Companies Crowdfunding for Good

In the age of the internet, new technologies have provided us access to more information and more ways to connect than ever before. With the rise of social media and internet literacy emerged a new funding option for individuals and groups looking to raise money for the things they care about: crowdfunding.

Defined as the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people (aka a crowd), crowdfunding platforms are accessible, sustainable avenues for funding and investing in important causes.

While popular and well-known platforms like IndieGoGo, Kickstarter and GoFundMe have financed everything from movies by indie darlings, television reprisals of cult favorites, and dream high school proms, this avenue is not to be underestimated as a way you can invest in companies dedicated to environmentalism and social good.

Here are some exciting green ventures that you can invest in through crowdfunding.

Supermeat: Cruelty-Free Lab-Grown Meat

One notable example of a recently successful crowdfunding campaign was held by the Israeli startup Supermeat, which set out to offset carbon footprints associated with raising livestock while supplying the demand for meat with a product grown in a lab. Since, the company attracted $3 million in early stage investments and has partnered with one of Europe’s biggest poultry producers, bridging the gap between their goals and the marketplace.

The “clean meat” startup is led by New Crop Capital and Stray Dog Capital, firms that have backed other startups like Beyond Meat (which you can find on shelves in the U.S. today). They are looking to expand the lab-based food industry “to create a new generation of meat products that are sustainable, cost-efficient, animal-friendly, and of course – delicious.” You can donate to the stretch goals on their IndieGoGo page here.

GroBox: Indoor Hydroponics

GroBox One is the all-in-one, self-sustaining indoor hydroponics greenhouse setting out to make gardening accessible to anyone. With automatic watering, built-in carbon air filter, and LEDs following the vertical design for all-year growth, plants purportedly get the perfect blend of food each day in an aesthetically pleasing structure that allows you to harvest up to several times a year.

Having met their goal more than seven times over, you can expect to see GroBox One in mainstream retailers by 2019 — right after the Kickstarter backers have received their products (you can still reserve your unit here) — bridging the gap between their goals and the marketplace while maintaining a clear vision.

TerraCycle: Recycling the Unrecyclable Items

Building on the freedom and flexibility offered by emerging crowdfunding options, President Obama in 2012 passed the JOBS Act, a provision of which called Regulation A greatly expanded entrepreneurs’ access to capital.

TerraCycle US Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of TerraCycle, Inc., just announced that its $25 million Regulation A offering has been qualified by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), thereby allowing anyone the opportunity to invest in our U.S. business for the first time. TerraCycle US Inc., known for “recycling the unrecyclable,” will use the proceeds to acquire related companies, increase staff and grow its business. Interested investors are invited to visit OwnTerraCycle.com or visit the SEC page to view detailed information about the offering.

The Smog Free Project: Turning Pollution into Works of Art

You know how diamonds are made of carbon? The work of Dutch artist and designer Daan Roosegaarde, The Smog Free Project was launched on Kickstarter back in 2015, when 1577 backers help raise 113,153 Euros in funding—the original goal was 50,000 Euros. The first of the 23-foot air purification towers, machines that look like sculptural works of art, made its debut in Rotterdam. Several installations later (including several across China), the latest in Krakow, Poland includes a device that not only helps clean the air but also turns the smog into tiny cubes that can be embedded in jewelry.

Presentations at the World Economic Forum, iterations like Smog Free Rings and Smog Free Bicycles, a TED Talk and a couple major awards show that this project have come to scale, but only with the help with an enthusiastic crowd of backers. Want to see it come to your city? Follow the Kickstarter to back a project near you!

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Tags: climate action, crowdfunding, Gardening, hydroponics, lab grown meat, Recycling, smog, SuperMeat, TerraCycle, upcycling

About the Author

TerraCycle Founded in 2001, TerraCycle, Inc., is the world’s leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, ranging from used chip bags to coffee capsules to cigarette butts. Each year, across 20 countries, TerraCycle collects and repurposes billions of pieces of waste, donating millions of dollars to schools and charities in the process. To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in our recycling programs, please visit www.TerraCycle.com