“Charting New Horizons: The Strategic Advantages of Women-led Crowdfunding Platforms”

“Do not be a lady, be a legend. Women entrepreneurs are rewriting the rules of business with the support of crowdfunding, proving that anything is possible when we work together”

Introduction

After 17 years in the creative industry, projects that challenge me still excite me as much as they did on my first day. This recent project was no exception. Although initially unfamiliar with the brief, I was driven to meet the short deadline. After three weeks of intensive work, I am thrilled to share insights on a market space ripe for a new female-led business crowdfunding platform.

A thorough analysis of the global crowdfunding market, competitors, and target audience underscores the immense potential for this platform. A focus on intuitive, user-centric design, clear communication, and a seamless user experience will help empower women to pursue their business goals successfully.

Key Features of the Platform:

· Equity-Based Crowdfunding

· Personalized Fundraising Campaigns

· Goal Setting/Tracking

· AI-Powered Campaign Management

· Mentorship Programs

· Educational Resources Tailored to Users

· CRM and Rewards Management

· Blockchain Integration

· Detailed Reporting & Statistics

· Networking Opportunities

By combining these strategies with a smart marketing campaign and strategic partnerships, the platform will be more sustainable to become a valuable resource in the female business community.

Let’s jump into why that is 🙂

Brief: to design the new efficient crowdfunding platform with enhanced user experience and increased engagement. Feel free to explore creative design solutions while considering usability and accessibility.

Goal: to create a more intuitive and visually appealing platform that motivates users to support and participate in crowdfunding campaigns.

Analysis process steps

Step 1 Exploring the global market

The project was unknown to me, so I started with a global market analysis. I used the AI-Powered Market Analysis such as GrowthBot to get directions on where to go, relevant financial reports and flows to came up with insights on worldwide crowdfunding.

The Crowdfunding market size is estimated at USD 1.5 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 3.11 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 15.70%during the forecast period (2024–2029).

Europe is estimated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period (2024–2029).

In 2024, the North America accounts for the largest market share in Crowdfunding Market.

Key players are:

· Kickstarter PBC

· Indiegogo Inc

· Gofundme inc

· Fundable LLC and

· Crowdcube Limited

Based on applications:

· Cultural Industries

· Technology

· Product

· Healthcare

· Media

Crowdfunding model:

· Reward-Base Model

· Equity-Based Model

· P2P Lending Model

· Donation or Patronage Model

Emerging trends and innovations:

· AI-powered campaigns

· Blockchain integration, and

· Equity-based crowdfunding

Step 2 Swot analysis — Global market

After the first step, it was clear to me that it was crowded and that my adventure was just beginning 🙂

Next step was SWOT analysis of the global crowdfunding market. SWOT analysis opened my eyes that in such a crowded market that Blue Ocean Strategy is the best option for a crowdfunding platform.

Overall, while a new global crowdfunding platform has significant potentialto connect creators with backers worldwide, it must identify and catering to specific underserved niches, such as female-led business sustainable projects or social enterprises, can attract a dedicated audience and create a competitive advantage.

Also, it must carefully navigate challenges related to trust, competition, regulation, and risk management to succeed in the highly dynamic crowdfunding market.

Step 3 User research — Women vs men in seed crowdfunding

I found the market space WOW, I needed more insights, so that’s it… more men seed crowdfund than women, but women are more successful in reaching their finance goal.

Across the world female-led seed crowdfunding campaigns outperform male-led campaigns across all sectors.

Male-led campaigns raise substantially more finance than female-led campaign.

Step 4 User research -Investors/Supporters

My next question was “Where can I find Unique selling proposition (USP)”?Value creation in Blue Ocean Strategy is the best option, because it allows the platform to focus on innovating and offering unique and valuable solutions to users. By creating new value propositions which come of user’s motivations and frustrations the platform can differentiate itself from competitors and attract a larger audience.

Motivations

· Opportunity to support innovative projects or ideas that align with their values or interests

· Potential for high returns on investment

· Access to a diverse range of investment opportunities that may not be available through traditional channels

· Ability to be part of a community of like-minded investors and creators

· Desire to feel connected to the projects they invest in and see the impact of their contributions

Frustrations

· Uncertainty about the reliability and legitimacy of projects seeking funding

· Lack of transparency or information about the risks associated with investing in certain projects

· Limited control over the progress or outcomes of the projects they support

· Difficulty in navigating and identifying high-quality investmentopportunities on the platform

· Concerns about the security of their financial information and the risk of scams or fraudulent activity

This emphasis on value creation not only helps the platform stand out in a crowded market but also fosters customer loyalty, drives user engagement, and ultimately leads to long-term success and sustainability.

Step 5 Target audience

Every next step was easier for me.

By targeting both primary and secondary audiences, the Feminal-led business crowdfunding platform can create a diverse and inclusive community of supporters, investors, and allies working together to promote gender equality and empower female entrepreneurs.

Primary

· Female entrepreneurs

· Supporters of gender equality

· Impact investors

Secondary

· Allies of female entrepreneurs

· Corporate partners

· Educational institutions

· Women’s networks and organizations

Step 6 User persona

I developed detailed user personas for both primary and secondary users to effectively tailor strategies.

Primary user persona

Secondary user persona

Step 7 Competitive analysis

Knowing direct and indirect competitors in the Feminal-led business crowdfunding field it can assist the new global platform differentiate, innovate, and establish unique value propositions to recruit and promote female entrepreneurs and gender equality activists worldwide.

10 competitors I analyzed in detail. 6 are presented, 3 — direct and 3 — indirect.

In conclusion, the competitive analysis has identified a clear opportunity for a new Female-led Businesses crowdfunding platform to establish itself as a leader in supporting women entrepreneurs.

By incorporating key features such as

· Equity-based crowdfunding,

· Personalized fundraising campaigns,

· Goal Setting/Tracking,

· AI-powered campaigns,

· Mentorship programs,

· Educational resources tailored,

· CRM-Rewards management,

· Blockchain integration,

· Reporting & Statistics,

· Networking opportunities.

In terms of design approach

· Intuitive navigation,

· Mobile responsiveness, and

· Visually engaging content

will enhance the user experience and foster a sense of community among members.

An emphasis on intuitive user-centric design, clear communication, and a seamless user experience will be essential to ensuring that women feel supported and empowered to pursue their business goals.

By combining these strategies with a smart marketing campaign and strategic partnerships, the platform has the potential to become a valuable resource in the female business community.

Step 8 Information Architecture & Sitemap

Structure and organization of the content

I didn’t do classic card sorting, I didn’t need to.

Sitemap

I preferred an easy and intuitive site map.

Step 9 User flow — Funding steps

User flow in funding steps for me was crucial for a crowdfunding platform, as it ensures a seamless and user-friendly experience for both funders and project creators.

I tried optimizing the funding steps, the platform can streamline the process, reduce friction, and enhance user satisfaction. This can lead to increased user engagement, higher conversion rates, and improved user retention, ultimately contributing to the platform’s success and differentiation in the market.

Step 10 User journey — primary user persona

I conclude my analysis with user journey, one of my favourite UX things 🙂

Medium article link