Five crowdfunding platforms with which they seek funding for your project

The topic of crowdfunding (or collective financing) through online platforms through which anyone can contribute their own funds to a project has been running for the past few years but lately the issue has taken special importance not only for the current situation, in which for certain projects can come better than ever as crowdfunding support, but for some specific cases in which it has raised exaggerated amounts of money and have made ​​headlines everywhere.
I'm thinking now in the case of Double Fine , the game studio owned by Tim Schafer (one of the creators of 'The Secret of Monkey Island' , in case you helps the data) that in February this year Kickstarter opened a campaign with the goal of getting $ 400,000 to develop a new graphic adventure and eventually reached $ 3,336,371 thanks to the contributions of 87,142 people. A truly absurd figure.
It is because of cases like Double Fine when this route of financing charges a much larger role and anyone who has a project in mind you will be going through your head the possibility of doing things differently. As there are many crowdfunding platforms available to us I think are worth knowing at least the most powerful and interesting (two of them are American and three Spanish) to know where to direct us depending on the type of project you have in hand. Some do not delimit by type, others do.
Normally they all have a number of common features: one that starts a campaign puts an economic objective to be achieved in a time limit (usually around the month, month and a half) and a series of rewards for those who choose to contribute some amount. The greater the input, the reward juicier. On the other hand it is essential to know that the amount you choose to provide will only become effective if the campaign reaches the target set within the stipulated time.

Kickstarter

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform fashion. Of U.S. origin and born in 2008, has thousands of active campaigns of all types and a very large user community that make it the most interesting.
The bad news for those who live outside the United States is that in principle allows only based projects in that country (requires a bank account to receive funds there as well). What we can do is support existing campaigns, but I have to emphasize that only supports a payment method: Amazon Payments. Kickstarter keeps 5% of the target quantity in a campaign as long as it is reached. Otherwise there is no charge.
Official Site | Kickstarter

Verkami

Verkami was one of the first crowdfunding platform created in Spain. His proposal, as opposed to Kickstarter, is aimed solely at those independent creators who want to finance their projects through this channel. The created a father and his two sons in 2010 and during this short period of time have made some renown.
Make it clear that the creators of the works that are generated through the capital raised through rights Verkami keep them (CDs, books, etc..).
Verkami charges 5% of each project only if they get funding.
Official Site | Verkami

Drip

Drip is a crowdfunding platform and distributed collaboration (services, infrastructure, microtasks) for projects that promote the commons, open source and / or free knowledge. The code of the platform, as have those responsible, will be opened when it is structured properly tested. They have no place here, therefore, for-profit projects or fundraising for charity, for example.
If funding is achieved, the commission is 8%.
Official Site | Drip

Indiegogo

The Indiegogo operation is almost similar to Kickstarter, but has a remarkable difference. While all of these platforms are carried by their leaders rule 5% of the total amount achieved by a campaign funded in Indiegogo Two types of funding. In the Flexible Funding they take 4% if the target is achieved and 9% if not achieved, but the campaign creator gets the amount he had managed to run out the time limit for the campaign. This forces seeking funding to set reasonable prices and promote the campaign well.
Then there is the Fixed Funding, where Indiegoo takes 4% if the target is achieved and nothing if not achieved, but the creator also earn a single dollar. This is the system that is used more commonly in other platforms, although it is true that Indiegogo takes the lowest percentage (4% vs. 5% standard).
Official Site | Indiegogo

Lánzanos

In the above platforms we have seen the maximum time for each project is determined by the service itself and is usually around 30 to 40 days. In Lánzanos is the creator of the campaign which sets the time it expects to raise the targeted amount of funding. And there is no maximum, but once started the campaign and can not be modified.
Lánzanos makers take 5% of each successfully funded, a figure that is reduced to 1% if it is a charity project. Payments can be made via PayPal or by using the payment gateway of La Caixa.
Official Site | Lánzanos
As said earlier, the network can find many crowdfunding platforms, but these five are the most powerful, if not more. I hope you will be helpful.

how to Invest in renewables energy

In recent years, renewable energy investment has increased in popularity largely because the world is becoming increasingly aware that the current economic model is based on finite resources and this has to change. Although crude oil and other fossil fuels will last us for the foreseeable future, there will come a time when our energy consumption will have to look for alternative and renewable sources.
And here come into play renewable energy, although this sector is still relatively immature in global terms, the growth opportunities presented are huge and it is worth considering exposure to renewable energy.

