CRUCIAL is an ERASMUS+ supported project, designed to better inform all the different stakeholders who can potentially benefit from crowdfunding as innovative means of funding business ventures. The project will gather information on the current market conditions regarding the almost exponential growth of CrowdFunding in certain countries and amalgamate this into a pan-European vision of CrowdFunding. This will include all the key areas on both the demand and supply side of this funding mechanism.
The key groups are those seeking financial support, primarily SME's, but including start-ups and social enterprises and on the supply side entrepreneurs looking to support business investment. In addition those support agencies such as Innovation Centres, Cluster managers, and organizations, both public and private that look to support business and economic development, locally, Regionally and Nationally will be able learn more about how to use and promote CrowdFunding.
The main output will be a totally free access learning platform, with on-line knowledge awareness and learning materials, supported locally by direct partner intervention activities to better inform those considering how to benefit from this funding mechanism.
Over 4,000 beneficiaries of all types are expected to visit and gain knowledge using the materials developed, and during the lifetime of the project the partners will track usage to monitor the impact that is being achieved, from a basic improvement in knowledge awareness up to the successful gain or release of funding to a business or construction of a support programme promoting CrowdFunding.
The project brings together a group of countries both at the forefront of CrowdFunding, (UK & Estonia) and those lagging behind, (Spain, Ireland & Greece) and suffering acutely from the withdrawal/failure within their own countries’ supply of conventional business financial support. In addition CRUCIAL includes partners from the Czech Republic and Malta who bring specific expertise to assist the development of the materials and their successful dissemination into the marketplace.
Programme: Erasmus+
Website: CRUCIAL