How to start an successful ico

[gregory51gosh]

1. Being transparent for the community and honest
2. Communication, communication, communication
3. Write HOW tokens relate to the project (only speculative, or a security)
4. Webinars

[VTS]

- good dev team
- marketing
- capital
- great idea/purpose

And you might still not make it.

Sadly but happens a lot that it is still not going to happen!

[VTS]

1. Being transparent for the community and honest
2. Communication, communication, communication
3. Write HOW tokens relate to the project (only speculative, or a security)
4. Webinars

Thank you!

I will add this tip from you:  -Write HOW tokens relate to the project (only speculative, or a security)

[VTS]

1. Being transparent for the community and honest
2. Communication, communication, communication
3. Write HOW tokens relate to the project (only speculative, or a security)
4. Webinars

Can you provide some links to good webinars? That would be awesome!

[smith136]

love this thread, good tips and on point insights from the community to put up a good ICO, i hope people will stop using ICO as a scam because it is really hurting its reputation very hard. I hope some aspiring leader for ICO project will lead this.
only thing i can say to start a good and successful ICO is to be honest with your team and investors.

[StockBet.com]

You have presented steps of ICO in general here. These are the good points that needs to be followed but as user of ICO I will put some of my thoughts about the ICO projects.


ICO usually publish themselves with a idea and concept about their products and services. And if you look out the percentage then 98% ICO will be like that only. Then don't just have anything in hands only the whitepaper and a roadmap. That's like hitting the bulls eye from the moon. We will never know unless and until we see it our eyes that their products has been really launched in the market. Most of them fail to do so and leave the project behind in between.

So my point being here is that we should have ICO which are having working prototype of the product or services in their hands ready for us to take trials of. If that happen then millions of people will join the ICO blindly as they will know it's gonna be success for sure.

I agree with most things you saying. BUT a working product or MVP is no guarantee at all! I do agree that per example MVP is a plus by decision making!

Other, it always really depends on the project. If you come up with new technologies or complex projects there might be 1% that could financial it out of own pocket and wait 1 - 2 years to go public funding... but in reality as said, who has the money and time to do so? I do agree, in a perfect scenario you are right.

You need to have common sense to see if a project is unique or complex and needs funding to be realized. Of course there is always a bitter taste at the end but this is how crypto works until now. It might chance one day... Soooo much scam around.. Also one thing to mention, if a project ask for ten of millions of dollars to be realized, is that amount really necessary? I mean from my experience  1 - 5 mio is enough for most of the cases... but that is just IMHO...

You're correct that a MVP is no guarantee, but it should reduce the risk significantly.  Venture Capitalists RARELY invest in startups that don't have a MVP or working product.

It is stunning to see how many ICOs have nothing built.  The white paper is the most work that they've put into their projects.  The white paper is easier than a business plan and the only people who traditionally would invest in a startup with nothing else but a business plan, were friends and family.

[StockBet.com]

1. Being transparent for the community and honest
2. Communication, communication, communication
3. Write HOW tokens relate to the project (only speculative, or a security)
4. Webinars

Thank you!

I will add this tip from you:  -Write HOW tokens relate to the project (only speculative, or a security)

The tokens in many ICOs serve no purpose.  For those ICOs that push their token as a security or investment, they are putting themselves in the SEC's and regulators' radar.  If regulators come after them, then both the project team and token holders will lose.

This is an area that both project teams and token buyers should spend way more time to learn and understand.

[p3ppymon]

In order to be successful, you ICO has to have a novel idea. A revolutionising idea! Without such a strong and robust fundamental, your ICO will be a fiasco. Doesn't matter about team and pr and other things. Idea first!

[StockBet.com]

In order to be successful, you ICO has to have a novel idea. A revolutionising idea! Without such a strong and robust fundamental, your ICO will be a fiasco. Doesn't matter about team and pr and other things. Idea first!

In the eyes of ICO investors and token buyers these days, you may be right.

But in reality, an idea is actually less important than being able to execute.  Entrepreneurs usually try to keep their ideas in secrecy because they think they are so valuable.  Venture Capitalists will tell entrepreneurs to scream out their ideas in public and see that nobody will steal their ideas, because there are so many ideas floating out their, but few can execute them.

After only 1-2 years, there are already multiple projects that want to store data in the cloud, multiple projects doing prediction models, multiple projects doing casinos, multiple projects creating anonymous coins, multiple debit cards, multiple investment funds, multiple real estate blockchains, etc., etc., etc.

Very few ICO projects show that they can execute.  Few can prove that they can write software, because they don't have any to show you.  Having a MVP (minimum viable product) is no guarantee that the team can execute, but it serves as much more evidence that they will be able to execute than not having any software.

