Artiste Connect: A Crowdfunding Site for Creative Filipinos

Passion, passion, passion. We all have passions and a dream to make it big, but sometimes we don’t know which way is up — and well, we don’t know where to get the funds.

Thankfully, in the Philippines there’s a site called ArtisteConnect.com, a crowdfunding service that can help artists and creatives to launch their projects. Diego Mapa and Jason Torres, the brains behind this awesome site, shared a few tidbits about their startup.

According to Diego Mapa, the site’s marketing and web manager:

Artisteconnect.com is a crowdfunding site based in Manila open mainly to artists who need funds for their creative ideas or projects. However it is also open to all artisans that can use the tool to their advantage. So most of the projects in the site are now in the areas of music and film, but also we are open to events, product testing – it could be any creative idea.

Can you explain to us how this works?

DM: You sign up with site, put up a project. Let’s say I am going to make a music album and print 300 CDs. Set the target pledge or money. For example, I could be need P50,000 ($1,176). Set the target date: March 2013. Then create your Pledge Options, this is where you can earn money pledges, from the products or services you offer, e.g. Click 500 and get a CD, click 1000 and get a CD and shirt, and finally click 1500 get a CD, T-shirt, and your name in the thank you notes of the CD.

After you’ve completed all fields, now you can share your page’s URL on your social network sites. And the more you share it, the higher the chances you will earn pledges from your friends, relatives, and fans.

Why and when was Artiste Connect founded?

DM: It was founded around May 2012 by attorney Lezyl Ponce; Proudcloud partner and programmer, Jason Torres; and marketing head, Mark Laccay.

It was founded mainly to provide a tool to artists to raise funds for their projects. And also the difference between Artiste Connect and other crowd funding sites is that the site is designed to address the needs of our local artists. There are easier ways to pay for your pledges, to sign contracts for legalities, etc.

Who are your clients?