How to invest in alternative energy?

Biofuels:

Biofuels are an alternative form of energy derived from carbon based organisms. There are many different options including bio-alcohols, biodiesel, green diesel, vegetable oil ... Recently, the International Energy Agency has stated that biofuels have the potential to replace 27% of transport fuels by 2050, effectively reducing emissions greenhouse gases by 2.1 million tons per year. Even some countries already have existing mandates requiring companies to blend biofuels with gasoline, giving these various fuels with high growth potential.
Some companies with which exposure to biofuels, and thereby to alternative energies are:

• Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) company dedicated to the production of different agricultural commodities and also has many of its operations based in the biofuels industry.
• Methanex Corporation (MeOH): this is a company dedicated to the production and sale of methanol, a chemical that, among other things, is a very popular agent mixed with gasoline. Methanol is also one of the key components of biodiesel. MeOH pays a dividend yield of 2.6%.

Hydropower:

Hydroelectric power has become the most powerful energy alternative at this time, but of the least popular. Hydropower generates water currents moving and exercising more on large dams and rivers.
It is presented as one of the alternative energy sectors with greatest growth opportunity.

• China Hydroelectric Corporation (CHC): This company is engaged in the acquisition, ownership and development of hydropower in China. HCC has assets of $ 77 million.
• Zhaoheng Hydropower Ltd. (ZHYLF.PK): Zhaoheng generates electricity mainly in the southern and midwestern China.

Nuclear:

After the tragedy of Fukushima has questioned the safety of many nuclear plants, and that is why Germany has completely abandoned nuclear power. But with the new facilities are much safer and more efficient nuclear plants like Fukushima, so that investors take into account this energy Fuenta its considerable growth potential.
We expose ourselves to nuclear energy by investing in ETFs or companies related to these materials:

• Market Vectors Uranium + Nuclear Energy ETF (NLR): This ETF provides direct exposure to nuclear energy because it has stakes in companies such as Exelon Corp, Uranium One, and Areva engaged in the manufacture of this alternative energy.
• Uranium ETF (URA) ETF focuses on the mining of uranium it is considered a direct exposure to nuclear energy and impact the growth of this industry.

Solar:

The solar energy sector is the fastest growing developed in recent years, and a favorite for investors. The industry is still relatively small, but has an average growth of 39% annually over the last decade and a strong predictions for the future. For now, China dominates the solar market, and most companies base their operations in emerging markets.
To be exposed to this alternative energy we can choose companies or ETFs:

• First Solar, Inc. (FSLR): This US-based company is one of the best known in the solar energy sector. Even after the death of CEO of First Solar the company's future is uncertain.
• Market Vectors Solar Energy ETF (KWT): This ETF invests in companies that, on a weighted basis, get a 90% or more of their income from the solar energy sector. The main investments of the fund are in companies like First Solar, GT Solar and MEMC Electronic Materials.

Aeolian:

Wind power is one of the most established alternative energy in the world, and many countries have chosen it as an alternative to fossil fuels. Currently, wind power amounts to just over 2% of the world's energy supply, but its growth rate is increasing, and this figure is expected alcanzace 8% in 2018. Like so many other forms of renewable energy, energy companies are hard to find in equities, but this trend will change as the industry continues to grow.

• Broadwind Energy, Inc. (BWEN) sector company wind energies, based in Chicago. Owns more than $ 44 million in assets.
• Iberdrola SA (IBE.MC): This Spanish utility company, is part of your business based on wind energy production by Iberdrola Renovables, so it is an attractive investment option.
• ISE Global Wind Energy Index Fund (FAN): a fund that focuses all his interest in the wind industry. Your participation is divided into different companies, those companies which are exclusively in the wind business receive a higher weight than those with a broader business model.

