Crowdfunding isn't just for the little guys anymore. Well-known companies are getting in on the act, too.
The big-name projects seeking crowdfunding include everything from household appliances from General Electric to the Hyperloop—the high-speed transit concept envisioned by Elon Musk.
Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, the company that plans to build a five-mile test track in California next year, was born out of a crowdfunding campaign at JumpStartFund. The track's construction is estimated to cost $100 million, CNBC previously reported.
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The proposed Hyperloop would be a transportation method in which pods could potentially carry passengers at more than 700 mph using tubes and vacuum, according to Musk's SpaceX, which focuses on commercial space travel.
GEc has also bet big on the crowdfunding model. Last year, the conglomerate partnered with Local Motors to develop FirstBuild, a website that connects crowdfunders with engineers and manufacturers. One of the program's products—a "nugget" icemaker—has raised $2.5 million on IndieGogo.