NASE News

National Small Business Groups Launch Crowdfunding Contest with Fundable

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS
NASE: Kristofer Eisenla, Luna Eisenla Media
kristofer@eisenlamedia.com | 202-670-5747 (mobile)

SBE Council: Savannah Bentley
sbentley@sbecouncil.org | 703-242-5840

FUNDABLE: Laura Moller, Media Relations Coordinator
lmoller@fundable.com | 614-364-4523 ext. 4523 (office)

WASHINGTON – To commemorate National Small Business Week, The National Association for the Self-Employed, the nation’s leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, and the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council), an advocacy and research organization for entrepreneurs, have partnered with Fundable, a crowdfunding platform partner focused exclusively on startup companies, to launch a contest helping startups and existing business fundraise to start or grow their company.  

Participants will use the Fundable platform to create their company fundraising page. After representatives of NASE and SBE Council review the applications, ten companies will be selected to participate in the contest. The finalist companies will be responsible for further enhancing their profile on Fundable and communicating their goals to their networks to garner support and funding for their businesses. The winner will be announced after Labor Day and will receive the money they’ve raised, along with a funding prize provided by sponsors of the contest.  To learn more about the contest and/or to apply, please visit:  http://www.fundable.com/contest.  Follow the contest, and its participants and supporters on Twitter at #ryoufundable.

“Our goal with this crowdfunding contest is to showcase this promising method to raise capital for startups and growing small businesses,” said Kristie Arslan, president and CEO of NASE. “Our crowdfunding contest will shine a light on opportunities to raise capital, but also show how difficult it is for small businesses to get the funding they need to live their entrepreneurial dream.” 

“Crowdfunding has opened exciting opportunities for entrepreneurs and startups to raise capital, validate their product or service and tap into an ecosystem of support,” said SBE Council President & CEO Karen Kerrigan. “The contest will help promote the benefits and possibilities of crowdfunding to a nationwide audience of small business owners and help them understand and prepare for equity and debt-based crowdfunding,” she added.   

With new rules pending at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to expand equity and debt-based crowdfunding, there has been an increased interest in the viability of this method to raise funds for new and growing businesses.  A national crowdfunding contest is an effective approach to increase awareness, educate business owners and stakeholders, and promote entrepreneurship. The contest is also dedicated to elevating the issue of raising and accessing capital for small businesses. 

According to Fundable President Eric Corl, “The Fundable platform is an incredible tool for the companies selected to showcase their company, gather support from their prospective networks, and prove demand for their ideas. We’re excited to be helping a new crop of startups achieve their funding goals and launch great businesses nationwide.” 

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The National Association for the Self-Employed (NASE) is the nation's leading resource for the self-employed and micro-businesses, bringing a broad range of benefits to help entrepreneurs succeed and to drive the continued growth of this vital segment of the American economy. The NASE Small Business Locator helps identify and connect our nation’s smallest businesses. The NASE is a 501(c) (6) nonprofit organization and provides big-business advantages to hundreds of thousands of micro-businesses across the United States. For more information, visit the association's website at NASE.org

SBE Council is a 100,000 member nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy, research and training organization dedicated to protecting small business and promoting entrepreneurship. For more information please visit www.sbecouncil.org. 

Fundable is a crowdfunding platform for startup businesses, offering both rewards and equity funding options. Founded by veteran entrepreneurs, Fundable seeks to empower startups across the country by providing access to early stage growth capital.