The Problem: Traditional Crowdfunding Is Broken
Kickstarter’s Fatal Flaw
- You back a project: $50, $100, maybe $500
- You get: A product (if it ships)
- You don’t get: Any ownership in what you helped create
- The creator: Keeps 100% of the equity
- Result: You funded someone else’s dream, but you don’t share in the success
StartEngine’s Missing Piece
- You invest: $100, $500, maybe more
- You get: Equity shares
- You don’t get: The actual product you want
- Result: You own part of something you can’t use
The Choice Nobody Should Have To Make
Traditional crowdfunding forces you to choose:
- Kickstarter: Product without ownership
- StartEngine: Ownership without product
What if you could have both?
The Solution: Liana Banyan’s Equity + Product Model
What Makes Us Different
1. The Trust Bridge (Kickstarter Integration)
The Question: “Why should I trust a new platform with my money?”
The Answer: You don’t have to.
- Payment Processing: Kickstarter handles all transactions
- Transparency: Established platform with proven track record
- Buyer Protection: Platform-backed refund policies
- Marketing Reach: Built-in audience of 20M+ backers
2. The Value Proposition
When you back a Liana Banyan project:
- Back on Kickstarter with real money
- Receive the product when it ships
- Also receive LB credits equal to your pledge
- Earn equity in every project you support
Example:
- Back 2ndSecond Medallion for $50 on Kickstarter
- Get: Physical medallion when produced
- Get: 50 LB credits
- Get: Equity share in 2ndSecond project
- Use: Those 50 credits to back other projects
- Get: Equity in those projects too
The Core Mechanism: How It Actually Works
The Credit Economy
Getting Credits
Three Ways:
- Buy credits directly (Stripe checkout)
- Back a Kickstarter campaign (receive credits equal to pledge)
- Earn credits by providing services (freelance work on projects)
Using Credits
Credits unlock everything:
- Vote on projects (signal which ideas you want to see)
- Pre-order products (secure your spot before launch)
- Earn equity (every credit spent = ownership stake)
The Genius Part
Credits flow in a circular economy:
Backers buy credits → Vote on projects → Projects get funded →
Creators hire service providers → Providers earn credits →
Providers use credits to back other projects → REPEAT
The Equity Model
How You Earn Equity
Back a project with credits
- 10 credits = base equity share
- Voting early = multiplier bonuses
- First 100 backers = 3x equity multiplier
Provide services to projects
- Accept equity as payment (instead of cash)
- Equity worth = 2x cash value
- Example: $5,000 service = 10,000 credits worth of equity
Join the Guild
- Pay stake ($50-$500) to become voting member
- Stake converts to LB platform equity
- Vests over time (like employee stock options)
What Equity Means
You own a piece of:
- The specific project you backed (product revenue)
- The Liana Banyan platform itself (Guild stake)
- The entire ecosystem (network effects increase value)
When Projects Succeed:
- Products ship and generate sales
- Equity holders receive profit distributions
- Your stake becomes more valuable over time
The Bootstrap Sequence: How We Launch
Phase 1: The Meta-Product (Weeks 1-2)
Launch: 2ndSecond Medallion
What It Is:
- Physical medallion with QR code
- Digital version available immediately
- Physical version ships when funding goal hit
Why It Matters:
- It’s not a product—it’s the funding mechanism itself
- Every medallion sold = more funding for future projects
- Backers literally own a piece of the system
The Economics:
- 50%: Manufacturing costs (medallion production)
- 30%: Platform infrastructure (LB development)
- 20%: Equity pool (distributed to backers)
Stages:
- Pre-Mint (0 credits): Project listed, gathering interest
- Minted with QR Code (100 credits): Digital version available
- Physical Production (1,000 credits): Manufacturing begins
- Full Distribution (5,000 credits): Shipped to backers
Launch: Let’s Make Dinner
What It Is:
- Community meal-sharing platform
- Home cooks make extra portions or double meals
- Meals sold at $5/plate through Liana Banyan PWA
- Revenue funds free meals for those who need them
How It Works:
- Cooks post meals they’re willing to make
- Buyers pre-order meals (scheduled delivery)
