Frequently asked questions
Everything people ask us about crowdfunding, fees, escrow and mentoring. If your question is not here, write to us.
How it works
- What is Amorcia?
- Amorcia is a pan-African crowdfunding platform that connects African founders with backers and mentors, both on the continent and across the diaspora. It offers five ways to contribute (donation, reward, loan, investment and mentoring) and holds funds in escrow, releasing them milestone by milestone against proof of delivery.
- How do I back a project?
- You pick a project, an amount and a contribution type, then pay by mobile money or card. Mobile money comes first based on your country: Wave and Orange Money in West Africa, M-Pesa in East Africa, MTN MoMo in Ghana and Cameroon. The diaspora pays by card or Apple Pay, with the exchange rate locked at the moment of contribution.
- What are the five contribution models?
- A donation supports without anything in return. A reward gives a product or perk based on the tier you choose. A loan advances funds repaid on terms stated up front. An investment takes a stake in the project. Mentoring offers time and expertise, with no money involved. A single project can combine several models; the founder decides, and it is shown on their page.
Money and fees
- How much does Amorcia cost?
- Amorcia takes a commission of about 5% on funds actually raised, at the time of payout. There is no subscription and no listing fee: if you raise nothing, you pay nothing. Payment provider fees are separate and vary by country and method; they are shown to the backer before confirming, never after.
- What happens if a project does not reach its goal?
- It depends on the rule the founder chose when creating the campaign, shown on their page. Under all or nothing, contributions are refunded if the goal is not met. Under keep it all, the founder keeps what was raised and milestones are adjusted accordingly. The rule is visible before you contribute.
- How does currency exchange work for the diaspora?
- The exchange rate is locked at the moment of your contribution and shown before you confirm the payment. So you know exactly what your donation is worth in the project currency. You pay in your currency, the founder receives in theirs.
Trust and safety
- What is milestone escrow?
- Milestone escrow means the funds raised are not paid to the founder in one go: they are held and released in stages, as the founder provides proof of what has been delivered. Each milestone reached comes with proof visible to all backers (a photo, an invoice, a report). A founder who does not deliver does not receive the next tranche.
- How do I know where my money goes?
- Every project page shows an escrow tracker with the status of each milestone, the amount it releases and the proof provided. You do not take the platform word for it: you look at the documents the founder has submitted. Backers are also notified each time a milestone is validated.
- What does the Verified founder badge guarantee?
- The Verified founder badge confirms that Amorcia has checked the founder identity and the consistency of their project before the campaign went live. It is not decorative: without that check, the campaign is not published. It does not, however, guarantee the project will succeed, as no platform can.
- What are the risks for a backer?
- Escrow protects against misuse of funds, not against business failure. A loan may not be repaid, an investment may lose value, a project may fail despite the founder good faith. We write this plainly rather than bury it in terms nobody reads.
Running a project
- How do I launch a campaign on Amorcia?
- Creating a campaign takes seven guided steps: idea and category, choice of funding models, goal and collection rule, milestone definitions, story and video, identity verification, then a preview before submission. You stay in control at every step and nothing is published without your approval.
- Who can launch a project?
- Any person or organisation running a project in Africa can apply, provided they pass identity verification. Amorcia focuses first on Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal and Ivory Coast, but the opportunities directory and the guides are open to the whole continent.
- When does a founder receive the funds?
- Funds are released milestone by milestone, after the proof provided is validated. The first payout usually happens at the first milestone, once the campaign has closed. The pace therefore depends on the project actual progress, not on a fixed schedule.
Mentoring
- How do I become a mentor?
- Just create an account choosing the Mentor role, then state your expertise, your languages and how many hours you can offer each month. Founders then contact you directly. Mentoring involves no money: it is time and expertise.
- Is mentoring paid?
- No, mentoring on Amorcia is based on giving time and expertise. It is the platform fifth lever, and the only one that costs the founder nothing. A few hours from an agronomist or a solar-energy specialist are sometimes worth more than a cheque.
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