Artizen Guide to Funding Human Creativity

How to raise match funding for art, science, technology, and culture.

👋 Hi there. I’m René, co-founder of Artizen. Subscribe, follow, or join our community to help match fund breakthroughs in human creativity.

At Artizen, our mission is to help creators raise money for breakthroughs in art, science, technology, and culture. In this guide, you’ll discover how to successfully fund your next project with Artizen. Got questions? I’m always here to help.

Or for auditory learners, please listen to our talk.

What exactly is Artizen?

It’s ok. We get asked this a lot. Artizen is a match funding platform for art, science, technology, and culture. We partner with mission-driven brands like Filecoin, Juicebox, and Cabin to launch match funds that support new projects at the frontier of human creativity. To date, Artizen has helped creators raise over $2,000,000.

How does it work?

Each season, submissions are reviewed by our community and the strongest projects are curated for the Official Selection. Once in competition, projects sell cultural Artifacts to unlock match funding and climb our leaderboard. At the end of the season, the project with the most Artifacts sold claims the prestigious Artizen Prize.

Artizen Guide to Funding Big Ideas

Step 1: Submit Your Project

From oil paintings to open-source code, Artizen accepts any type of project that meets our Curation Guidelines and qualifies for one of our sponsored Match Funds. Before you submit, makes sure your project follows these best practices:

1. Qualify for Multiple Match Funds
   The more Match Funds you qualify for, the more money you unlock from our sponsors. Submit your project to all eligible Match Funds.
   

2. Make Your Artifact Amazing
   Visually stunning Artifacts that use GIFs or videos perform the best. Make sure your Artifact is square and has NO text or graphic overlays.
   

3. Use Simple Language

   Avoid jargon or overly technical language. Use as few words as possible to clearly convey what your project is about and why it matters.
   

4. Include a Pitch Deck

   While optional, we highly recommend you include a Pitch Deck for your project. Not sure how to make one? Read our Pitch Deck Guidelines.
   

Got questions? Read How to Submit Projects

Step 2: Get Votes for Your Project

Only the top 30% of projects with the most votes are curated to compete for match funding. Anyone who joins Artizen can earn voting points, so it is important that you know how to politely promote your submission to both the Artizen community as well as your own fans, followers, and friends.

1. Connect on Console
   Join our private community on Console and share regular updates about your project. Always include a link to your project page.
   

2. Engage on X
   Follow Artizen and post regular updates about your project. Make sure to always tag @ArtizenFund and include a link to your submission page.
   

3. Direct outreach to fans and friends
   Ask fans and friends to vote for your Artizen submission. Reach out via email, text, phone calls, DMs on Telegram, Discord, etc.
   

4. Listen to Community Feedback
   Always respond to comments and questions, and if you agree with the feedback make updates to your submission accordingly.
   

Got questions? Read How to Get Curated

Step 3: Compete for Funding

Once curated, there are three ways to raise money for your project:

1. Sell Artifacts
   Throughout the season, sell open edition Artifacts to your fans, followers, and friends for $25 each via credit card or crypto.
   

2. Unlock Match Funding
   The more Artifacts you sell, the more match funding you unlock from our generous sponsors.
   

3. Win the Artizen Prize
   The project that sells the most Artifacts by the end of the season wins the Artizen Prize and receive a large cash award.
   

Got questions? Read How to Compete for Funding.

Important Tips

Promote your project for votes and sales

To get curated and raise match funding on Artizen, you’ll need to promote your project to your fans, followers, and friends. From social media to one-on-one outreach, leverage the unique strengths of each channel to create a supportive community around your project. We suggest you post frequently on X and tag @ArtizenFund; engage with our private community on Console; use email campaigns and personal outreach via text, DMs, or phone calls; host virtual and in-person events; and explore creative new ways to connect with your supporters.

Artifacts deliver value for collectors

Unlike traditional crowdfunding where backers get a t-shirt or mug, your supporters earn cultural Artifacts when they help fund your project. To successfully sell Artifacts, focus on the value they deliver.

Benefits of Artifacts:

• Amplify your impact: When you buy Artifacts, your money goes directly to the creator as well as unlocks additional match funding from sponsors.
  

• Invest in Positive Impact: Artifacts give collectors a financial stake in projects that make a positive impact. Think carbon credits, but for human creativity.
  

• Curate our Official Selection: Artifacts give you points to vote for projects you love and help curate our Official Selection.
  

Always convey momentum

Whatever channel—social, email, or direct messages—always communicate progress. New team member? Share it. Overcome a challenge? Celebrate it. New concept art? Show it off. Keep the energy up and make everyone feel part of your journey.

Let’s fund your next big idea

As a fifth-generation artist, I know firsthand how tough it can be to get your projects off the ground. That's why I co-founded Artizen; to help creators like you raise money for projects that impact the world. We’re invested in your success and here to support you every step of the way. Together, let’s fund your next big idea!