educational

Seeking Investors

It's an increasingly common phenomena: 'unknown' folks wandering onto our boards and asking for financing for their project du jour. While it certainly isn't impossible to obtain capital this way, your chances of success can be greatly improved if you put a little effort into your pitch for payola. Let's take a closer look:

The latest such thread to catch my eye was entitled "Seeking Investor For Adult Video Production" – and as is typical for such pitches, was post number one for "prodman" who went on to say "Seeking investor, investor-partner for production of xxx adult video title, possibly all b/g interracial all Asian female title." He then left an email address, and waited for the checks to pour in...

My initial thoughts upon reading this (and similar posts) are "His use of the word 'possibly' to describe the content of his proposed project indicates that he hasn't developed a concrete plan about what he wants to do, other than raise money to shoot a porno movie." This quite lackadaisical approach to business, especially when an unknown entity is seeking investors, instantly puts him in my "not to be taken seriously" column. After all, if he went to his local bank manager and said "I need money to shoot a porno, possibly about..." he would be laughed out of the office.

Still, especially in this industry, many folks lack a formal education in business, with 'grading on a curve' being the rule rather than the exception; so perhaps immediately condemning this individual – and the others like him – is a bit premature. After all, "Content Is King" and the wider the variety, style, and context of that content on the market, the (arguably) better, and as such, someone might want to finance his project in exchange for the results.

Perhaps prodman is a film student or someone with experience in video production who possesses the technical skill to produce a competent video, but lacks the financing to hire models and makeup artists, obtain equipment rentals as necessary, pay for post production and audio sweetening if needed, and then secure an entry point into the adult content distribution chain.

Who knows? I don't, because he didn't tell us any of the specifics about why anyone should consider him or his project, or indeed provide any reason why anyone would even bother to send him an email for more information. For all anyone knows, prodman could be a scam artist trying to make off with investment capital, or a kid living in momma's basement who has big pimpin' dreams. Neither case would be a first...

While no one expects to see a business plan as post number one – or even on a message board, period – stating something more definite about your plans than "possibly" is a real plus, as is letting potentially interested parties know that you have a business and marketing plan available that would provide the necessary details about the project. This doesn't have to be a 1,000 page illustrated wonder, but showing investors that you have indeed considered all aspects of your project makes the financing process much easier.

Prodman did come back to the thread and posted details about himself and his plans, that might have attracted some serious interest, if he had started off with such a post in the first place. Unfortunately, he also attacked those that were trying to help him, and in doing so compounded his first board faux pas with bridge-burning flames that revealed a temperament that many potential investors would find to be a deal killer.

While I won't reprint the many fine and thoughtful posts on this thread, I will encourage all of you to read it (and add your comments) by following the link below. It will give you a crash course on how to approach strangers for money, and may help someone get their start.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

profile

WIA Profile: Leah Koons

If you’ve been to an industry event lately, odds are you’ve heard Leah Koons even before you’ve seen her. As Fansly’s director of marketing, Koons helps steer one of the fastest-growing creator platforms on the web.

Women in Adult ·
opinion

What France's New Law Means for Age Verification Worldwide

When France implemented its Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law on April 11, it marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing global debate surrounding online safety and access to adult content.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

From Tariffs to Trends: Staying Resilient in a Shaky Online Adult Market

Whenever I check in with clients these days, I encounter the same concerns. For many, business has not quite bounced back after the typical post-holiday-season slowdown. Instead, consumers have been holding back due to the economic uncertainty around the Trump administration’s new tariffs and their impact on prices.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Optimizing Payment Strategies for High Ticket Sales

Payment processing for more expensive items, such as those exceeding $1,000 per order, can create unique challenges. For adult businesses, those challenges are magnified. Increased fraud risk, elevated chargeback ratios and heavier scrutiny from banks and processors are only the beginning.

Jonathan Corona ·
profile

WIA Profile: Lexi Morin

Lexi Morin’s journey into the adult industry began with a Craigslist ad and a leap of faith. In 2011, fresh-faced and ambitious, she was scrolling through job ads on Craigslist when she stumbled upon a listing for an assistant makeup artist.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Still Rocking: The Hun Celebrates 30 Years in the Game

In the ever-changing landscape of adult entertainment, The Hun’s Yellow Pages stands out for its endurance. As one of the internet’s original fixtures, literally nearly as old as the web itself, The Hun has functioned as a living archive for online adult content, quietly maintaining its relevance with an interface that feels more nostalgic than flashy.

Jackie Backman ·
opinion

Digital Desires: AI's Emerging Role in Adult Entertainment

The adult industry has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to embracing new technology. From the early days of dial-up internet and grainy video clips to today’s polished social media platforms and streaming services, our industry has never been afraid to innovate. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) is shaking things up in ways that are exciting but also daunting.

Steve Lightspeed ·
opinion

More Than Money: Why Donating Time Matters for Nonprofits

The adult industry faces constant legal battles, societal stigma and workplace challenges. Fortunately, a number of nonprofit organizations work tirelessly to protect the rights and well-being of adult performers, producers and industry workers. When folks in the industry think about supporting these groups, donating money is naturally the first solution that comes to mind.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Consent Guardrails: How to Protect Your Content Platform

The adult industry takes a strong and definite stance against the creation or publication of nonconsensual materials. Adult industry creators, producers, processors, banks and hosts all share a vested interest in ensuring that the recording and publication of sexually explicit content is supported by informed consent.

Lawrence G. Walters ·
opinion

Payment Systems: Facilitator vs. Gateway Explained

Understanding and selecting the right payment platform can be confusing for anyone. Recently, Segpay launched its payment gateway. Since then, we’ve received numerous questions about the difference between a payment facilitator and a payment gateway. Most merchants want to know which type of platform best meets their business needs.

Cathy Beardsley ·
Show More