There have been crypto projects that raised a lot of money and have not given evidence that they will execute.  In the coming years, you will see this number explode.

This is what is unfortunate.  The ICOs with the best marketing will get most of the money, but much of this money will be lost.

[darylalban]

Aside from the tech behind ICO's, I think it's purely marketing and getting the word out. A lot of ICO's have a team of programmers that are clueless about marketing and even who to hire. And of course the website, branding, and graphics are all a part of that experience.

One ICO that caught my attention for great branding and just overall fascinating ideas was Unikrn. They're an esports betting platform and just last month they launched their pre-sale for their token, UnikoinGold. Such cool branding and idea. Can't wait for their token to take off.

[orbitlense]

Much has been said about the common shortcomings of bad projects, and about the main characteristics of the good ones. I just would like to add that most people prefer to invest in projects  that are shooting right now, few are ready to assess the long-term outlook, so often even really good ideas die, for the lack of funds for development, while sometimes the apparently absurd concepts are staying in demand.

[VTS]

Much has been said about the common shortcomings of bad projects, and about the main characteristics of the good ones. I just would like to add that most people prefer to invest in projects  that are shooting right now, few are ready to assess the long-term outlook, so often even really good ideas die, for the lack of funds for development, while sometimes the apparently absurd concepts are staying in demand.

Agree with you! Its getting harder and harder for "real" good projects to get seen and get the word out! The noise of scam or bad projects is getting louder and louder! They invest much money in their marketing. Do not fall in such traps!

[adam1230]

Ico must provide real information to be successfull. Anonymous ICO's are totally fail for me.
Team members are very important. All must have background on similar projects.
Transparency is the key point. And a good marketing campaign and budget is a must be.

[koumpesbtc]

From a newcomers point of view:

-Prototype/revolutionary/smart idea
-Transparency of who you are
-Good marketing strategy
-Excellent developing skills
-Enough funds to get you started

Also you must always keep your fingers crossed for Lady Luck to smile upon you!!!

[johnsm79]

I believe that one of the most important things to look for is, Relationship of the Token with the Project.

Can the project be achieved without the token?

[Direwolve735]

To start an successful ICO you need to develop a business plan and hire a team of professionals who are good at what they do. You need people you can trust. Then you should together analyze the prospects for a new crypto currency. Don't forget that the promotion can take several years. Be patient. And of course you have to
Think about all possible risks cause crypto currencies are extremely unstable, and even the most popular ones can easily depreciate. Good luck!

[kandholabhavna]

If you think that you have the right idea and a good set of team, I think the best way to launch an ICO is contact the CofoundIT team as they have specialization in launching successful ICO's. Also getting associated with them will give you an advantage.

[VTS]

If you think that you have the right idea and a good set of team, I think the best way to launch an ICO is contact the CofoundIT team as they have specialization in launching successful ICO's. Also getting associated with them will give you an advantage.

Well I wouldn't call that the best way! They provide a 3rd party service like many others do...

[deppil]

- good dev team
- marketing
- capital
- great idea/purpose

And you might still not make it.

Sadly but happens a lot that it is still not going to happen!

i don't know what requirements should an individual have to make an ico, is it possibel poor people and lack the skills can make an ico? all he has is ideas and innovations that is new and creative? because I see this can be done with crowdfunding, then looking for a team (a member who experiences in his field and then gives work to them) is it possible?

[StockBet.com]

- good dev team
- marketing
- capital
- great idea/purpose

And you might still not make it.

Sadly but happens a lot that it is still not going to happen!

i don't know what requirements should an individual have to make an ico, is it possibel poor people and lack the skills can make an ico? all he has is ideas and innovations that is new and creative? because I see this can be done with crowdfunding, then looking for a team (a member who experiences in his field and then gives work to them) is it possible?

If you lack the skills, save yourself a lot of time and grief and do not run an ICO.

Ideas are NOT that important, according to Venture Capitalists.  From their experience, the most important thing is the ability to execute.  One of the ways that the team can show evidence of this ability, is to have built something already that people can use.

If you're poor but have the skills, build something.  If you don't have the skills to build, then you need marketing skills.

For the past couple of years, ICOs have been able raise money without being able to prove that they can build anything.  This is due to the naiveté of the investors.  This might still be the case, in which case, you'll need a lot of skills and resources for marketing, in order to scam investors into thinking that you can execute.  (I'm not recommending this, of course.)  This is actually the easier way to raise money, as it takes way more skill, time and work to write thousands of lines of code than to hire a graphics designer to build a one-page website or to create a video.  This is why you see a plethora of ICOs.