As such, we’ve put together a few tips to help you keep up – and keep winning – in 2018 and beyond.

Tip #1: Beat copycats and minimise risk by staying a step ahead

If your startup revolves around tech and you’re hoping to secure some investment, be aware that the game has really changed in the past few years. Where simple products that solved an obvious problem found some of the earliest successes on crowdfunding platforms, the market has boomed to such a degree that those with more straightforward ideas have found themselves crowded out – the simpler the idea, the easier to copy, after all.

The only way to outstrip copycats is to act fast – and prioritise innovative, complex ideas that can’t be plagiarised with ease.

Tip #2: Make sure you’re ready

As above, we advise that you act quickly to stay ahead of would-be copycats, but this doesn’t mean rushing to launch. For a start, if your product isn’t ready to be dispatched but you give away a plethora of details regarding the concept, you make yourself more vulnerable to plagiarism; but, most importantly, you run the risk of running before you can walk. If you secure funding based on an untested idea, your investors are not being given a proper picture of the risks involved – which could lead to spiralling costs, an unimpressive return on their investment, and damage to your reputation. Test and prototype your product or service and cost out the process as fully as possible – from manufacture to marketing to packaging and delivery – before launching a crowdfunding campaign.

Tip #3: A bog-standard page will no longer cut it

Whilst in the early-mid 2010s the simple act of putting up a crowdfunding page with some information might have been enough to net you some real interest, things have moved on in a big way. Video is essential, now; a marketing tool that has become so commonplace that it’s expected viewing for any investor or crowdfunding aficionado. But it doesn’t stop there: you’re advised to include as many extras as you can afford (illustrations, design schematics, animations).

Crowdfunding is now so popular that your page needs to be special to stand out from the crowd, so don’t skimp on your marketing budget. At the very least, you need to budget for a professional product video.

Tip #4: Consider advertising

If crowdfunders have learned anything since 1997, it’s this: a crowdfunding platform alone might not be enough to secure the funders they need. If you’re looking to create a real buzz, you may need to look elsewhere.

Paid advertising really works for crowdfunding campaigns – and it needn’t break the bank. Once your crowdfunding campaign has started to gain momentum, a few well-placed Facebook or Google ads can help you achieve that spike in interest that you crave.

Viral channels deserve consideration, too; a new phenomenon that has risen in popularity over the past few years, platforms like Viral Thread can introduce crowdfunding campaigns to a powerful new audience. There are paid options for such platforms but these haven’t been tested extensively enough to advocate; instead, make sure your video is tip-top (as per point #3) and then reach out. Viral content planners tend to favour innovative, exciting material, so crowdfunding campaigns are a perfect resource – and if your video is picked up, they could put your product in front of hundreds of thousands of potential sponsors.

You don’t need to run a costly campaign to make your crowdfunding dreams a reality: just be prepared to spend your money wisely, don’t always go for the safest option, and test, test, test. When it comes to the latter, Crowdfund Campus offers the perfect solution via our innovative Sandpit tool – a chance to test your ideas and campaign strategies in a realistic, simulated marketplace environment. Contact us today to learn more and book a free demonstration.

However, as traditional investors become more wary of investing in something that is seen as high risk, and as government or public funding becomes more difficult to acquire, crowdfunding might just be the game changer that social enterprises are looking for.

Crowdfunding a social enterprise: why it works

1. Crowdfunding puts you in charge

With crowdfunding, you don’t need to worry about silent partners or investors looking over your shoulder – which is even more crucial for an organisation that is driven by a cause. If your financial backing comes from crowdfunding, you’ll have the final word on how your money is spent, who you help, and what to do next. Your vision will never be compromised.

2. Crowdfunding lends itself to uniting behind a cause

For any project to crowdfund successfully, its marketing campaign needs to inspire as many people to get behind the cause as possible. However, if social change is at the root of your venture, it should be much easier for you to find people who share your passion. Tapping into a ready-made audience has both short and long-term benefits: you should be able to amass donations more quickly than other crowdfunding ventures and gain lifelong supporters at the same time.

3. Crowdfunding is fantastic for brand awareness

As a social enterprise, you may not have a huge budget for general brand marketing – but fortunately, crowdfunding is a publicity exercise in itself. As you work hard to get the word out to inspire would-be donors, you will be spreading the message of your brand to a potentially huge audience (and this will only grow as you attract more and more donors). Harness the power of the crowd!