What other way to invest in renewable energy you know?

The Compound Interest (part II)

In the previous article we discussed that with compound interest was not very difficult to arrive at a figure of, say, € 300,000.

Well, needless to say, despite not be complicated requiring high doses of patience and discipline. Highly difficult thing when you have a considerable amount of money in hand, the temptation to eat uncontrollably or buying a luxury item, see a car, a house etc. exponentially increase.

A major plus point is the age at which you start, it is clear that the longer devote the most amount of compound interest can gather during a given period of time. So begin no later than age 30 would be ideal.

The first is to score a goal. Then decide how we figure that we will be around for a few years head.

Suppose we do not want risks and we're moving from, for example, 3-4% will give us a bank deposit and give us 5-7% by acquiring quality corporate debt. We mark a savings rate X which in monthly maturities of our investments go humble adding interest.

 

 

At the end of each year will add to the annual CPI rate of savings we had last year so we make sure we do not lose purchasing power over the years and inflation were not gaining ground.

An example. Monthly savings rate € 500, in a year together € 6,000. The next year we will have € 6,000 in an investment for example at 4.5% APR so that at the end of the second year we will have € 6,000 the first year, plus interest of € 6000 to 4.5% (213 euros after tax ( 21%)), but the 6000 euros (plus CPI should have risen to the saving rate) in the second year. A total of 12,213 euros in two years just.

Do you get the idea right? The third year we invested 12,213 euros, for example, the 4.5% that we will generate € 434 after tax, but the 6000 (plus annual CPI) for the third year, in total € 18,647.

In three years we will have € 18,647 without having updated the saving rate not to complicate the explanation. I think it's pretty clear the concept.

It is clear that more and more savings rate interest we reached the goal faster. But the same does not increase the interest savings. If you double the interest rate at which you are making your money work the result will not bend but is multiplied by 3'5. So imagine that can happen maximizing the savings rate and get a higher annual interest average. Spectacular.

It happens snowball effect, the principle is much start but once we have run for anyone.

To give more examples and see how it affects a slight increase projected interest rate over time.

Starting with 0 and with a savings rate of 610 € monthly, 3% compound interest capitalized through in 20 years we will have about 200,000 euros, in fact rather more in the calculation because we have not updated the CPI savings rate.

Just changing the 3% to 5% and we almost € 250,000. Can we imagine if we get over it?

If for whatever reason we can start from a number other than 0 that we have gained in time.

Let everyone do their calculations, charts and projections and let your imagination run wild. On the net there are plenty of calculators and compound interest tables .

Anyone is more motivated? You just have to want it.

The Compound Interest (part I)

Often one has talked about this on the net. In fact Einstein once said and the power it has is brutal and compared it to the most important laws that came to discover in his time.

Everyone can invest at compound interest is more, everyone should invest in this way.

The only concept that you have to hold in your mind is that the interest earned on the investment, whatever, have to be reinvested. If you get X amount take an additional 10% for your next investment will be in X amount plus 10%, and so on.

 











Each time you will be investing a larger amount, and over the years you might have considerable capital.

A clear example of safe investment, how deposits, can be combined with compound interest, a powerful tool to raise capital face higher.

You just need to have two things: time and patience. With the very fact continuously reinvest our capital interest is increasing and if you also add fruit saving periodic contributions and the issue is more interesting.

It is clear that the more interest you can get faster increase our capital, but since most people do not want to take greater risks, take for good the interest that we can offer a bank or, how are all the rage now, some bonds autonomous. Although there are many other options how large corporations that offer senior notes, for example, at a good interest and security of solvency.

Well, what we were going. An initial capital plus an acceptable interest and adding a regular savings result gives how, over time, a capital that many do not even have arisen in life.

In the next part of the article we will make a realistic example of how awesome it is compound interest, and never too late to start, but since one of the requirements asked of us is the time because the sooner we start better, more joys reach have.