- Cooks get paid through LB platform
- Extra portions funded by paid meals
- Free meals delivered with dignity (no one can tell the difference)
Why It Matters:
- Proves the community collaboration model
- Shows real-world impact (people fed tonight)
- Demonstrates platform economics (self-sustaining loop)
Phase 2: The Ecosystem (Weeks 3-6)
Launch: HexIsle Tabletop Campaign
What It Is:
- Modular terrain system (Hexel)
- Water table terrain component
- Character miniatures (3 types)
Why This Sequence:
- Proves model works for complex, multi-component projects
- Establishes LB as serious manufacturing platform
- Creates network effects (Hexel owners want more terrain)
What Backers Get:
- Use LB credits from 2ndSecond backing
- Earn equity in HexIsle projects
- Receive products when funded/produced
Phase 3: Platform Opens (Week 7+)
External Creator Projects
Requirements:
- Must launch own medallion (mini 2ndSecond)
- Medallion sales fund project development
- LB credit holders can back with credits
- All backers earn equity
Why This Works:
- Pattern is proven (2ndSecond → LMD → HexIsle → External)
- Trust is established (Kickstarter bridge)
- Network effects are live (credit holders seeking returns)
- Self-funding model is validated
The 90-Day ROI Promise
How It Works
Day 0: Initial Backing
- Back 2ndSecond on Kickstarter for $50
- Receive 50 LB credits
Day 1-7: Deploy Credits
- Use credits to back multiple projects
- Example: 5 projects at 10 credits each
Day 7-45: Projects Hit Milestones
- Early backing triggers equity multipliers
- Your 50 credits = 150 credits worth of equity (3x multiplier)
Day 45-90: Projects Ship & Generate Revenue
- Products begin shipping
- Sales generate profit distributions
- Your equity earns real money
Real Money Example
Initial Investment:
- $50 (gets you medallion + 50 credits)
Equity Multiplication:
- Back 5 projects with 10 credits each
- Each hits 1,000 credit milestone (3x multiplier)
- Your effective stake: 50 × 3 = 150 credits worth of equity
90-Day Return:
- Projects ship and generate revenue
- Your profit distributions: $75+
- ROI: 50% in 90 days
- Plus: You still own the medallion
- Plus: You own equity in 5 projects
- Plus: Those projects keep generating revenue
The Three User Journeys
Journey 1: The Backer (You Want Products)
Step 1: Discover
- Browse projects on Liana Banyan
- See HexIsle, Let’s Make Dinner, 2ndSecond
- Click “Back This Project”
Step 2: Get Credits
- Option A: Buy credits directly (Stripe)
- Option B: Back Kickstarter campaign (credits = pledge amount)
- Option C: Earn credits (provide services)
Step 3: Vote & Back
- Use credits to vote on projects
- Voting = pledging credits (not spent yet)
- If project succeeds, pledge converts to purchase
Step 4: Receive & Earn
- Product ships when funded
- Credits deducted when project succeeds
- Equity stake recorded in your account
- Future profit distributions deposited
Step 5: Repeat
- Use profits to back more projects
- Build portfolio of equity stakes
- Compound returns over time
Journey 2: The Creator (You Have An Idea)
Step 1: Register
- Create account on Liana Banyan
- Choose IP tier (A/B/C - how much ownership you keep)
- Post project details
Step 2: Get Help
- List service needs (video, design, legal, etc.)
- Review proposals from service providers
- Hire providers with hybrid compensation
Hybrid Compensation Example:
- Provider quotes $10,000 for campaign video
- You offer: 50% cash ($5,000) + 50% equity ($5,000 value)
- Provider accepts (gets ownership + some cash)
- Your costs cut in half, provider becomes stakeholder
Step 3: Build Campaign
- Work with service providers
- Review deliverables in project dashboard
- Approve milestones, release payments
Step 4: Launch
- Campaign goes live on Kickstarter
- LB community backs with credits
- External backers fund via Kickstarter
Step 5: Produce & Ship
- Use funding to manufacture
- Fulfill orders to backers
- Generate revenue from sales
Step 6: Distribute Profits
- Revenue shared with equity holders
- Service providers earn returns
- Your reputation increases
- Launch next project with proven track record
Journey 3: The Service Provider (You Have Skills)
Step 1: Join As Provider
- Create service provider profile
- List skills (video, design, writing, etc.)