4. Crowdfunding allows you to measure impact easily

Deciding to put your entrepreneurial skills to work for the good of society is an amazing thing; but knowing how to get the most out of your talents, and where to focus your energies, can be difficult. Crowdfunding will allow you to assess how effective your venture will be in terms of solving a particular social problem, and – indeed – how many people are interested in supporting your cause. This initial information will not only be useful when thinking about the future of your enterprise and what direction you’d like to go in, but also if you’re hoping to approach investors further down the line.

Final thought: pick the right platform

There are many crowdfunding platforms to choose from, but not all are created equal – so it pays to do your research. Think about the message your enterprise will convey, and choose a service that fits: for example, what do you want to offer your followers if they donate – some kind of reward? Shares in your company? What fees are you willing to pay your platform for hosting? And do you want a platform that gives you the flexibility to receive all funds raised – whether you reach your target or not – or do you want to go for an ‘all-or-nothing’ model (i.e. setting a target and only receiving funding if you meet or exceed it)? From Crowdfund Campus to Kickstarter, there are so many options: you just need to find the best one for your business!

Crowdfunding campaigns are so much more than money-making exercises: they are valuable teaching tools, both for those running the crowdfunding campaign and the audiences they are trying to reach. Here at Crowdfund Campus, we are proud to support all student and graduate entrepreneurs who want to test their ideas and find new profit sources. To that end, we provide both a simulated experience (called Sandpit) and a live marketplace. For further insight into our unique platform, please give us a call on +44 (0)7545 898120 or drop us a line at hello@crowdfundcampus.com – we can’t wait to help you make the most of your business idea!

Whilst we hope these resources will prove to be useful – and something you can refer back to time and time again (hit that bookmark button stat!) – we know there is nothing like seeing a successful pitch yourself to learn from and be inspired by.

And yet, for most entrepreneurs, the first pitch they are ever privy to is their own. (Or the car crash collection from the latest Apprentice candidates.)

With this in mind, we have pulled together some of the most inspiring startup pitches to guide you in your own quest for success. All of these entrepreneurs help bring the abstract to reality and show what a great pitch looks like. No half-baked ideas or cheesy one-liners here (nudge nudge, Lord Sugar).

For further ideas on how to deliver a knockout pitch, have you read Pitch Perfect (Part One): How to Create a Successful Sales Pitch; Pitch Perfect (Part Two): How to Give an Inspiring Investment Pitch; and Pitch Perfect (Part Three): How to Secure Media Coverage for Your Startup?

Perfect Pitch #1: That’s Suspicious Behaviour

TSB is a mobile app that helps people report suspicious behaviour and unusual activity in their neighbourhood. At the start of the pitch, founder Brigette Kidd requests to see a show of hands in answer to the question, “Have you ever heard of Neighbourhood Watch?”. When she follows this up by asking the audience to “Keep your hands up if you’ve ever used it” (most hands are lowered), she has – 30 seconds in – ticked two of the major aims of a pitch: she has set out the problem she is trying to solve, and she also has a captive audience. With their full attention earned, Kidd is then able to expand on the issues at hand, before going on to present her solution.

Kidd’s pitch works because she gets the audience on side: she appeals to them on an emotional level but does not lose sight of the details she needs to cover. She maintains her energy and enthusiasm throughout – even including some well-thought through humour at the appropriate moment – but does not allow her personality to outshine her product. Little wonder that TSB won ‘Best Presentation’ at the LAUNCH Festival and secured a $50,000 investment from MailChimp.

Takeaway lesson: Grab the attention of the audience from the word go and you’ve won half the battle. Ensure your pitch will keep a captive audience attentive with appropriate humour and ongoing energy.

Perfect Pitch #2: Yext

Watch the pitch that earned Yext $25 million: www.ustream.tv/recorded/2163590

In this pitch, Howard Lerman of Yext – a pay-per-action phone call service – uses a story to illustrate how his company will help local businesses who would prefer “calls, not clicks” (catchy and memorable). Having set up the ‘why’, he goes on to illustrate the ‘what’ by telling the story of Frank’s auto-repair in Alaska. Lerman shows how Frank can customise his profile to receive only relevant calls, and then does a live demonstration using information the audience has decided on.