An advance is not difficult to reach € 300,000.

Strategy for change Euros into another currency. The right way.

There are quite a stir with the Spanish financial system and not for less. There are many people who come to the blog through an article I wrote about how to protect ourselves in case of financial playpen . Well, there are many readers who ask about the foreign exchange, exchange euros for dollars or Swiss francs.

A priori there is no secret but deep down is a dangerous operation to our heritage and here we will explain some concepts.

We will explain a strategy to follow if you want to change our euros for another currency, so whether there playpen, etc. back to the peseta.

Let's start from the premise that there is a strategy for all profiles and you have to be very clear concepts, which has a high risk and often not worth the want to protect with the end result.

To protect small amounts best and most practical refrain would buy U.S. stocks, get the money from the bank and save it at home or invest in a product that is not in euros and that is outside of our national borders.

Come to the point. It turns out that if we change our euros for Swiss francs Swiss francs have more euros as it changes at a rate of 1.20 francs per euro. If you always had this change of currency would not have any problem but not, it fluctuates daily and can vary significantly over time. For example, the October 12, 2007 was changed at a rate of 1.67 euro and Swiss franc on August 10 de 2011 to 1.04 francs a euro, almost parity.

What does that mean? Somebody would have changed 1000 euros into Swiss francs maximum day would have had 1670 Swiss francs and minimum day with the same 1000 euros only 1040 Swiss francs.

Example. If we change 10,000 euros to obtain CHF 12,000 CHF (Swiss Francs). (We do not have commissions to make it easier).

The change of today is 1 Euro 1.20 CHF but if in one year we have to recover the money and change is in 1.40 not recover the 10,000 euros but we have to do the following calculation: 12,000 / 1.40 = 8571 euros. With only twenty cents change coin we lost 1429 euros.

On the contrary if we do change to 1.10 Swiss francs will earn 10 cents euro the currency exchange and we bagged 900 euros obtaining a total of 10,900 euros.

So far there is no secret, pure mathematics. Doing this is very simple but do it well and minimizing risk is more complicated.

What would we do? Would open an account with a Forex broker (broker who works with currencies) and we we would have to create a hedge on our exchange.

If bought at 1.20 and increases (1.25, 1.30 ...) lose money so we will long (buy) in the EUR / CHF, ie bet that the change will continue to grow, that way currency exchange our money but lose our operation in derivatives will win, and more or less have to compensate.

We detect that the price turns and the Swiss franc starts to revalue against the euro, as long as we closed our investment in itself is no longer in losses.

If detected again as trends change can re-open a long or short hedging.

Summarizing. If the investment goes well we do nothing, if it goes wrong we opened a financial derivative currency pair opposite to our investment and investment lose but win with derivatives, to compensate. By detecting turnaround derivative will be closed and that our investment will not pro our derivative loss itself.

Surely there are people who do not understand these concepts, as I said at the start that it is a strategy for people who have some mastery of finance. But basically it's not complicated. You just have to learn to manage financial derivatives in Forex is tricky as there are lots of leverage and we can be more expensive the coverage of investment loss itself.

He opened the floor to questions

Redemption Mortgage or leave the money on deposit?

This question always comes up in every discussion forums and in all conversations. In this blog will have generated enough comments like: 'I lack to pay 130,000 euros of mortgage and I have 40,000 in a deposit. What do I do with the savings? Amortized mortgage or leave it in the tank I might be giving interests?

The response itself is quite simple but you have to consider several factors. Not everything is to achieve maximum profitability.

If the 40,000 we have them in a tank get 4.5% APR 1422 after tax per year in interest.

If amortize mortgage until 9040 the maximum possible for us desgravamos holder a maximum of 15%, ie 1356 per year. But if the ownership of the mortgage there are two people you can deduct twice, 18.080 euros. With 15% return we will get 2712 euros hacienda.

 

 

The tariff includes fee, interest and principal. Therefore, if we pay a mortgage of 500 euros a month is 6000 a year and we should (in case of sole holder of the mortgage) repay to the maximum of 9040, ie add 3040 euros extra. Looking at it another way, we will have a deposit of 15% per year 9040.

