Crowdfunding (folding) in Russia: Interview with the coordinators of the Tugeza project

Many have heard about popular foreign crowdfunding projects, quite often there are publications about their achievements and the ideas funded by them.
But what about similar Russian projects and why are they not developing so rapidly?

To understand, I decided to ask about it directly from crowdfunding projects working in the Russian market.

Today I prepared the second publication from the series “Crowdfunding (folding) in Russia”: an interview with the coordinators of the “Tugeza” project

“Tugeza” - This is a public association / syndicate of people who want to do something useful.



- Tell us a little about the project.
“Tugeza” is a society of targeted charity. Chipped 100 rubles, bought, taken, reported. We sleep further, or participate in the current affairs of groups, whoever wants to.


- Now the prevalence of the method of collective financing is gaining momentum in the United States, slightly inferior in Europe. Despite the fact that the first projects began to appear in Russia back in 2008, we still develop them slowly and hard. What do you think this is connected with?

1. Each project in Russia is pulled, as a rule, by one person, and when it is exhausted, the project stalls.
2. Project processes are hidden, they are decided within the project, there is no publicity. As a result, people interested in the project have no idea what is happening. No comments, no criticism, new blood does not fall into the orbit of the project.
3. The size of the population, especially in the regions. Fear of the Internet and registration, fear of commenting, expressing one’s opinion. Fear of responsibility and change, with a great desire for these changes. The desire to be only an observer.
4. The ambitiousness of the project participants: I am above everything else and the common cause in particular, the reluctance to cooperate, the internal struggle for imaginary power, the lack of diplomacy. If in reality a leader easily suppresses one's opinion, then in virtual reality it is extremely difficult. It is necessary to agree, but few people know how.
5. Collaboration and qual. They hardly cooperate with other projects. Snobbery in relation to social networks is like Odnoklassniki or dating sites. Only long-mastered resources are downloaded. Again snobbery and elitism towards all.
6. Fear of responsibility and submission, poor contact.

To summarize, the development of projects with collective financing is hampered by the excessive ambitions of the participants and the lack of a systematic quality of users of the RuNet.

- There is an opinion in Runet that our mentality simply will not allow truly developing crowdfunding projects, what do you think about this?
Normal mentality, great people. You just need to report, demonstrate the result, download and do it regularly.

- Often, the lack of good project results is explained by mistrust of people, it can be like distrust of the site itself (all money is stolen), the method of financing itself (it still won’t be able to raise any significant amount, so I won’t invest). In your opinion, how relevant is this and how do you combat user distrust?
The collection must be arranged with maximum convenience and minimum amounts. Again, reports, checks, photos, the current discussion - everything is as open as possible. Russia is a collective consciousness, people want to see examples. Heel to the chest with the cry “I AM HONEST” is useless, even if really honest - people have been deceived for too long.

- What obstacles do you see for the development of the project from the state (tax, legal and other)? Perhaps there are any other difficulties in the development of the project?
None. Tugesa is an unofficial organization, plus good connections and quality advice from Tugesa participants. Difficulties are possible, but after 3 years.

- Could you disclose any quantitative indicators achieved by the project?
Everything on the site ( together.ru) Hundreds of people in groups, thousands of collected amounts, dozens of ongoing and related projects implemented, all projects have reports for 2 years, which are posted on LiveJournal ( ru-the-people.livejournal.com ). Come yourself and see.

–And lastly, if it’s not difficult for you, please tell us how the project began? Who was part of the project team and are there any changes in it now?
In 2010, several users of the site Dety.ru met in reality with the goal of throwing money to fight fires. And away we go.
The project team is one person. Financier. Everything rests on him, he is trusted, the last word is behind him. His task is to control the collection of funds and transfer them to the implementation of the action. Each share is controlled by a coordinator, for this share - he is a commander. The rest comment and help as much as possible. Sometimes it turns out a terrible circus, but fun!

The changes are permanent: someone comes, someone leaves. “Tugeza” is a hobby, it’s not a job. I like the action - I threw 100 rubles or you participate somehow differently. I do not like it, well, God bless her, in real life, in bulk.

- Could you tell us about the technical component of the project?
The main function of the site, clarity and clarity. How much, how and where. Excessive information is not good.

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Read the following publication: an interview with Miroslav Sarbaev, the founder and leader of the Kroogi project, a creative community in which an audience of musicians, artists, writers and photographers themselves assesses the cost of creative work on the basis of the “pay as much as you want” principle.

Previous publications:
The first article in the cycle is an interview with the project leader, “From the world on a thread” .