The Problem
Raising mutual aid from peers comes with barriers when users want to access capital. The majority of platforms require a minimum 30-day hold period before funds are disbursed, which impacts users who need immediate funds for emergencies and sudden life events.
The Stakes
The stakes are high for users who don’t have access to emergency funds when needed. GoFundMe makes users wait 30 days to collect funds, which can be extremely harmful to those in need of funds for a sudden event such as emergency medical treatment or funeral costs.
The successful launch of the Tiphub platform would enable the following:
- Fundraisers can access capital without the debt overhang of credit cards or pricey consumer loans
- Donors can give to the most in-need members of society–those with an urgent need for funds
- A sense of community can be fostered through social giving that has an immediate impact for people in need
Why Datable
Our team’s experience in the nonprofit sector and passion for creating products that encourage social change at a grassroots level is unique. Datable brings a mission-oriented vision and approach to our work, which aligns perfectly with the approach of our partner-clients.
The Solution
- Step 1: We began by identifying and aggregating social payment apps that users highlighted on social media as being useful when fundraising for mutual aid. We identified Cash App, Venmo, PayPal and Zelle. Once we identified these early adopters, we were able to surface the independent features that users preferred regarding each app.
- Step 2: One of our primary challenges was shifting from aggregating payments to identifying how we could accept payments on behalf of users. We searched for payment rails and identified a provider we could use for credit and debit card payments, making our platform more accessible for users unfamiliar with social payment apps.
- Step 3: The core features coupled with our focus on enhanced accessibility acted as our North Star. Our globally-distributed team was able to turn around an MVP in less than six months, thanks to our ability to spread deliverables across multiple time zones for 24/7 support.
Results
In just two years after the product fully launched, over $3 million has been raised on the Tiphub platform across hundreds of campaigns and over a thousand users.
Spearheading a product launch from idea inception to full-fledged release was extremely gratifying. Tiphub’s success stands as a testament to Datable’s commitment to support the nonprofit sector with innovative software solutions.
“Tiphub is my go-to platform for fundraising. Unlike existing platforms, Tiphub reinforces the significance of the causes close to my heart, and the platform does everything it can to ensure that my fundraiser is a success.”
- Axum Teklu, loyal Tiphub user