Lerman’s pitch works because he shows how Yext plans to solve a problem. His demonstration brings the business to life, showing how the idea realises itself in the real world. By involving the audience directly in this (asking them what information to ring Frank’s auto-repair about), Lerman cleverly captures their interest as they await to see if it really will work.

Takeaway lesson: Show, don’t tell, how your product or service works. Use a story to bring the problem – and your solution – to life.

Perfect Pitch #3: SoMoLend

For serious inspiration, look no further than Candace Klein. As the founder of SoMoLend – a web and mobile-based peer-to-peer lending platform – she has raised over $1.2 million in cash prizes from 27 pitching competitions. The secret of her success is her ability to outline a problem, then sell her solution and competitive advantage, leaving the audience in no doubt about what her company does and what issue it solves.

Klein’s pitch particularly works because she is in complete control of her presentation. There is no question that she cannot answer about her business, industry and competitors, and she is able to recite information – with passion and accuracy – at the drop of a hat. By using phrases such as “for the first time ever”, she excites the audience about what is new and different, and her closing statement, in which she addresses the specific groups she is targeting, is especially clever.

Takeaway lesson: Know your material like the back of your hand and deliver this with confidence. Finish your pitch strongly and sum up who should invest, and why.

To put your pitching skills to practice, why not launch a crowdfunding campaign – a wonderful way to spread the word about your startup. Crowdfund Campus’ live domain and Sandpit platforms both provide safe environments in which to launch your business. Contact us today to find out more and book a free demonstration.

Stop the press! It’s time to launch; and what better way to make a bang than by being featured in major media outlets.

But how, as a new brand, do you get the word out there and secure a spotlight for your startup?

Pitching to the press is an important part of launching a new product or service. Not only does media coverage boost your profile and get you in front of your target customers, but also it proves to potential investors and partners that you are a startup to be taken seriously – one who courts media attention for all the right reasons.

Here are a few tips on successfully pitching your product and scoring yourself some publicity:

Press Pitch Tip #1: Know Your Story

Journalists are always looking for a scoop: for the next big thing. But whilst they are in the business of seeking out information, they are not detectives, and unless you can get them excited about your startup in the first thirty seconds – that is, the first sentence or two – they are not going to bite. After all, they have hundreds of other companies also vying for their attention.

Before you pitch to the press, make sure you know what your story is and give it a compelling narrative. Decide what one thing you want the reader to take away. This may simply be the launch of an exciting new product; it could be the announcement of a market-leading partnership; or it could be the news that you’ve successfully raised a significant amount of funding from well-known investors or a crowdfunding campaign.

Whatever your story, try to stand out in some way – but always tell the truth. Journalists can sniff out bulls**t a mile away.

Press Pitch Tip #2: Avoid Hyperbole

After months of hard work, you are understandably excited about your business opening its doors. And the media will be too – so long as you stick to the facts, tell them what you’ve done, and show them what your product/service does or solves. Practical information beats buzzwords every time, so avoid pitching your startup as ‘unique’, ‘revolutionary’ or ‘game-changing’. Let the experts decide how best to sell your story and leave the hyperbole at home.

Not convinced? Heed the words of former New York Times editor, Fred M. Hechinger: “I narrow-mindedly outlawed the word ‘unique’. Practically every press release contains it. Practically nothing ever is.”

Press Pitch Tip #3: Ditch the Press Release

Press releases used to be the currency of PR firms – and some old-school agencies still swear by them – but when have you ever read a press release on a popular media site? Chances are never. Major media outlets do not want to publish dry, promotional press releases that their journalists haven’t even written. To stand out in a sea of emails you need to be so much more creative. Include imagery, infographics and videos of your product in action (though make sure your email isn’t too big – journos don’t take kindly to files that crash their systems). Perhaps you can even pitch over social media? Anything that helps you grab someone’s attention will increase your odds of hearing back exponentially.

Press Pitch Tip #4: Research Target Journalists

If there is anything a journalist hates more than a phone pitch (bonus tip: never try to sell a story over the phone!), it’s being sent a pitch that isn’t relevant to them. Take your time to identify those journos who specifically write about your industry, niche or neighbourhood. Familiarise yourself with their work and identify who is most likely to be interested in, and excited about, your startup. Treat each publication, and each journalist, individually: a blanket email BCC’d to the masses will win you no favours. Create a list of the top 25 media outlets you would do anything (ahem, almost anything) to be featured in and then narrow it down to 10 . PR is a numbers game – but it is a human one, too.

