Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups

#1

Post by sbraford » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 7:26 AM UTC

Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups
theshantifund.com

Re: Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups

#2

Post by sbraford » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 7:28 AM UTC

Hi. Shanti here from The Shanti Fund.

I'll just leave this here for more visibility.

I've always been passionate about startups and working with founders. Wanting to get involved but not having "Angel VC" type of money has been my issue lately, so, I decided to start The Shanti Fund.

I know $200 isn't much (to you and I). But it IS to some people. They may be down on their luck, or they may just live in a part of the world where $200 goes a long way.

I know some might criticize my efforts here, so I'm 100% open to feedback. Please tell mw how I can improve The Shanti Fund. Thanks.

Re: Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups

#3

Post by dollar » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 7:30 AM UTC

This is either a really funny joke or the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. I really can’t tell which, but I’m hoping for joke.

Re: Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups

#4

Post by jordancampbell » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 7:33 AM UTC

dollar wrote: post #3

This is either a really funny joke or the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. I really can’t tell which, but I’m hoping for joke.

There will be people for whom this literally decides whether or not they start / keep working on a side project - it's a great idea.

Re: Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups

#5

Post by jordancampbell » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 7:35 AM UTC

This is cool - well done to you.

Even more than the money, just having someone tell them that their idea isn't terrible will be a great help.

Re: Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups

#6

Post by sbraford » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 7:38 AM UTC

jordancampbell wrote: post #4

dollar wrote: post #3

This is either a really funny joke or the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. I really can’t tell which, but I’m hoping for joke.

There will be people for whom this literally decides whether or not they start / keep working on a side project - it's a great idea.

Thank you.

Re: Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups

#7

Post by sbraford » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 7:41 AM UTC

dollar wrote: post #3

This is either a really funny joke or the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen. I really can’t tell which, but I’m hoping for joke.

I'll accept that it might be "dumb" to you, but it's definitely not a joke.

More than 1.3 billion people live on less than $1.25 per day. Sure most of them will not have computers/Internet access. But $200 USD could mean a lot to some poor community college kid in India, for example.

Or even a struggling, aspiring (or down on their luck) coder in America who doesn't have a cushy software gig.

Re: Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups

#8

Post by antoinevg » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 7:54 AM UTC

Nice.

$200 is eight raspberry pi's or a really nice FPGA development board.

Love this idea!

Re: Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups

#9

Post by sbraford » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 8:02 AM UTC

antoinevg wrote: post #8

Nice. $200 is eight raspberry pi's or a really nice FPGA development board. Love this idea!

That would be cool if that's all a project needed to get off the ground.

Also wouldn't be surprised if someone just needed it to buy ramen noodles or hosting for a few months.

Re: Show HN: The Shanti Fund is investing $200 per project in startups

#10

Post by cjbenedikt » Mon, Apr 30, 2018, 8:06 AM UTC

Congrats, great idea. Not too dissimilar from Yunus' microloans or his Social Business concept.