Five reasons you should-Create a Funding Network

People always say, "Uni-Five I get it, its like goplunkme or indygooglegobble". I'm like no, its not like those crowd funding sites or any other crowdfunding site. Uni-Five is a tool that allows anyone with a mobile phone to create a funding network. A funding network is a community of people who support each others initiatives. A funding network is more valuable than any money from a random crowd on the internet (and trust me you don't know these crowds and where they have been), and lets be honest successful crowdfunding campaigns tap multiple networks whom have a spoken or unspoken agreement of support. If you have a network of your own thats great, if you don't, you damn well better start creating it.

1.   Levels of Trust and Giving are closely Related

Every day millions of crowdfunding campaigns go to the funding graveyard, leaving behind shattered dreams and bruised egos. Mainly because people neglect creating a network (community/agreement) of people who can actually support it. Uni-Five was created  to help organize those around you to build a network of mutual support,  a network that benefits everyone who is apart of it. Creating a uni-five funding network for mutual support, raises levels of trust. We know from scholarly research that giving and levels of trust are closely related. We know that giving is very low in inequitable, hiereachial spaces. People don't give in environments where levels of trust are low, meaning no one believes their donation will ever be reciprocated, so what happens is no one supports each other. This is the anatomy of poverty, the anatomy of the ghetto. So when you create a funding network you are helping to create a space where people can trust each other again. 

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2. Your project is not the Power the people are the real Power
 
Its not about you or your project, its about the people behind your project. Organizing your network of support is more important than any idea you may have. Your network should be the first to donate before anyone sees your project. Projects are dependent upon your network's enthuiastic support and their willingness to share it with their friends and their families and their individual networks. Perks are great they help a campaign alot, but the most frequent donation in a funding campaign is the $5 donation. So, once your campaign goes viral it should be nearly funded from the strength of your own network, picking up additional support from people outside of your network, is a welcomed and unexpected plus.


3. This ##ISH  is Reciprocal 

So your Uni-Five Project was successful, most likely because you created a space where people can trust each other and build a network of supporters---the elements of a true community. Now that same energy and enthusiasm that made the first project successful can be duplicated. Whats great is, everyone is organized, and the network has democratically selected the next project they wish to support by voting. See the reciprocity that is being created, people who give can also recieve.


4. We need Springboards and Safety Nets

So now your funding network is the the talk of the town, everybody wants to join it. Which is great because the more people, the more funds. Now all we need to do is to have an event, a pitch party, or a launch party, a mixer, something to allow our network to meet each other, interact, be social and raise those pesky levels of trust. At this moment we are close to creating something really cool and rare, a springboard for anyone with a great idea. And lets face it no one sources ideas or talent any more, springboards are few and far between,  hell even organizing is rare. This network is now creating opportunities for people, businesses are being created, people are creating jobs, talent is being sourced, and this network is creating a social and economic life for its members. Success breeds success and your network is the cause.  We just have to be righteous and keep the party going, be sure to check up on your members often, host alot of get togethers, chase after loose sheep, remember every one is of value, everyone is important, keep the network together.


5. Empower great ideas and earn Money at the same time 

People who create funding networks dont do it for the money,  its about empowering others, its about making a difference. But money helps to host parties, meetings and social gatherings. Its important to have interaction and positive social gatherings to keep those levels of trust raised high. Remember creating a funding network is creating  a place where people belong, a place where there contribution can be noted and valued, a place where we can give each other a boost and know that whatever we give will be reciprocated.  Are you up for the challenge? Do you have what it takes to lead from behind, to organize those around you to support each other? Than go forth righteously, and create a funding network, empower great ideas--change the world.




Your Brother
Yajohn@uni-five.com

Life of a Black Entrepreneur

Like many young Black entrepreneurs my journey as a Black startup has been hell-a challenging. I think every Black startup has to see themselves as a pioneer, especially if your innovation caters to Black audiences or problems. Our stories mirrors one of hard work, determination, in the face of surprising hostility.

Black start ups face a tremendous journey, as a people we have focused so narrowly on civil rights and racial justice we have neglected to build any type of infrastructure that support enterprising ideas or initiatives. Our social and religious organizations have dominated the Black agenda so feverishly that we rarely hear any thoughts or ideas from great business men and women. This is shocking since our social inequity is deeply connected to our social economic status. As a Black entrepreneur you find yourself not only fighting to create new pathways for yourself and other Black entrepreneurs but bumping heads with old social and religious institutions who see your ideas as competition.

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The real problem in the Black community is the small number of institutions that would benefit from black innovation, such as Black banks, funding communities, venture capitalist, and marketing forces that organically organize the Black dollar enabling entrepreneurs to succeed. In 2007 1.9 million Black businesses earned a half a percent of all US earnings. Even more surprising 94% of Black businesses had no paid employees.  Black entrepreneurs need new institutions that are designed to not only help them create businesses but to succeed at them. Currently Black entrepreneurs are saturated with organizations that that want to educate the Black entrepreneur, teach business plans and business principles. As if the Black entrepreneur exist on an equal playing field and education is our only barrier to success.  The truth of the matter is we need money, we need capital and an organize pathway to the African American consumer and community. Pathways that will ensure the success of every Black entrepreneur.  In this way poverty, unemployment, health and even institutional racism can be mediated through the creation of successful Black businesses. Black businesses that take on the values and character of Black people they serve and slowly become our new institutions.  

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So next time you see a brother or sister building something give a word of encouragement and support, fundraise and volunteer, together we can create a new wave of businesses that reduce poverty, unemployment and increase our quality of life.

Yahya John is the Executive Director of Uni-Five.com an entrepreneurship network  that celebrates, fund raises and volunteers for entrepreneurs.

You can join Uni-Five the Movement at www.uni-five.com/unity/160