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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.
iPledg Crowd Funding Platform (QLD)
This innovation initially came to life when…
Andy and I (the co-founders) were both on a Mentoring For Growth Panel (QLD govt.) and met afterward to discuss how we could fill the gaps at the bottom rungs of the funding ladder that made it so hard for businesses, creative individuals, charities and community groups to get funding for their great ideas and aspirations.
WHAT & HOW
The purpose of this innovation is to…
iPledg is a Gold Coast-based startup operating a crowd funding platform on which those with creative, commercial, charitable, and community endeavours can engage their networks to raise funds for a range of initiatives.
It does this by…
Having project creators list their projects along with a description, funding target and time frame, as well as great rewards for those who pledge their support. They then are coached to invite those in their networks and community to contribute small financial pledges.
PURPOSE & BENEFITS
This innovation improves on what came before because…
iPledg offers to project creators funding options that weren’t previously available because of the conservative nature of banks and the policy of venture capitalists to not really fund startups (despite claiming otherwise). It is the only broad-based crowd funding platform that fills all sectors of creative, commercial, charitable and community.
Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…
A low-risk, low-cost option to project creators to quickly and efficiently raise required funding and option social proof for their concepts and ideas.
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
In the past, this problem was solved by…
Many great ideas and initiative just died as the funding for something that was an unsubstantiated idea was just unavailable. With iPledg, we now have a product that offers grassroots funding for concepts whose viability is validated by the “crowd” rather than traditional financiers.
Its predecessors/competitors include…
Banks, venture capitalists, government grants, etc. — all of whom have rigid requirements and require proven history, track records, and a level of exiting funding and success.
TARGET MARKET
It is made for…
Anyone with a project — that can be those with creative endeavours (writers, musicians, artists, movie makers), commercial projects (startups or business transformations), community groups (like sporting clubs or general interest clubs, and charities (whether they have DGR status or not).
DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY
It is available for sale through…
Our website: www.ipledg.com.
Our marketing strategy is to…
Influence the influencer — get those with a sphere of influence to be mindful of what we offer, and then tell the world. Also, we are diligently building strategic alliances with credible organisations locally and overseas.
SUPPORTING IMAGES
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