Press Pitch Tip #5: Don’t Give Up

The media is a fast-paced world and journalists are pulled in many different directions on a daily basis. If you don’t hear back after your first pitch, chances are your email might not have even been opened. Schedule a follow-up around a week after your original one. Simply ask if they received your email and whether they require any more information. In fact, if you can offer more information then that makes a good excuse to follow up, so perhaps hold something back for second pitches.

If you don’t hear back after your second email, then chances are your story is a non-starter this time. Move on to the next outlet, but keep all options open: there may be opportunity for coverage in the future, so don’t burn bridges by being overly pushy or indignant. Build your relationship organically (following target journalists on Twitter, and interacting with their work, is strongly recommended) and bide your time.

If you’re looking to spread word about your startup, have you considered crowdfunding? Not only is it a great way to test the viability of your idea, but also it gives you opportunity to reach your target audience and build up a following. Contact Crowdfund Campus today for further information and a free demonstration of both our live marketplace and simulated Sandpit tool.

You have a great idea. You’ve tested the market response via Sandpit. You’ve even written a knockout sales pitch and secured enough money to start selling your product or service.

What you need now is the support of a seasoned business person – someone who can guide you on how to grow and invest the capital needed to do so.

But just because you think your business is the next big thing does not mean that backers will be jumping into bed with you. Pitching for investment is a lot like interviewing for a job: you need to prove that you can fulfil the remit of the role – which in this instance means turning money into more money. Something which is only marginally less difficult than turning water into wine.

Here are some tried and tested tips on delivering an investment pitch that excites and inspires:

Investment Pitch Tip #1: Pick an Appropriate Audience

Investors come in all different shapes and sizes, so to stand the best possible chance of securing seed funding you need to ensure you approach the right audience. Arranging meetings with investors at large venture capital firms, who are used to dealing with established companies (and trading in multi-millions), may result in dashed hopes and broken hearts. Instead, targeting angel investors who specifically work with early-stage startups will likely bring more options (and offers) to the table.

Ultimately, the stage of your business and the amount you’re looking to raise will dictate the type of investors you should target, so do your research and take it one step at a time.

Investment Pitch Tip #2: Perfect Your Elevator Pitch

Sure, they might have money and power, but investors are also human. As such, they have a short attention span and lots of people vying for their time. Convince them you are worth putting their iPhone away for in the first five minutes and you will be on to something.

Your elevator pitch should provide a concise and easy-to-understand description of what your business does. Introduce your idea in a manner that’s short, sweet and to the point (remember the KISS principle here: “Keep it simple, stupid”). If an investor doesn’t grasp your concept in the first few minutes of your meeting, they may presume your customers won’t either. Prepare a one-page executive summary, and a five-slide elevator pitch, that leaves listeners interested in – or at least familiar with – your business.

Investment Pitch Tip #3: Present Facts, Not Fiction

Investors want to hear about, and be excited by, the future – but not a nonsensical one. Show that you are a low-risk, high-potential prospect who has a grasp on reality. Demonstrate how you have tested your business’ viability on a shoestring budget; an entrepreneur who can prove some cash flow and audience interest has a better chance of securing investment than one who simply presents a business plan.

A great way of demonstrating your viability in the real world is through a crowdfunding campaign, which will help you test your ideas, grow your customer base, and take your first steps. Use this information to present three financial forecasts: best case, moderate case, and worst case. Base each of these predictions on facts, performance data, industry and competitor analysis, and a series of thoughtful, defendable assumptions.

Investment Pitch Tip #4: Walk Before You Run

Rome wasn’t built in a day. And your business won’t be either. Investors are wary of entrepreneurs who can bite off more than they can chew. Instead, they look for sustainable businesses – ones in which processes can be repeated over and over in order to drive growth. Even if you have big expansion plans, start by seeking funding for one product/service and prove that you can create, manage and fulfil demand; investors want to see that your sales will be self-generating and your customers easy to acquire, rather than the fact that you have 50+ product ideas.

