Inspire9 to host crowdfunding crash course

Start-ups have an opportunity to learn the secrets of successful crowdfunding campaigns at an event next month, as the method grows in popularity as a way to raise finance.

Inspire9, a co-working space in the Melbourne suburb of Richmond, will host an event next month called “Crowdfund Your Startup Thousands”, featuring four guest speakers.

“[The event] covers off four people who have raised $135,000 between them,” says guest speaker Kylie Gusset, who raised almost $40,000 on local platform Pozible last year.

The other guest speakers who will talk about their crowdfunding experiences include Rob Ward, who, together with his business partner Chris Peters, raised more than $60,000 to fund the production of his iPhone accessories.

Ward and Peters used US-based platform Kickstarter to raise the funds, and, in the wake of their success, travelled to the US to promote their products.

Tom Dawkins, co-founder of social impact crowdfunding platform StartSomeGood.com, will also speak at the event.

Since its launch in 2011, StartSomeGood has launched campaigns in 20 countries – including Australia, the US, Canada and the United Kingdom – and has raised close to $500,000.

“Many of the fundraising platforms which focus on social benefit are exclusive to a particular country,” Dawkins said earlier this year.

“We know that great social entrepreneurs with inspiring ideas to improve their communities exist everywhere, and having funded projects in 20 countries is an exciting affirmation of that belief.”

“It’s only the beginning though. Our goal is to create the best fundraising website to empower social entrepreneurs in every country on earth to create the future their community needs.”

Prior to StartSomeGood, Dawkins founded Vibewire and opened Sydney’s first co-working space, Vibewire Hub, in 2006.

The fourth and final person who will speak at the event, which is being held on October 11, is Fee Plumley, who funded reallybigroadtrip; a mobile digital arts space.

While crowdfunding platforms are becoming increasingly popular among start-ups, they are not without risks, as evidenced by the recent controversy surrounding US start-up Vinted Goods.

Vinted Goods, which makes bags and other leather goods, claimed it was kicked off Kickstarter hours before its campaign was due to end over accusations of intellectual property infringement made by a former mentor.