Crowd-Funding For A Cause Goes Global - And Goes To China

Online, September 14, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Crowdfunding platform StartSomeGood has just reached its 20th international market, adding Chinese social enterprise Prop Roots to its line-up of peer-funded ventures around the globe.

Sydney-based co-founder Tom Dawkins highlighted the significance of this milestone to the fast-growing social enterprise sector. "We live in an increasingly interconnected world, but many of the fundraising platforms which focus on social benefit are exclusive to a particular country. We know that great social entrepreneurs with inspiring ideas to improve their communities exist everywhere, and adding China as the 20th international market is an exciting confirmation of that belief."

Since its launch in 2011, StartSomeGood has launched over 85 successful campaigns in Australia, Cambodia, China, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Russia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, the UK, Canada, and the US.

PropRoots is a non-profit that supports the Jingpo ethnic minority in Southwestern China. Headed by Dr. Anton Lustig, a linguist who has dedicated his life and career to studying the Jingpo language, PropRoots has successfully raised over $2000 to build a community activity center for area youth.
According to Tom, "Country-specific crowdfunding sites are certainly important, but what makes StartSomeGood really unique is that it immediately connects local projects like PropRoots with a global audience. That really amplifies their message and potential impact."

Other ventures around the world that have secured funding through StartSomeGood include GalliGalli, a Nepalese start-up that raised $10,145 to create an open government platform for Kathmandu; Kinye Cafe and Soksabike Tours, a social enterprise that raised over $18,000 for a job-creating ecotourism project in Cambodia; and US-based Do Good Bus, which raised $100,000 to support multiple social ventures and citizen engagement in a national tour across 22 cities.

"Our goal is to create a world where anyone, anywhere can create a new future for their community," explained co-founder Alex Budak. "Changemakers aren't limited by borders and neither are we. We're proud to support innovators from around the world and look forward to the day we're celebrating our 196th country being represented."