Investment Pitch Tip #5: Channel Otis Redding and Show Respect

Yes, you know the most about your business, but that is where your authority ends (and in any case, after your elevator pitch, your potential investors should know almost as much as you). See investors as more than the sum of their money: as seasoned business people, they also have a wealth of knowledge and advice to impart. If they grill you during your meeting, think about why they have asked such questions and what it teaches you. Remember, they want what you do – to make money – so be gracious, be passionate, and remember that you are a representation of your business: a smile and good manners go a long way.

If you looking for a way to test the viability of your business, we can help. Crowdfund Campus offers both a live marketplace through which to raise capital, and a simulated tool through which to trial ideas in a safe environment. For more information and a free demo, please contact us today.

Photo Credit: Conor McCabe Photography

Unfortunately, though clever social media campaigns can secure powerful investment for their associated projects, committing a blunder on social media can lead to your venture being ignored – or, even worse, kill it completely.

Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc. all have one thing in common: these are platforms on which people are looking to make a connection. Just as an entrepreneur might aim to build their network of contacts by mingling at conferences or events, so too they should approach potential investors on social media. After all, you’d never go up to a complete stranger at a business seminar and ask for them to pledge big bucks towards your latest venture without any preamble, would you? Why should social media be any different?

Keep reading to hear about the most common social media mistakes that crowdfunders make – and how to avoid them!

Failing to Make Connections Before Launch

The notion that there are swarms of people simply waiting for your venture to explode onto social media is a fallacy. Obvious, right? You’d think so, but sadly there have been many instances of crowdfunders simply ‘launching’ on social media without having taken the time to build an audience. Whilst there are several tools – like Twitter Marketing – that can help you define your audience quickly, there’s no substitute for taking the time to identify potential supporters yourself and building relationships with them.

Surveys show that campaigns that reach 15% of their funding target within the first week have more than 80% chance of success – but to achieve those levels you must have a pre-launch marketing plan.

…Or Connecting with the Wrong People Entirely

When market testing your product or service prior to development, you should already have asked yourself: who does this appeal to? Where can I find these people? How can I connect with them?

Once you have composed a consumer profile or two and you’ve reached the stage at which you wish to transpose this research to social media, you can simply type these characteristics into Twitter or Facebook and you’ll be greeted with a host of potential backers, right? Wrong. The algorithms that social media platforms utilise take a huge variety of factors into account, not least the handle or page names. This can skew results, meaning that you may be confronted with lots of industry professionals – either in the crowdfunding arena or in your chosen product or service field – who may well be in competition with you (or simply unlikely to invest). What you really want to find is the key influencers in your field – from there, you can see who follows them, and begin to reach out to their networks. To achieve this, you need to do some keyword research (Google has a useful tool) to find out what people typically search for if they’re looking for a product or service like yours. That way, you can find relevant users as well as expanding your own consumer profile (what else are these people interested in, besides products like yours? Are there any common demographic factors that link them?).

Broadcasting requests for money

As mentioned in the introduction, social media is about engagement. A profile that simply broadcasts a static message (one that changes infrequently or not at all) which doesn’t invite a response or, worse, a request for funding, will not succeed.

Simply put, there is no shortcut to be taken here: you get what you give. Connections need to be fostered before you can even think about requesting funds – and that means liking and sharing other people’s posts, commenting and starting conversations, and giving your profile a real sense of personality. Don’t just say how great your product is – show your followers with behind-the-scenes videos and photos of work in progress. Don’t just pretend to be interested in what your followers care about – actively engage with their posts. Build a relationship before you ask for support.

In Conclusion…

Bear in mind that a social media strategy should be about so much more than asking for money. If you’re a budding entrepreneur with a passionate belief in your project, that’s what you need to make people fall in love with: your enthusiasm and commitment. Convince your followers that you are more than just one big idea, but also that your idea might just be the next big thing – which you’re inviting them to be a part of – and you’ll be onto a winner.

Crowdfund Campus is proud to guide students and universities through the crowdfunding process, providing a safe environment in which to learn and take risks. Our innovative Sandpit tool and live marketplace, for example, is a perfect medium for testing marketing ideas and networking strategies. For more information, please contact us – we’d be more than happy to discuss your project.

But how do you convince customers – who are bombarded with marketing messages daily – that your offering will benefit them?

