The Gilf is a good example of something that needed investment to get started: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/danprovost/glif-iphone-4-tripod-mount-and-sta

The Gilf is a good example of something that needed investment to get started: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/danprovost/glif-iphone-4-tripod-mount-and-stand http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/danprovost/glif-iphone-4... My understanding is that the people funding these sites do not own any part of the business. Clearly for that reason it's not interesting to investors but can be to business owners.