Alibaba Competitor JD.com Launched a Crowdfunding Platform
Alyson Wyers — April 8, 2015 — Business
References: ir.jd & techcrunch
JD.com, a smaller but formidable rival of Alibaba, just launched an equity crowdfunding platform for new ventures. Intending to encourage entrepreneurship in China, the e-commerce site created JD Equity Crowdfunding to help startups acquire capital as an offshoot of the crowdfunding site JD.com established last summer (Coufenzi).
JD Equity Crowdfunding was developed specifically with entrepreneurs who need early-stage investors in mind, differentiating this offering from the Kickstarter-like Coufenzi. With JD.com's resources -- JD Cloud, financing tools, management training, marketing support and venture capital partnerships -- the Chinese crowdfunding site is already the largest (although not the first). Looking forward, the entrepreneur-motivating platform hopes to create "a complete ecosystem for startup companies" according to a JD.com spokesperson. Startups hoping to get involved will be pre-screened.
JD Equity Crowdfunding was developed specifically with entrepreneurs who need early-stage investors in mind, differentiating this offering from the Kickstarter-like Coufenzi. With JD.com's resources -- JD Cloud, financing tools, management training, marketing support and venture capital partnerships -- the Chinese crowdfunding site is already the largest (although not the first). Looking forward, the entrepreneur-motivating platform hopes to create "a complete ecosystem for startup companies" according to a JD.com spokesperson. Startups hoping to get involved will be pre-screened.
Trend Themes
1. Equity Crowdfunding - The rise of equity crowdfunding platforms presents an opportunity for entrepreneurs to access capital from a wider pool of investors.
2. E-commerce Crowdfunding - The integration of crowdfunding platforms within e-commerce sites opens up new channels for startups to raise capital and reach potential customers.
3. Entrepreneurship Support - The development of crowdfunding platforms with additional resources and support services demonstrates a growing focus on fostering entrepreneurship ecosystems.
Industry Implications
1. E-commerce - The e-commerce industry can explore integrating equity crowdfunding platforms to provide added value to startups and attract new customers.
2. Venture Capital - Venture capital firms can leverage equity crowdfunding platforms to identify early-stage investment opportunities and support promising startups.
3. Startup Incubators - Startup incubators can collaborate with equity crowdfunding platforms to provide a comprehensive ecosystem for entrepreneurs, including funding and mentorship.
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