If our mortgage fee is 850 euros per month 10,200 annual pay, therefore you should not write off anything because you spend the maximum in 1160, and in this case if you should leave the deposit at 4.5% APR and you probably have higher interest than you are paying for the mortgage.

If mortgage paid 650 euros a month (€ 7,800 per year) but we are two holders (my partner and I) we can deduct a maximum of 18,080 euros per year. That is, at the end of the fiscal year, in December, we'll add 10,280 euros to get the most and so will be like you have a deposit of 18,080 euros to 15% APR.

So much for the options to be financially profitable. But keep in mind that it is often better to pay a little more and have liquidity savings will run out sooner repay. I guess there are all kinds mentalities and before doing anything better inquire as to what may be the best option.

In case you want to ever repay mortgage amortized time and capital, since we got rid of shortening the time and lowering interest fee we will reduce some of the money to pay monthly but will also be paying interest to the bank.

Anyway people to purchase a residence from January 1, 2013 will no longer be tax deductible anything, so that 15% is canceled. In that scenario have the money saved to a good interest monetized over paid on the mortgage will be most profitable.

Difference between active and passive

Of all the definitions of assets and liabilities are only have to stay with the most important, and you have to remember forever.

An asset is something, an investment that puts money in your pocket. However slightly.

A liability is something that takes away the money from his pocket. An expense.

Do not confuse these two concepts as there are many people who think that the house where he lives is an asset and a good investment and nothing is further from reality. A commonly used house is a liability because it does not receive any income from it, and will only be active if one day we decided to sell it to cash, and keep the money.

 

While the home where you live "cost you" money as much as your expectations make you think that in ten years you will get high returns are sitting on a pile of bricks and not on an investment.

Could encompass how active an investment in stock , bonds , a house to rent a bank deposit ...

And conversely a liability would be for example the commonly used home, second homes, a car and all that to make ends meet instead of giving money taketh away.

Spain is deeply rooted in the idea of ​​buying a flat / house and think it's an investment, "a piggy bank" for the future in case of contingencies or just spend the feel you're going to have a possession to be worth tens of thousands euros and you feel you've "invested" or you're going to invest the money.

And you have to be very careful as always not buy is more profitable than renting . The other day I read that 80% of people who have a mortgage for 5-10 years ago is paying more than it is actually worth your floor. And that's not an investment. It is a liability how a house never better.

From the moment you decide to live financially in an efficient manner have an obligation to be creating assets and go slowly getting rid of liabilities that have made ​​previously, and we saw what is the best way to start eliminating debt .

A monthly savings combined with any investment, simple or complicated, and applied over time with compound interest is the best way to create quality assets that slowly but gradually will be putting money in your pocket.

And you've started to build assets? We invite you to tell us what is your strategy to get more and more in his pocket.

The 12 principles of value investing (Part 2)

