I'm the guy behind Taskwer. Taskwer is a crowdfuding platform which allows people to raise funds for their goals e.g. education, travel, business ventures etc. What makes Taskwer different is that people don't have to ask for donations, instead they can offer services. Services can range from in-person services like tutoring, baby sitting, home repair and online services like writing, graphic design, software development etc.
I've been building this app for some time now, most features have been implemented but there is still a lot of work to do, many features I would like to add but even more importantly, I have to focus on getting users and building community around it. This project has been bootstrapped so far and I don't have a marketing budget for it so I would like to raise $20,000 to take this app to the next level.
Also, raising funds for something and offering services in return is a new concept and with this campaign I want to see if this is a viable concept. I will be my first user and I will see first hand if this is something people find useful or not.
Hey, good to hear someone was looking for something like that. The idea to create my own campaign to raise marketing funds is a great one, thanks a lot. Regarding investors, I would like to get at least some users first, know that this thing works and then go talk to the investors.
Well, it is in a way, but with a story. People can raise funds for something, very often very important like paying rent or mortgage so it's not just work-money exchange between them. It's more, when a person buys a service, they also did something good, they helped someone.
I have no idea about that being an advantage or even making only a difference.
In an ordinary "service offered" the "workers" get some money from the "employers" in exchange for some work done.
This money is then spent for "good" things needed by the workers or their families like rent, food, fuel, etc. OR for "bad" things like - say - alcohol, drugs, betting, etc. without the "employers" having any control on it.
The "moral" aspect is completely missing, while in your version somehow you introduce it, but only because of a "preliminary story", that may (or may not) be true.
So, you have two "workers" offering the same services, let's say dog sitting, for the same amount of money, let's say 20$ per hour, the first one's story is "I need money for rent.", the other one's is "I need the money to help pay medical bills for my mother".
Do you choose one or you flip a coin?
And what happens when a third one asks for 18$ per hour saying "I need the money to buy a ticket for <insert name here> concert"?
Hmmm... I don't see it as a charity. Campaign creators create their campaigns and offer their services. People in their community can buy those services. Let's say a person who has a full-time job, a person you know, wants to raise $1000 to help pay her rent and offers babysitting services in return. You need this service and instead of searching for someone you don't know, you hire that person. At the same time, you get a job done and you know you did a good things and helped her pay her rent.
This is a very interesting feedback and yes, I agree completely, especially the part where you say that this is how communities already work. The reason why, at least in my mind, Taskwer makes sense is that it makes spreading the word easier. Let's say you want to raise $1000 for something, you will have to get in touch with your friends, it will take time to spread the word about it. What Taskwer allows you is to create a campaign, tell your story and offer services and it's all in one place, on one page which is very easy to share online so when you share it with your friends, they could support you and share it to their friends and in a couple of hours your campaign could reach quite a lot of people who wouldn't know about it otherwise. Just like GoFundMe campaigns, most donators are people who campaign creators know already. That's at least my opinion.
Yeah, I like this idea a lot, another user also recommended something similar. As I don't have a marketing budget right now, creating a campaign to raise funds for it makes a lot of sense and it would show people how the platform really works. Thanks a lot!
I'm glad you like it. I imagine you have plenty of services that people might want to receive from you, even I'm sitting here thinking I'd rather give money to someone like you to give me some feedback on my website UIs because I also want to support what you're working on, than a random person on TaskRabbit or fiverrr or any of those more impersonal websites.
> So it sounds like of like Upwork/Fiverr/etc, but with a story about why the person is trying to raise money, and an end date/amount for their offer?
More like GoFundMe because there is a cause and Taskrabbit as people are offering services.
> And if I'm making decent money through your platform, why would I want to stop when I reach the $1000 goal (or whatever I set)?
Right now, the focus is on raising funds for a cause with a time limit. There may be option to offer services indefinitely, like TaskRabbit, in the future, but that's not something I'm thinking about right now, I have to get some users first to see if this whole idea even makes sense and iterations in any direction can always come later as the project grows, if it grows.
> If you're pushing the local angle
Yes, I'm pushing the local angle, I think this platform would work best if creators and supporters know each other directly or through people they know. That way a lot of scams could also be avoided.
In case the service isn't delivered, or you're not happy, you can report it using the support system and we'll try to resolve it. If you paid with card, there will be an option to get a refund and if you selected cash payments, you would have to resolve that with the campaign creator on the spot.
And yes, you will be able to see current campaigns in your area but first I need to get some users and campaigns. :) Published campaigns are just placeholders so people could see how campaigns should work.
