Crowdfunding 101 — What You Need to Know

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April 9, 2013

CrowdsourcingEntrepeneur’s Cat Clifford gives an excellent overview of the explosive growth in crowdfunding – computer online platforms that match investors with entrepreneurs.

First the stats. There are 308 crowdfunding platforms that raised $2.7 billion last year, an 81% increase over 2011.

Here are Cat’s three themes

1) More groups are using crowdfunding to support innovation challenges to solve complex, social problems.

2) Increased popularity of local, crowdfunding communities

3) Women entrepreneurs stand to raise more investment dollars.

Perhaps you should start including the question, “Have you considered crowdfunding?” when talking with a small business loan applicant.

The answer could be most revealing.

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