Online Funding Marketplaces

Web sites where projects seeking funding can be posted. Some incorporate an online donation option.

InnoCentive: open innovation marketplace

11 Feb 10

Founded in 2001, InnoCentive acts as an open innovation marketplace that uses “crowdsourcing” to solve water and sanitation challenges in exchange for the opportunity to earn cash awards.

Akvo

16 Dec 09

Akvo Foundation was launched in 2007 as an online platform to link donors and those seeking funding for their projects. Organisations that post projects on the web site, can use the Akvo Really Simple Reporting (RSR) to share short text updates, images and films clips. The web site hosts Akvopedia, a Wikipedia-type resource on water and sanitation technologies.

Microfinance: eBay launches MicroPlace, money transfer by mobile phone

06 Nov 07

On 24 October 2007, online auction giant eBay launched its new MicroPlace web site where investors from the USA can lend as little as US$ 50 to small business owners around the globe. Western Union and GSM Association have announced a service deal that will allow customers to send and receive low-denomination, high-frequency cross-border money transfers via mobile phones.