Crowdfunding is quickly becoming one of the hottest (and most useful) concepts in business. Never before have individuals been able to quickly secure a few thousand dollars to pursue an idea. Film and book projects can now be completely funded in a matter of weeks – with only a short description, video clip, and online platform.

Kickstarter and Indiegogo, the two most popular crowdfunding websites are rapidly changing the way people make movies, art, and raise money for charity. Thousands of projects are currently active on the two sites. Many deal with artistic endeavors. On the theme of ‘Africa’, many projects, especially on Indiegogo, serve to support social work abroad. Nearly 400 Kickstarter projects focus on Africa, and that number is even higher on Indiegogo.

Still, very few listings deal with ICT in Africa. Now is an ideal opportunity for African entrepreneurs to fill the void. It can’t hurt to try; the risk is minimal. Projects that fail to meet their financial goal can still keep a portion of the proceeds on Indiegogo. Plus, exposure itself is great (as one African project found out). More than one million unique visitors browse projects on Kickstarter every month and the number of monthly visitors to Indiegogo (though still half of Kickstarter) has doubled in the past two months.

By our count, only four recent projects on the two sites have addressed technology as it relates to Africa. Only one of the four has met its funding goal. Another received substantial interest and will go on despite missing its goal.

Gummie.co.za:

The first online urban magazine in Johannesburg, South Africa. Successfully funded with $9,000 from 35 backers from July 4-29, 2012. “It is a vibrant range of interviews, reviews and reports published online, daily. New projects, stories of the past, music, politics, art, fashion and food — the whole city is in Gummie’s focus. Johannesburg, or Joburg, or Jozi is the biggest city of South Africa and it lacks original writing about modern African culture. Gummie will fix that.” {Link}

The Cheetah Code:

A film and book that explores Africa’s new creative class and rapidly evolving technology sector. Funding unsuccessful in August-September 2012. “The Cheetah Code explores this emerging African creative class and the mindset of these young cheetahs and entrepreneurs who are changing the future of business in the continent.” {Link} Despite not meeting the film’s $60,000 goal, the project will go-on. Follow blog.cheetahcode.com for updates.

Kayaa:

An online platform that will promote the work of emerging visual and performing artists in Nairobi. Funding unsuccessful in October 2011. “We are developing this platform to change the lives of our local artists. Through their amazing work, artists will gain a global audience and a real chance of make a living though their passion.” {Link}

At the Other Side of Technology:

A 20-minute documentary on the personal stories of the community of Agbogbloshie, Ghana, the biggest dumping site of electronic waste in Africa. Raised $400 of $2,500 goal with 23 days left. “Useless old PCs from rich nations pile up in Agbogbloshie, the world biggest e-waste dumping site. This is how people live in it and make a living out of it.” {Link}

Please let us know of additional crowdfunded projects we may have missed, and here’s to seeing more in the coming weeks!