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Join the Crowd

Short of cash to start a business? More and more people are using the internet to get customers or would-be investors to make their projects happen. Peter Day reports.

Short of cash to start a business? Instead of going to the bank for a loan, asking for cash from friends or family, or meeting with venture capitalists, how about asking hundreds or thousands of strangers on the internet to buy your product or a share in your company?
It's called crowdfunding, and it's a strategy that was first adopted by filmmakers and musicians. Now more and more businesses are using crowdfunding websites to raise capital.
Peter Day meets some of the businesses turning to this innovative form of fundraising as well as some of the founders of high-tech companies matching up entrepreneurs with investors.
He also finds out more about the potential risks and asks whether crowdfunding will remain a niche business tool or an idea that will transform the way entrepreneurs raise money.
Producer: Mike Wendling
Editor: Stephen Chilcott.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 26 Aug 2012 21:30

Contributors to this programme:

Eric Migicovsky
Founder, Pebble Technology

Adrian Hon
Co-founder, Six to Start

Andrew Denham
Founder, The Bicycle Academy

Chris Vernon
Backer of The Bicycle Academy

Daniel Isenberg
Babson Global Professor of Entrepreneurship Practice


Darren Westlake,
Co-founder and CEO, Crowdcube

Gem Misa
Founder, Righteous Foods


Jeff Lynn
Co-founder and CEO, Seedrs

Naomi Alderman
Novelist and games writer

Broadcasts

  • Thu 23 Aug 2012 20:30
  • Sun 26 Aug 2012 21:30

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