Conversation with Jim Cramer about Crowdfunding

How Alley NYC and Rackspace Are Helping Startups

Check out this video of Alley NYC CEO Jason Saltzman and Rackspace CTO John Engates talking about how they are helping startups in New York City.

Micro Interview with James Altucher

James Altucher is an American hedge fund manager, author and blogger. He has founded or cofounded several companies, including Reset Inc. and StockPickr. His writing has been frequently published by a number of media outlets, including The Financial Times, TheStreet.com, TechCrunch and The Huffington Post. He has also published several books on investing. He maintains a blog at JamesAltucher.com where he discusses his experiences as an entrepreneur and his theories for success and happiness.

James Altucher is an advocate of the idea that Americans shouldn't send their kids to college and that they should never own a home. He believes that if one keeps physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually healthy, then all success can be found. Currently, he serves as Managing Director of Formula Capital. He has investments in Buddy Media, bit.ly, Ticketfly, CTera, Cancer Genetics, and several other companies.

This micro interview was conducted through Twitter.

Question: Top three industries to start a small business?

Altucher: internet marketing, social media marketing, shared economy search engine

Question: What is "shared economy search engine" in this response?

Altucher: i'd like to find a house and car and ping pong table in Miami in August. BAM! One site and i get all.

Altucher has several books worth reading that would be useful for entrepreneurs and those involved in or considering startups, including I Was Blind But Now I See: Time to Be Happy, How to Be the Luckiest Person Alive!, and Faq Me.

A micro interview is a very short concise to-the-point interview with no more than two or three questions and answers.

Free Money for Developing Apps

Have an idea for an app, but not sure if it will be profitable? Or maybe you need additional funding for developing the app? Or you've funded your app development by borrowing against a credit card and you want to make sure you can pay it off?

Well, now you don't have to worry. According to a recent article at T3KD, Microsoft is offering up to $2,000 for developing apps for Windows 8 or for Windows Phone 8 platforms.

There are some restrictions. You need to live in the US and must be over 18 years old. Other conditions apply. The offer ends June 30, 2013. This offer is called “Keep the Cash“.

The MeCam Nanocopter

Have you heard of the MeCam? It is a tiny camera mounted on to a nanocopter. It is controlled by voice and has a recommended MSRP of $49. This invention was developed by a San Francisco company, Always Innovating.

According to the company website:

We have introduced hardware to Social Networking and the result is the MeCam: a self video nano copter to point-and-shoot yourself. "MeCam" videos can be uploaded to Social platforms such as Youtube, Google+, Facebook, Twitter. Today people capture and share their photos and videos using archaic methods and with mixed results. The MeCam launches from the palm of a hand and hovers instantly. The MeCam streams video to an Android or iOS phone or tablet. Videos can then be easily shared on social media platforms. The MeCam doesn't need any remote control: the user can control the device with voice commands or uses the follow-me feature.

Company Raising $31 Million through Kickstarter

Here is a startup with lofty goals. A British company called GNUT is offering a project called Open Source Death Star with a gold of $31 million. A pledge of £10 will entitle you to have your name etched onto the underneath of one of the MSE-6-series repair droids used on the finished station.

They already have 859 backers at the time this article was written raising £157,881 so far. The stretch goal is $850,000,000,000,000,000.

Top 50 Crowdfunding Web Sites

The following are websites from around the world involved in crowdfunding, listed in alphabetical order.

Anaxago.com

appbackr.com

AppsFunder.com

bolstr.com

buzzbnk.org

Cielex.com

CircleUp.com

cofundos.org

CrowdCube.com

crowdfunder.co.uk

Crowdfunder.com

crowdfunding.co.za

EarlyShares.com

FeedTheMuse.net

Fundable.com

FundedByMe.com

fundmywish.com

GetFunded.com

gofundme.com

gogetfunding.com

GreenUnite.com

growvc.com

Indiegogo.com

innovatrs.com

invested.in

investiere.ch

Kickstarter.com

microventures.com

NewJelly.com

peerbackers.com

PleaseFund.Us

podiumventures.com

RelayFund.com

RocketHub.com

SeedInvest.com

seedmatch.de

Seedrs.com

sonicangel.com

startnext.de

StartupValley.com

ThrillCapital.com

ulule.com

vencorps.com

venturebonsai.com

WeFunder.com

If you are aware of any other crowdfunding sites, please post in comments.