Here at Crowdfund Campus, we have created two independent simulations – one focusing on sales, one on investment –within our Sandpit platform, enabling students to practice their pitches and get into the mindset of both customers and creators. Both exercises are designed to bring together all the components of business planning to help the budding entrepreneurs of tomorrow understand how to generate ideas that appeal to the public – and how to position them so they are also attractive to investors.

Over the next couple of months, we are going to share with you some of the secrets of pitching success – both in our simulated space, and in the real world. Up first: how to create a sales pitch that earns the interest (and investment) of customers.

Sales Pitch Success Tip #1: Grab the Attention of Your Audience

Most people judge others and their ideas quickly (really quickly), so it is important to open your pitch with a crystal clear proposition that’s summarised in just a few sentences – and directly addresses your audience. This will help potential customers understand what you are offering, and encourage them to keep reading on. Remember, whilst you might love the details of your product or service, your customers aren’t interested in it per se; rather, they want to know what it will do for them. How will it solve their problems? How will it help them achieve their goals? How will it save them money, or time? The first rule of selling to consumers is to show them what they are going to get, so translate your product’s features into your customer’s benefits and prove why they should purchase it.

Sales Pitch Success Tip #2: Promote Confidence

Once you have established interest, you need to go on to establish confidence. As such, your narrative should demonstrate why you believe in your product or service – without hyperbole or faux-friendliness. Present the problems that you are trying to solve, and explain why your product will challenge the status quo. Use statistics where possible, rather than relying on opinion only. A good tip is to put yourself in your customer’s shoes and answer the key questions they might have – before they actually get chance to ask them! (This might include questions about you – e.g. Why is this idea important to you? What is your role? – as well as questions about the product – e.g. What is its purpose and objective? Why is it unique?)

Sales Pitch Success Tip #3: A Picture Tells a Thousand Words

Don’t underestimate the power of appropriate photos. Whilst a well-written sales pitch is vital, imagery can enhance and add depth to your words, making the whole package more powerful. Choose images which reveal, communicate, and reinforce the key features of your service or product, and the people behind it. Pictures also help to structure your pitch, and prevent the audience getting bogged down in all the written detail. Remember, online readers are naturally impatient, so well-organised text – with a good dose of imagery and white space – is the best way to keep their attention.

Sales Pitch Success Tip #4: Show and Tell

Most crowdfunding platforms – including our own Sandpit and Crowdfund Campus sites – let you upload a video to support your written and visual materials. With research showing that this is one of the first things people look at, the importance of your showreel cannot be overstated. Keep the video short (around three minutes is plenty) and tell your story in a clear and passionate, but professional, way. Use everyday language to communicate your core ideas and, like your written material, make sure you focus on the value to the customer (technical or historical details, whilst interesting to you, tend to be superfluous to a consumer). Ensure you keep it consistent, too, so that the message and branding of the video supports and enhances the rest of your sales pitch.

Your sales pitch is your first point of contact with potential customers, so make sure you leave a fantastic first impression. Don’t dash it off and hope for the best. Plan it. Refine it. Then use a platform like the Sandpit to test, tweak and modify it until you’re sure you can’t do any better. Your sales pitch can make you – or break you. Good luck!

Check back next month for tips on how to pitch to investors.

This doesn’t mean that your crowdfunding campaign can’t have an impact, however. By thinking carefully about your strategy and considering the tips below, you’ll be on the fast-track to success – with a comprehensive campaign that is optimised for meeting your goals.

1. Fail to prepare and you’re preparing to fail…

Crowdfunding isn’t only a brilliant medium through which to raise funds, it’s also something of an education: you can gain a great deal of business acumen by running a campaign. That said, a live campaign is not the best way to validate your ideas – and you could damage your credibility with your intended audience if it’s felt that your concept isn’t fully proofed.

Our acclaimed Sandpit tool provides an immersive crowdfunding experience, allowing you to take risks and test ideas in a simulated, real-time environment, before you put your campaign into motion. By undergoing this process you’ll ensure that your campaign is fleshed out and watertight before you go to market, giving you the best chance to attract funders.

2. Research the competition

Most crowdfunding platforms (like Kickstarter) leave campaigns on their site after they’ve ended – whether successful or unsuccessful. A wealth of information exists for budding entrepreneurs, therefore, and all for free! With a little bit of time and effort you can build a comprehensive databank of crowdfunding intel, tracking what worked, what didn’t, and identifying your competition.

