TechTown Capital Champion Jack Miner will make the partnership announcement. "Crowdfunding may be the single most important tool made available to startup companies since the Dutch funded trade with the New World," Miner said. "It solves so many important funding problems for lifestyle and micro-enterprise startups, and TechTown is very excited to support these crowdfunding initiatives."
ProFounder was created to ensure all entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need through the engagement of robust, supportive communities. It's particularly innovative in that it allows the community (not just wealthy investors) to invest, and offers investors a dynamic financial reward based on the success of the business, rather than asking for a donation or a loan.
Crowdfunding can allow entrepreneurs to take advantage of their biggest existing resource: their communities. It creates a marketing tool in addition to a financing tool, as those invested in a business will become more loyal customers and avid supporters. It allows businesses to share risk among many, putting less financial pressure on just a few individuals, and also allows entrepreneurs to share their success among their communities.
Learn more at http://www.profounder.com/entrepreneurs/why_crowdfund.
Anyone starting a business is welcome to attend this free event. The event is at the McGregor Memorial Conference Center, 495 Ferry Mall on the campus of Wayne State University, from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, March 18.
Seats are limited, and 150 people have already registered. Register online by 5 p.m. March 17 at http://techtownwsu.org/detroit-crowdfunding-program-unveiled-mar-18/.
About Dana Mauriello
Dana Mauriello lives, eats, and breathes entrepreneurship - and has for as long as she can remember, as she has helped start and run multiple family businesses in a wide range of industries. She is a master of developing a deep customer understanding and applying this empathy to creating, marketing and selling outstanding products. Working on the Corporate Product Innovations team at Estee Lauder, she created new product concepts and brought them to market. Mauriello created a unique major at Stanford University, earning her B.A. in product development, and double-dipped to earn her M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business a few years later.
About TechTown
TechTown is a high-energy community of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors and partners seeking to reignite Detroit's entrepreneurial culture by becoming the world's best incubator. TechTown brings the resources of Wayne State University to high-technology startup companies to diversify and strengthen Michigan's economy in high-growth emerging industries. For more information, visit www.techtownwsu.org.
Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.