Guest Blogger, Karen from Free Bread: 5 Small Business Campaigns

Because of IndieGoGo, my company, Free Bread, Inc.  exceeded it’s campaign goal of $10,500.00 in October of 2011.  Free Bread bakes outstanding rolls of fresh, gluten, nut, sugar and corn-free bread, and distributes them to local cafes, markets, and restaurants around New York.  We had zero capital before starting the campaign and are now fully housed in a gluten-free, organic and kosher commercial kitchen.  We’ve also purchased our own equipment!  Free Bread has acquired new accounts, additional funding, and best of all, we’ve won some delicious accolades:  in February 2012 FreeBread was chosen as a semi-finalist for The Next Big Small Brand Contest, and appeared on CNBC as one of the top 15 most promising startups.

Salvacion Garbags: Filipino mothers’ livelihood project

Location: St. Domingo, Philippines

Salvacion Garbags is a non-profit organization based in Santo Domingo, Philippines, that sells unique, fashionable, and utilitarian bags made out of recycled materials.  The organization was founded by and employs mothers from a community that was nearly wiped out by the Reming typhoon of 2006.   Their $8,000.00 goal will fund, among other things,  equipment, technology, and facility improvements so that their beautiful wares may be produced more efficiently and seen by a wider audience.  This organization is dedicated to empowering their employees with life-affirming work, and for these and other progressive values, they get my vote.

 

  Ogeeku Geek and Otaku Lifestyle

Fearless Me Films

Location: New York, USA

What do actors and children have in common? Mugging for the camera!  Dana and brynne, the trained-actors-come-nannys who thought up this bankable idea, started videotaping the result of their charges’ creative play.  They supervis your children, encourage them to image and create, call ‘Action’ and expertly film, and edit the results.  Parents will eat this stuff up!  And so will the kids when they grow up.