As I mentioned last week the principles are based on ideas large investment managers such as Peter Lynch, Warren Buffett, Mario Gabelli, Charlie Munger, John Templeton, John Neff, Jim Rogers, Christopher H. Browne, Friedrich A. Von Hayek, Walter Schloss, Benjamin Graham and Francisco Garcia Paramés himself. These principles are contained in a book edited by Bestinver funds and summarized weekly by people.
Here we go with the following six principles:
7) Having a bad short-term behavior is inevitable: John Neff (1931) once said that "it is not always easy to invest in what is popular, but it is the way to get outstanding returns." Thus, less popular investments can generate short-term returns ill to stand in longer periods of tiempo.Por Therefore, choosing an investment manager for their results in the short term (less than 3 years) may lead to making the wrong decision, as the short-term outcome is not a good indicator of successful long. A study of Brandes on global equity funds reveals that, while the 7 best fund managers significantly beat the market over a period of 10 years, all had a worse performance than the benchmark for short periods of time.
8) It's not worth guided by economic forecasts: The co-founder of Quantum Fund Jim Rogers (1942) stated that "to be successful investing is necessary to go soon, when things are cheap, when there is panic, when everyone is demoralized ". Investors tend to follow the macroeconomic forecasts when investing, but the correlation between the stock market and the economy is much weaker than it may seem. So it's much more productive to devote every effort to the analysis of companies. It is also important to remember that economic forecasting is a very complicated task where mistakes outnumber the successes. The predictions of the analysts on the quarterly results of companies, according to a study by David Dreman, was erroneous in 75% of the time up to 10% on the quarterly results. Therefore not worth spending time and energy to the analysis of short-term variables totally uncontrollable as GDP, interest rates, the level of stock market indices or the company's quarterly results.
9) Do not invest in companies never overrated: One of the worst decisions of long-term investment is to buy shares overvalued because euphoria fashion sector or stock, as happened with Japan in the 90s, in which the country experienced the greatest speculative bubble twentieth century, when the real estate value was multiplied by 75 and the value of the stock by 100. The most dramatic case is that of the Nasdaq market that slumped 80% in less than three years, dragging millions of investors lose 99% of your investment. Many of these investors will take decades to recover your investment or just not ever recover. The most recent overvaluation has been in China's stock market, the index traded as at 40 times profit.
10) Do not let emotions guide your investment decisions: Benjamin Graham (1894-1976), economist and investor and pioneer of value investing, once said that "getting good returns is easier than people think. Get outstanding performance is much harder than people imagine. " And all because among the greatest challenges of a power inverter is staying true to its investment philosophy, never letting emotions dictate your decisions. And they usually do at the worst time, ignoring the famous board Buffet: "Be fearful when others are greedy and become greedy when everyone is afraid." In this sense, the statistics are revealing: in the last 20 years, the average profit of American funds in the stock market and 11.6%, however, the average profit Inverter U.S. equity funds is as only 4.5%. One of the most paradoxical is the famous Magellan Fund Peter Lynch, whose investors earned on average 5% annualized when performance that had the fund over 14 years was 29 % per year.
The causes of "self-destructive behavior" of the investor are many: to be guided by fear or ambition, invest in the fashion or not stay true to his philosophy. But above all highlights the general trend is the investor to try to predict the short term movement of the stock.
11) Do not try to predict the movement of the stock in the short term: According to the legendary American investor Walter Schloss (1916), "shyness generated by past failures causes most investors lost major bull markets." As described by Peter Lynch in his book "One Up on Wall Street", in late 1972, when the stock was about to suffer one of the worst crashes in history, optimism was at its highest point (85% of advisors were bullish as reported by Investor's Intelligence). At the beginning of the market rebound in 1974, 65% of advisors feared that the worst was yet to come. Again, before the fall of the stock market in 1977, 90% of advisors were bullish. At the start of big climb which took the market in 1982, more than half of the advisers predicted downs and just before the crash of 1987, 80% thought that the market would continue to rise. Lynch perfectly illustrates how difficult it is to predict the movement of stock markets.
Although long-term performance of any stock market approaches a constant 10%, yields on short-term stock market are asymmetric. A common tendency is to give investors their investment plan out of the market in the hope of re-entry when the environment is more favorable.
12) Patience is the main virtue of the successful investor: And, according to Francisco Garcia Paramés, investment director Bestinver AM, "the most fascinating of value investing is that time always works in your favor." Active Stocks are ideal for long-term get rich. Xigen But quality and less common among investors: patience. To achieve satisfactory performance in the stock market you need to have enough stamina to stay invested, sometimes even uncomfortable. Keep in mind that the U.S. stock market has provided positive returns to 5 years in 97% of cases. The market rewards the patient investor who stays true to their investment strategy, said in Bestinver. The Value Investing depends more on common sense, daily work and patience that individual sources of information or the prediction of future events. Its correct application minimizes the possibility of permanent losses in the portfolio and has produced positive results in the long run, beating the average market returns.
And this concludes the summary of the principles of value investing. This Saturday we are in 7th Rankia meeting where I am available to you all.
A greeting.