Sadly there is no safe way to invest in ICO's, they are still new and rather unregulated. But the best thing you can do is do your homework into the company and make your own judgement as with any investment. I would also pick a project that you are personally interested. If you know the market personally, you are more likely to know what to look for.
For me here are a few signs to look for in a ICO:-
- Strong team - Both in development team and also the CEO's / marketing (no point having a great team to create something, if nobody can advertsie it and push the startup in the right direction.
- Realistic vision - not aiming too high or if they do not reach their target everyone who invested will be disappointed
- Solid whitepaper - Well thought out, shows realistic goals, a strong good vision and a plan of action
- Strong social media presence - A social media that shows they are connected with everyone
- Good customer support - Shows they care, and they have invested time and money into making sure the average investor can ask questions
- Good website - A business who is willing to throw time and effort into a good website are less likely to be a scam
- finite supply - ICO's with no cap can be dangerous and can simply just damage their own coin by releasing more for more investment.
-Market they are getting involved with - Is this a new market? or a dying one? who controls the market?
Finally
- Good concept and catchy name - A good ethos and a name that makes them stand out. Personally i would avoid anything that is something "coin".
If these are in place, then it's a good sign. I am looking at Crowdholding at the minute, seems like a good upcoming ICO (They are in their pre-sale), which means you can get more for your investment.
https://ico.crowdholding.com/Look to MedCredits (MEDX)! Best healthcare ICO coming soon. I maybe go all-in
Strong team: doctors from best medical university in US! One doctor I think is brain surgeon
Realistic vision: start on teledermatology. easy app to just send photo. use openbazaar github and have working product quickly
Solid whitepaper: very beautiful white paper and describe business plan, market and technical blockchain use. also white paper not sounding confusing like many other white paper that try to sound smart but just hiding behind big words
Strong social media presence: good blog, active on ANN, have reddit and very good twitter posts on telemedicine
Good customer support: answer every question on ANN very quick
Good website: I like website. You can see it is very nice
www.medcredits.ioFinite supply - they say 100 million MEDX
Market - telemedicine 200 billion market and this only the beginning of project. telemedicine is cash only so do not need health insurance to overcome.
Good concept and catchy name - MedCredits very catchy. Like Gamecredits which make everyone big big profits. Good concept of course with telemedicine on blockchain.