3. Be smart with social media

Social media can seem overwhelming, so it’s best to start small. Whilst you don’t need a presence on every single platform, you may reap huge rewards if you maintain a good level of activity only on the network(s) that best suits your particular campaign (according to your marketing strategies and intended audience). If you’re planning to publicise your campaign on several platforms, don’t be tempted to shoot for a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach: though this can save a little time, each platform is different, and you’re far more likely to be successful if you customise your campaign to each.

4. Produce a great video – and shoot two endings

A video is a powerful marketing tool: at once providing the ability to give a behind-the-scenes look at your project and team – uncovering the personal story behind your product – as well as offering a more dynamic and appealing medium through which to sell your concept. High-quality videos require time and expertise, however, so don’t be tempted to rush: if you’re not skilled in this area – and don’t know anyone who is – enlist the services of a professional. Whilst there’s a place for rough, ‘in the moment’ style videos, a crowdfunding campaign requires a polished finish: you’re trying to convince backers to part with their money, after all.

Don’t forget that a campaign is a living thing; as such, it pays to have more than one video in your marketing arsenal – or, alternatively, the same video with two different endings. The first video can be used for before your campaign launches, in that important period where you’re assessing interest and trying to create a buzz about your project, encouraging potential supporters to sign up to your newsletter or follow you on social media for updates about your campaign launch. The second can be used when the campaign is live and should encourage people to donate.

5. Communicate, communicate, communicate – and keep it personal

Whatever progress you’ve made – whether the steps taken have been big or small – supporters and potential supporters want to know about it. Regular updates show that you are engaged with your audience and that investing in your project will have rewards that go beyond the financial. Let your supporters know more about the team behind the project, check in whenever you hit a target (whether that’s to do with funding or the development of your product/service), and inject your messages with personality.

These updates should continue long after the campaign ends – after all, that’s when the real work begins!

At Crowdfund Campus we believe in the power of the crowd, and are proud to support students and universities seeking enterprise education. Our innovative Sandpit tool and live marketplace provide the perfect method by which to introduce crowdfunding into your classroom. For more information, please contact us – we’d be delighted to help you get started!

Indeed, in 2016, equity raised from crowdfunding passed VC funding for the first time, and, by 2025, the World Bank Report estimates that global investment through crowdfunding will reach $93 billion. No wonder established business owners and fledgling entrepreneurs alike are keen to secure a slice of this explosive industry.

If you, too, think crowdfunding might benefit your business – big or small – in 2017, here are some key trends to take note of this year:

1. Rise of niche platforms

With crowdfunding becoming increasingly accessible to all, we are likely to see a proliferation in the popularity of niche platforms in 2017. Thanks to our greater collective understanding of the benefits of crowdfunding – the ability to test the desirability of, and appetite for, your offering, as well as the opportunity to raise equity – campaigners are moving away from mass market platforms to those which draw a specific crowd. Niches like gaming, education, music, sport, and not-for-profit, as well as location-based projects, are all forming their own platforms to better serve both those crowdfunding and those investing.

Look out for platforms such as Crowdemand – a retail revolution which allows fashion designers to test the popularity of their designs and pre-sell them to an audience (thus securing funding for their completion), and RealtyMogul – a site which offers real estate investment opportunities to all, not just very wealthy institutions and individuals. And don’t forget to check out Crowdfund Campus, either: a platform designed specifically to back the projects and businesses that come out of universities.

2. Rise of smart investors

With fears that another recession may be on the horizon, sponsors are no longer prepared to throw spare change at a project simply because their nephew’s daughter’s best friend is behind it. What’s more, with crowdfunding offering millions of ordinary people the chance to invest (and not simply restricting investment to VCs), entrepreneurs should be prepared to spend time educating this new class of investors about the benefits of pledging equity to their campaign.

For some, utilising the services of a specialist agency who can manage and market their campaign might be worthwhile. For others, directing potential backers to sites like Shareholder Academy may help instill confidence in the first-time investor. But for all, ensuring proactive promotion of a project – and reinforcing the reciprocal relationship of crowdfunding investment: that product promised equals product delivered – will be absolutely vital in capturing a cautious audience’s attention.

