Amazon To Partner With Startups

Amazon.com Inc. AMZN is expanding its reach yet again this year with a new service called Amazon Launchpad. The platform is open to new startups who are looking for a way to get their products into consumers' hands faster and more efficiently than ever before. Crowdfunding Amazon has tapped some 25 crowdfunding sites and venture capital firms to offer an array of new products on Launchpad. Startups will benefit from Amazon's well established logistics model as the company will take on inventory management, order fulfillment and customer service for startups using Launchpad. The site went live on Tuesday and is expected to attract the attention of entrepreneurs everywhere. A Leg Up The service has been praised by entrepreneurs who say that offering their products on Amazon will help them leapfrog some of the most difficult challenges a new business faces. Crowdfunding platforms have been a popular way for new businesses to raise capital and get their ideas off the ground, but distributing orders and getting their products noticed by the masses has remained a challenge for small business owners. Expansion Amazon Launchpad is an opportunity for startups to gain an international audience by selling their products on Amazon's site. Not only will the products be available to Amazon customers around the world, but companies can also elect to make their goods available to Amazon's subscription-based Prime customers as well.