Brandt Cannici has circumnavigated the globe, speaks Japanese fluently plus has a background in programming and finance. A mutual friend put us together recently, because of Brandt’s interest in collaboration. His most recent endeavor is Strayform, a social networking startup that connects artists with people wanting to sponsor artistic projects—music, movies, books, software, and research. You can check out Strayform here.
The idea behind Strayform is to cut out gatekeepers who are often a barrier to getting artistic projects off the ground. So rather than waiting for a publisher, record label or studio to say yes, artists can get micro grants from those who believe in them. Strayform also includes a licensing engine so that artists can grant creative commons licenses for non-commercial purposes as well as commercial licenses.
One project currently listed on Strayform is an oil painting to commemorate Silicon Valley leaders. Based on the concept of commissioned portraits, this business model involves micro patronage. For $200, you can be included in the artist’s rendering of Silicon Valley leaders. Not a bad price, considering the painting might one day hang in a museum…or at least on somebody’s wall. You can view the project proposal here.
