FOLIOOne Spark, The World’s Largest Crowdfunding Festival, kicked off creator registration today for the April 7 – 12, 2015 festival. This year, creator projects have the opportunity to compete for bigger awards, exhibit in more venues and accept rewards-based crowdfunding contributions from anywhere in the world. One Spark 2015 offers official creators 13 different $15,000 awards, over 80 venues to showcase their projects in and free entry into the One Spark Speaker Summit presented by Community First Credit Union. Creators can register their projects at OneSpark.com starting today.
Artists, educators, makers, entrepreneurs, inventors, musicians and scientists from all over the world, collectively referred to as “creators” at One Spark, have the opportunity to register their ideas, projects, startups or small businesses for One Spark. Creator registration is open from Dec. 1, 2014 through Feb. 14, 2015. Ideas and projects can be in any stage of development with an operating budget of less than $1 million to qualify for entry. Creator registration fees start at $65 from Dec. 1 to Dec. 14, 2014, increase to $75 from Dec. 15, 2014 to Jan. 18, 2015 and max out at $95 from Jan. 19 to Feb. 14, 2015. Students with valid .edu email addresses can enter for the reduced rate of $25.
“In just two years, 1,015 creators – people with ideas – have connected their projects with over $3.5 million at the world’s largest crowdfunding festival,” said Joe Sampson, executive director and COO, One Spark. “In 2015, One Spark is even more focused on providing an effective platform for creators to connect with the funding and resources needed to bring their ideas into action.”
One Spark offers creators the opportunity to connect with both human and financial resources to move their projects forward. Human resources available at the festival encompass market feedback and validation from an expected 275,000+ attendees, increased visibility and market share and connecting with other creators and meeting new collaborators. Financial resources offered at One Spark include $350,000 in guaranteed crowdfunds and awards, unlimited individual contributions from anywhere in the world and millions in potential capital investment from One Spark investment partners. Last year, 609 creator projects showcased at One Spark 2014.
Past One Spark creators leveraged the human and financial resources available at the festival to move their projects and small businesses forward in a variety of ways:
FUNDING
“We went in to One Spark 2014 with the goal of raising $250,000…and we were actually able to raise the funds.”
– Mark Ansley, Founder, snapFOODS
MEETING NEW COLLABORATORS
“The best thing about One Spark was the collaboration. We still have emails rolling in saying, “How can we help?” and “Your project is really cool.” Also, we were approached by a lot of investors whom we’re still talking to.”
– Dr. Spring Behrouz, Ph.D., Founder, NeuroInitiative
MARKET FEEDBACK & VALIDATION
“We spoke to over 1,000 people; they interacted with our product and provided feedback and validation. Pitching our story so frequently to the public allowed us to crystallize our message and make it really concise, which helped when we had to speak to investors later on.” – Emily Charette, Co-Founder, Menuat
“We were still in the idea and conception portion of creating and we walked away with a list of over 100 people who wanted to be on the product list for when it was ready…Knowing that we had a hit on our hands was the biggest thing we came away with and the basis for everything we’ve done since. Since One Spark, we’ve gone into full production mode and started selling in November. The most valuable thing we came away with was the feedback from the public.” – Michelle & Kevin O’Malley, Co-Founders, Troll on the Bowl
INCREASED VISIBILITY
“One Spark was a great launchpad for us. The networking and introduction of our project to the community at large was invaluable. The creative energy throughout One Spark was amazing to be a part of and it helped fuel our drive to keep at it.” – Ellen Hiser, Co-Founder, Farm to Truck
“I strongly believe we have a great product, and the market validation and visibility we received from One Spark 2014 was invaluable in helping us continue to grow right here in Jacksonville.”
– Mark Patterson, Co-Founder, Naturally Smart Foods
A new program announced by One Spark in Sept. 2014 and designed to help creators better leverage One Spark to achieve their project’s goals, the One Spark Creator Academy, is a mixture of free and paid content, and more classes will be announced shortly for the spring. For more information about the One Spark Creator Academy or registering a creator project, visit OneSpark.com.
About One Spark:
One Spark, The World’s Largest Crowdfunding Festival, is committed to fostering environments of creativity and innovation by connecting artists, entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world with the human and capital resources they need to launch ideas. The One Spark festival is an interactive experience that allows attendees to support ideas and projects that inspire them via voting and direct contributions and decide on the next big thing. One Spark Jacksonville 2015 takes place April 7 – 12, 2015 in downtown Jacksonville, Fla.
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