NetworkFunder.com launched their crowdfunding site which hopes to connect entrepreneurs to set up fundraising campaigns to accept pledges for their projects and draw upon the support of their academic network. Campaign Teams can choose to be identified by their Academic Institution or by their Sorority or Fraternity. The site is powered by Launcht a well known white label crowdfunding platform provider.
Indiana University, Kelley School of Business MBA and site founder Dominic De Cayette stated,
“Alumni, students and faculty have a natural connection and interest in the success of their colleagues. The goal of NetworkFunder is to bring individuals seeking money via crowdsourcing together with other students, faculty and alumni from their college.”
Launching a new fundraising project on NetworkFunder was designed to be an easy and streamlined process. Individuals may select their institution, sorority or fraternity and create a profile page detailing their project and the amount of money that they need to raise to successfully launch. Once the project has been posted on the site, campaign teams can then reach out to school alumni, college friends and faculty to make their funding goals a reality. In turn, project funders benefit from receiving unique one-of-a-kind perks and incentives in return for their contributions.
Dominic adds,
“Access to crowdfunding through academic networks need not be a one way street from alumni to students. Resources should flow to bright, creative ideas from alumni to alumni, faculty to alumni, student to student and so on. We are bringing together the power of crowdfunding with the power of academia and entrepreneurship. When people see the drive and enthusiasm of others within their academic network, that passion is contagious!”