Applicants wanted: Crowdfunding Contest promotes social projects

The crowdfunding contest "social is sexy" now invites social projects, social enterprises, associations and other social initiatives to enter the competition and present themselves via crowdfunding on the existing platform UNIKAT CROWDFUNDING. As part of the contest, the public decides on the website in an open process on the allocation of additional funding from a funding pot for the individual projects. Through this, crowdfunding and funding pot come together to realize as many projects as possible. The competition is more than just a funding tool - it provides the opportunity to publicly promote the project, to build a network and to test how the project idea is received by others.

Ilona Friedrich, mayor of Kassel and patron of the contest, sees great potential in the contest: "I'm excited by the idea of using innovative spirit to promote projects in Kassel in the social sector. This new way can be an ideal and sustainable addition to the social policy in our city. The promotion of social projects creates more quality of life and social participation in our region. For the contest "social is sexy" of UNIKAT CROWDFUNDING I wish all participants much success."

The AStA of the University of Kassel also stands behind the contest as well as the innovative form of project funding for social projects and motivates projects to apply in the contest.
 

Project applications are possible until January 2019

Interested social projects can now apply on the homepage(www.contest.unikat-crowdfunding.de) to participate in the Contest.

It is important that the goals of the projects lie in a special way in the social benefit. The contest is open to small initiatives as well as startups or companies that operate in a socially responsible manner. In the long term, social coexistence can only succeed if it is actively shaped by fresh new projects. It is important that initiatives are given a platform to develop and realize their ideas in the social sector. Particularly in recent years, it has been shown that small social projects by local associations, initiatives or private individuals can bring about major changes. But startups and companies have also dedicated themselves to finding solutions for social problems. Numerous social startups (keyword: social entrepreneurship) pursue the idea of finding sustainable solutions to social or ecological problems through innovative and entrepreneurial approaches. One thing both small projects and social enterprises have in common is that social projects can only achieve their full impact through tailored support. This is where the crowdfunding contest "social is sexy" comes in and offers targeted support.

At the beginning of February, a jury will select approximately ten projects from all applicants that will be allowed to enter the contest. The selected projects will be intensively advised and supported by a crowdfunding expert from Science Park Kassel as well as other technical experts in the preparation of the project presentation. The official start of the contest is April 29, 2019, and during the four-week contest phase, all projects will be simultaneously crowdfunding and soliciting supporters.

All participating projects will be ranked based on the number of supporters. At the end of May, at the end of the funding phase, the prize money from the funding pot will be awarded to those projects that occupy the first five places in the ranking list at that time. In addition to the initiators, Hübner GmbH & Co. KG, Kasseler Sparkasse, Wintershall Holding GmbH and Techniker Krankenkasse are also helping to support the projects by sponsoring the funding pot.
 

There is already good experience with crowdfunding in the Kassel region

As a joint project of the University of Kassel and Wirtschaftsförderung Region Kassel GmbH, the regional crowdfunding page UNIKAT CROWDFUNDING was launched in February 2014. The page aims to motivate and support projects from the region. Crowdfunding gives projects a platform to present themselves to the public, generate financial support through many individual contributions, and at the same time engage in active marketing. This is because crowdfunding is more than just a funding tool - it gives the opportunity to publicly promote the project, build a network and test out how the project idea is received by others. Since the site's launch, 57 projects have presented themselves and raised a total of more than 730,000 euros in funding.

All information about the contest as well as the conditions of participation can be found at: www.contest.unikat-crowdfunding.de    

Contact:
Annika Wallbach
Science Park Kassel
E-mail: wallbach[at]sciencepark-kassel[dot]de
Tel.: 0561 95379 605