Crowdsourcing

Obtaining services or contributions from a large independent group of people (usually from an online community) rather than from traditional employees or suppliers.

The use of an online community to raise capital has given developers and entrepeneurs the opportunity to source income from crowds people as opposed to relying on a few investors. Through social media platforms, individuals are able to encourage micro-investements on a large scale. Whether working in graphic design or software development, anyone now has the chance to showcase their ideas and prospects to the online community with the intention of receiving investments.

Whereas previously only a handful of people might be able to attain such capital, nowadays the game has been opened up to far more people.