Crowdfunding: the collective financing revolution in Chile

The following is an article translated from Spanish to English from Asociación de Emprendedores de Chile (The Association of Chilean Entrepreneurs). The original article, published Jan 28, 2014, can be read here.

The current President of the United States, Barack Obama, issued a creative call to his supporters to finance the electoral campaign that brought him to re-election. While in North America donations to political parties are very common, Obama always showed interest in new platforms and technologies. This was how Crowdfunding came to be: a collective financing alternative that seeks to support a creative project through personal donations.

The method is used for the benefit for both parties because, on the one side, we have entrepreneurs that can meet their goals through donated proceeds, while on the other side, we find those who invest, who issue donations in exchange for various rewards.

One of the advantages of crowdfunding is that it democratizes access to capital for development of entrepreneurship. In addition, it manages to give publicity to projects that in the majority of cases would only remain an idea.

Continue reading

OMG! launches first ever organic quinoa based protein

Organic Meets Good (OMG!) was founded by Roni Gloger, a native Chilean who is passionate about travel, healthy living and superfoods. He relocated from Chile to Los Angeles, California, USA to launch OMG! in the $143 billion health food market. U.S. Organic food industry is expected to grow over 12% by 2014 (Source: Sustainable.org)

The company has been working on launching its new 100% organic and vegan protein powder with quinoa and hemp as its main ingredients. Made with all natural products, the combination of these core ingredients makes it easy to digest. It is the ideal complement to a vegan or vegetarian diet or people with intolerance to other sources of protein. It boasts natural sweeteners and is non-GMO, vegan, 100% organic, gluten free and allergen free.

Currently based in Culver City, California, USA, the OMG product line has negotiated distribution deals in retail health food stores and online at Amazon.com among others. Continue reading

Crowdfunding with Idea.me inspired by MangaCorta.cl

The last half of the century has seen most industries we buy our goods and services from become concentrated in the hands of fewer, larger, often global companies. With this shift, employment has migrated to these companies. At the same time, individual people, regardless of age, socioeconomic status or gender are creating their own ventures to become self-sufficient and fill the voids left by these large businesses. The situation we are currently experiencing is both a global phenomenon and opportunity for any person that enters the marketplace. Continue reading