its in their best interest to do so.

Moral of story... New way of doing something just needs to be proven, and if it works, you will be a trend setter way ahead of the pack. Good Luck.

As for the idea it gave me, I will keep it in my head a little longer until I fully understand what I am thinking. Do not want to sound like I know what I am talking about and miss something simple.

[bizdev]

Now, Akula has you thinking about this a lot so you will be well prepared. Thats good.

Whoa!! I actually take offense to that statement. I have been working on this concept since July of 2008. If you don't think I've thought this through thoroughly, you haven't read all of my replies here. I don't need the likes of akula to get me "thinking about this a lot".

Of course you are absolutely correct that this is unproven and there is no way to know if it will take off or bomb. Trust me, that is something I have lost sleep over. But, that's my problem. Hopefully fellow entrepreneurs will adopt the pay it forward philosophy rather than the me, me, me mentality.

With the state of the U.S. economy being what it is, and Americans questioning the government and corporate very direct cause of the situation, maybe enough people are willing to let go of Uncle Sam's apron strings and lend each other a hand and help get us back on track. Lofty thinking to be sure, but hopeful too.

[Richard777]

I wish you the best of luck, but with the economy in its current state I can't imagine anyone donating $10 to sign-up for anything........even if it is only $10.

[bizdev]

I wish you the best of luck, but with the economy in its current state I can't imagine anyone donating $10 to sign-up for anything........even if it is only $10.

Considering the business you're in (loans) I'm not surprised that you wrote that.

[StealYourDreams]

First, I will give you credit for hanging in there and you do seem to have a true passion for what you're doing. I will also agree that there's room for another funding option in the market.

That said, I dont believe that an entrepreneur "charity" is the answer. I could be drastically different from other entrepreneurs, but there's no way I'm giving my money, regardless of how small that amount may be, to someone I dont know.

You can call me selfish and you may be right. Yet, I'm the same guy that buys Girl Scout cookies and gives them away at work. I'm the same person that donates a few dollars here and there all the time to the people in stores. People with legitimate charities or causes.

I just dont believe entrepreneurs belong in that category. You want to start a business, get a job...save your money. Borrow from friends, family, etc. Do what you need to do. If you can't do that how am I supposed to believe that you have what it takes to run a business? The answer is you dont.

Sometimes you have to step back and ask yourself why hasnt this been done before? When you do that be honest with yourself.

Take it for what it's worth, these are just my opinions. Hopefully I'm wrong and you set the world on fire.

[CalebHQ]

You know what this all boils down to its called Sewing and Reaping. Its called Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, it will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Riches constantly grow by supplying goods and services to others.

its called having faith. THINK AND GROW RICH

Zig Ziglar said help enough people get what they want and you will always get what you want.

All of this is called real PROSPERITY.

Akula I don't think your a bad person I just think your too mechanical success is 2% Mechanics and 98% Mentality. If the dream is big enough the facts will change...And to answer your question I would be more than happy to donate money to a cause to help some ones entrepreneurial dreams be that much closer to coming true.

[bizdev]

You want to start a business, get a job...save your money. Borrow from friends, family, etc. Do what you need to do. If you can't do that how am I supposed to believe that you have what it takes to run a business? The answer is you dont.

I agree wholeheartedly with this statement. That is actually what I advised someone in another thread here Looking For an Investor in New Unique online Quote Engine For Wedding Dresses - Young Entrepreneur Forums . While I know that Preneuraholics.com will attract a slew of these types of requests, I am trying to make it clear that they will very likely not get funded. The very reason being that they must prove to potential donors they have what it takes to pull off their start up. They must show that they have the experience and the background and the tenacity. And they must show that they have given their own start up a good faith effort, a serious effort, at self funding. This is not about giving handouts to beggars. This is about transforming and offering options to worthy entrepreneurs.

[bizdev]

CalebHQ you made my day. You totally understand what I am trying to accomplish with Preneuraholics Unite.

Thank you for having the courage to say so publically. I have faith that there are thousands more that feel the same and will participate and will have a direct hand in changing the system.

I look forward to your participation. Thank you!