3. Rise of corporate crowdfunding

In its infancy, crowdfunding allowed individuals to raise small amounts of money for personal projects. However, in the last few years we have seen large corporate companies leveraging crowdfunding as a research and validation method. In doing so, major world companies are not only conducting market research on their services and products, but also gaining public support and pre-orders before they go mainstream. As Duncan McCann, researcher at the New Economics Foundation, comments, “It is about understanding the market very quickly, which is a real benefit. It also brings a guarantee of a certain number of purchases and it generates loyalty.”

In 2017, we expect to see a boom in blue chip crowdfunding as the large corporates continue to learn what startups have long understood: that crowdfunding is the best medium for authenticating ideas, garnering support, and determining demand with very little risk.

If you are a university student with a budding business idea, or a lecturer looking to introduce enterprise education into your classroom, Crowdfund Campus can help. From our simulated Sandpit to our live crowdfunding marketplace, we have all the tools you need to make 2017 your most successful year yet. Contact us today to learn more and book your free demonstration.

In this fast-paced modern world – with the memory of the recession clear in the minds of most – job security has become something of an outdated notion. Instead of looking for opportunity, the boldest and brightest youngsters are creating their own.

Nonetheless, whether as an entrepreneur or an employee, the ability to adapt quickly is a vital skill for all who hope to succeed in today’s job market; and universities, too, have had to adapt their own business offering in line with this new mode of thinking. Courses that focus on entrepreneurship and enterprise have become a key part of the curriculum.

The aim, of course, is to prepare budding businessmen and women for the ‘real’ world of business – but this, too, necessitates an adherence to the latest trends. And there’s been one trend in particular that has proved a game-changer in recent years, disrupting conventional funding methods: crowdfunding.  No longer do entrepreneurs need to rely on banks and investors to get a project off the ground; now an entrepreneur can open his/her idea out to the public and let them decide what it’s worth. As LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman puts it:

Call it the emergence of a “world’s bank” – a system built by and for the people, delivering credit in America and across the globe in a radically decentralized, highly scalable, and crucially equitable way.

The World Bank funds institutions. The world’s bank funds people.

If you’re an institution offering any kind of enterprise course, there are many reasons to involve crowdfunding within your curriculum. Here are our top three:

#1: THE DEVELOPMENT OF REAL BUSINESS SKILLS

A crowdfunding campaign requires all of the same processes needed for a successful product launch in any arena: marketing (including digital marketing, video production, copywriting, etc.), sales, strategy, social media and PR, as well as operational planning (manufacture, sourcing, logistics, delivery).

The difference is that these elements are extremely accessible: most of the ‘pre-campaign’ can be delivered via the platform of choice, and it requires little expenditure. Most importantly, crowdfunding is a direct test of an idea in an open market: instead of a handful of investors (or similar) deciding about the viability of a product, it’s the general public who decides. There can be no better test, in a sense.

#2: THE ABILITY TO FAIL

Better still, it gives students the chance to fail. Failing is a key part of the entrepreneur’s journey (a theory that is easy to prove – one need only think of Steve Jobs); and providing a safe environment by which students can try, and fail, and try again may be the greatest gift a university enterprise course could give.

Platforms like Crowdfund Campus are ideally placed to help with this; our Sandpit tool allows students to test an idea fully by using ‘virtual’ currency before transferring over to a live marketplace.

#3: PRACTICE IN BUILDING EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS

Traditional funding routes often promote working in solitude (or small groups) as opposed to real teamwork, which can be to the detriment of the entrepreneur in question; indeed, the ability to build relationships with a number of people can often be the difference between success or failure for a fledgling company.

Crowdfunding forces students to think out of the box and – more importantly – come out of their box. To make the campaign a success, they will need to muster support: from friends, family, teachers, and beyond. This practice will provide valuable insight into networking and relationship-building; moreover, it has the added benefit of raising the profile of the course across campus and – if really effective – the profile of the university as a whole to wider networks.

At Crowdfund Campus, we provide full support to students and universities who wish to embrace crowdfunding. Our offering includes – but is not limited to – step-by-step guidance to creating a successful campaign; free educational workshops; and a full vetting process of each campaign before it is launched. There are also no participation fees! The only fees that will be payable to Crowdfund Campus are those stipulated by our payment provider for card processing.

If you think your university is ready to enjoy the multiple benefits of crowdfunding, please email support@crowdfundcampus.com – we’ll be delighted to help.