Six Local Crowdfunding Campaigns You Can Back Right Now

A few weeks ago, we told you that beloved mobile burger vendor Spot was looking to go brick-and-mortar with a GoFundMe campaign. While that appeal is ongoing (owner Josh Kim has raised about $2,200 of his hoped-for $65,000 in the first couple of weeks), here are a handful of other local projects looking for some help getting off the ground.

Raise a Cheese Cave
Birchrun Hill Farms is the Chester Springs-based dairy that makes popular raw-milk cheeses like Birchrun Blue and Red Cat (you may have seen their selections at DiBruno Bros. or on the menu at restaurants including Fork and High Street on Market). So far, they've been working out of a small facility they've been renting, but are now looking to build their own space. With ten days left in their Kickstarter campaign, they're within close reach of their $25,000 goal. Rewards include cheese, of course, as well as other perks like cheese-making lessons and art by noted local painter Mike Geno.

Bachelorette-Adjacent Craft Cocktail Mixers
A startup called Herb & Lou's is seeking $20,000 via Kickstarter to fund their line of high-end cocktail mixers. Instead of sickly sweet concoctions, these Art Deco-styled bottles hold concoctions including herbs and bitters that cash in on the craft cocktail trend. Oh, and by the by, one of the founders of the would-be company is Reid Rosenthal, the local realtor who (we hear) made some waves a few years back on season five of ABC's The Bachelorette. Backer rewards include the opportunity to "mingle with other reality television cast members."

Neighborhood Cafe Incarnate Coffee
A couple of Fishtown neighbors, Gia Parker and Adesola Ogunleye, are looking for a boost to help open a new coffee shop at Coral and Sergeant streets, just off Frankford Avenue around the Fishtown/Kensington border. They're calling it Incarnate Coffee, and seeking a total of $18,000 via IndieGoGo. So far they've raised a couple of thousand, but theirs is a flexible funding campaign, which means they'll receive whatever funds they raise even if they don't hit their goal. Thank-you gifts include the work of local artists and friends.

Jersey Honey Bees
In nearby Franklinville, NJ, Triple Oaks Nursery is looking to build up a 20-hive honey bee apiary to produce their own raw honey. Their GoFundMe campaign has a target of $11,000, but if they don't hit that goal, they'll take whatever portion they've raised to start a bit smaller.

(Gluten-Free) Bakery Expansion in Mt. Airy
Meg Hagele, owner of High Point Cafe in Mt. Airy, is working on getting a larger space up and running for her growing wholesale business. In the new space, they'll be roasting their own coffee for the cafe, as well as operating two separate bakeries: one regular and one gluten-free. Hagele is seeking $35,000 via Kickstarter, and has already raised more than $15,000 with a month left to go.