16 May 2016
Curious about Crowd Funding?
Internationally recognised crowdfunding expert Tim Wright will be delivering two workshops in Aberdeenshire to raise awareness of crowdfunding as an alternative source of finance.
The free information sessions, which are being organised by Aberdeenshire Council, are aimed at community organisations and businesses that would like to know more about crowdfunding, and how to maximise the potential of this rapidly growing funding resource.
Crowdfunding is a way for people to raise money, awareness and support for great ideas and projects, from the people around you; a means of funding that allows individuals and groups to make their ideas a reality with the power of the crowd.
Successful crowdfund campaigners in Aberdeenshire include BrewDog, the Ellon based producer of craft beers, who have used crowdfunding on several occasions to raise over £25m to expand their business.
Not wishing to rely on banks for finance, BrewDog’s Equity for Punks crowdfunding scheme allowed its customers to buy shares and bonds in the company in return for a discount in their bars and an invite to their annual general meeting.
The Bennachie Leisure Centre in Insch, needed to raise funds to help keep the centre open. In just 28 days they managed to exceed their target of raising £3K.
Alex Mair from the centre said “Crowdfunding is a great way to show your community and users exactly what you need. The visual representation of the target amount doesn’t allow people the opportunity to say, ‘oh somebody else will donate’. Without the community raising the necessary funds for the centre through crowdfunding, the Bennachie Leisure Centre would certainly have closed”.
Provost of Aberdeenshire, Hamish Vernal said, “The potential for the communities and businesses of Aberdeenshire to utilise crowdfunding is vast, as we have seen from the local BrewDog and Bennachie Leisure Centre examples. However, many people and organisations can be unsure as to how to get started, or even, where to get advice.
“These information and awareness raising sessions aim to ‘demystify’ crowdfunding, and offer a chance to hear from a renowned expert - in simple terms - what crowdfunding is and how it works, as well as the different ways of crowdfunding.”
The two information and awareness sessions are being held on the following dates:
- Tuesday 31th May 2016, Woodend Barn, Banchory, AB31 5QA 6-9pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curious-about-crowdfunding-tickets-25371907057
- Tuesday 7th June, the Station Hotel, Station Brae, Ellon, AB41 9BD 6-9pm
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/curious-about-crowdfunding-tickets-25376581037
To book on one of the sessions, please visit the Eventbrite links above, or for further information contact econdev@aberdeenshire.gov.uk