- Set pricing and compensation preferences
Step 2: Find Work
- Browse “Help Wanted” listings
- Submit proposals to creators
- Negotiate compensation (cash vs. equity)
Step 3: Deliver Work
- Complete project milestones
- Upload deliverables
- Receive creator approval
Step 4: Get Paid
- Cash: Stripe payout (immediate)
- Equity: Recorded in project cap table (future returns)
- Credits: Deposited to your LB balance (use to back projects)
Step 5: Build Portfolio
- Successful projects increase reputation
- Higher reputation = more work opportunities
- Equity stakes generate passive income
- Use earnings to back other projects
The System Loops: Why This Works
Loop 1: The Flywheel (Network Effect)
More backers → More credits in circulation →
More projects funded → More creators join →
More service providers needed → More providers join →
More services available → Better projects →
Better projects → More backers → REPEAT
Result: Platform value accelerates exponentially
Loop 2: The Credit Economy (Monetary System)
User buys credits → Votes on projects →
Projects get funded → Creators hire providers →
Providers earn credits → Use credits to back projects →
REPEAT (circular flow)
Result: Self-sustaining economy
Loop 3: The Equity Accumulation (Ownership Model)
User backs projects → Earns equity →
Projects succeed → Equity becomes valuable →
Profit distributions received → User backs more projects →
More equity earned → Portfolio compounds →
REPEAT (wealth building)
Result: Community ownership of ecosystem
The Vision: What We’re Building
Short-Term (90 Days)
- Launch 2ndSecond, Let’s Make Dinner, HexIsle
- Prove the bootstrap model works
- Deliver first profit distributions
- Open platform to external creators
Mid-Term (1 Year)
- 1,000+ projects launched
- 10,000+ community members
- $1M+ in project funding
- Proven track record of shipped products
Long-Term (5 Years)
- Alternative to traditional crowdfunding
- Community-owned ecosystem
- Thousands of creators earning equity
- Millions of backers building wealth
The Key Differences
Liana Banyan vs. Traditional Crowdfunding
| Feature | Kickstarter | StartEngine | Liana Banyan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Equity | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Trust | ✅ High | ⚠️ Medium | ✅ High (via KS) |
| ROI Timeline | ❌ Never | 🕐 Years | ✅ 90 days |
| Community | 👥 Backers | 💼 Investors | 🤝 Stakeholders |
What Makes This Revolutionary
You Don’t Choose Between Product and Equity
- Traditional: Pick one or the other
- Liana Banyan: Get both automatically
Trust Without Friction
- Traditional: New platform = risk
- Liana Banyan: Kickstarter handles payments
Fast Returns
- Traditional: Years to see profit (if ever)
- Liana Banyan: 90-day distributions
Circular Economy
- Traditional: Money flows one direction (you → creator)
- Liana Banyan: Credits circulate (everyone benefits)
Aligned Incentives
- Traditional: Creator wins, backer hopes
- Liana Banyan: Everyone wins when projects succeed
The Messaging: How We Talk About This
For Backers
“Back with confidence (Kickstarter), earn with ownership (Liana Banyan)”
“Get the product AND the equity”
“90-day ROI, not 90-month wait”
For Creators
“Launch on Kickstarter, scale on Liana Banyan”
“Your backers become your stakeholders”
“Cut costs in half with equity compensation”
For Service Providers
“Get paid now, earn equity forever”
“Build a portfolio of passive income”
“Your work compounds over time”
For Everyone
“Start with a medallion. Fund a project. Own the future.”
The Bottom Line
Liana Banyan isn’t crowdfunding. It isn’t investment. It isn’t pre-ordering.
It’s crowd-building.
You’re not buying a thing. You’re buying a stake in every thing that comes after.
The 2ndSecond Medallion isn’t just a product. It’s a stakeholder token that funds every future project.
Early backers literally own a piece of the funding mechanism itself.
That’s how Liana Banyan actually works.
Next Steps
For Backers
- Back 2ndSecond Medallion on Kickstarter
- Receive your credits
- Use credits to back Let’s Make Dinner and HexIsle
- Watch your equity grow
- Receive profit distributions within 90 days
For Creators
- Review platform and IP tiers
- Post your project idea
- Connect with service providers
- Launch campaign with hybrid compensation
- Ship products, distribute profits
For Service Providers
- Create provider profile
- List your skills and portfolio
- Browse Help Wanted listings
- Submit proposals with equity options
- Build reputation and passive income
The future isn’t funded by venture capital. It’s funded by the people who want to see it exist.
That’s Liana Banyan.