10/8(Sat.)Crowd-funding&dreams (Host:Christina)

[Christinawu]

Topic: crowdfunding & dreams

Session 1: What Is Crowdfunding And How Does It Benefit The Economy

With the passing of President Obama’s JOBS Act this past April, the word of the day seems to be crowdfunding. While this concept has arguably been around for centuries, it is still formally recognized as a new industry to many consumers, particularly those outside the United States. Crowdfunding is by definition, “the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet.” Check out this video to get a clearer idea of the step by step process of crowdfunding.
In a seemingly nonstop recession wave, small businesses are struggling more than ever to stay afloat, and entrepreneurs are not facing great odds. Crowdfunding offers these individuals a chance at success, by showcasing their businesses and projects to the entire world.
There are numerous donation crowdfunding platforms where entrepreneurs can safely ask for capital such as Kickstarter, Indiegogo, RocketHub, and investment platforms like 1000 Angels, the company I co-founded, to name a few. While each site offers their unique spin, the general concept is the same across the board. Project creators can create a profile typically containing a short video, an introduction to their project, a list of rewards per donation, and some images to elaborate. The idea is to create a compelling message that readers will be drawn towards.
The idea of “its not what you do, but why you do it,” really hits home here. By focusing on a bigger purpose, the driving force behind a brand, project creators will be able to create a unique community of likeminded individuals. Each campaign is set for a goal amount of money and a fixed number of days. Once the project is launched, each day will be counted down and the money raised will be tallied up for visitors to follow its success.
Instead of traditional investors, crowdfunding campaigns are funded by the general public. Typically, most successful startup fundraising efforts receive about 25-40% of their revenue from their first, second and third degree of connections. This could include friends, family, work acquaintances, or anyone that the owner is connected to, including their second and third degree connections. Once a project has seen some traction, unrelated consumers start coming out of the woodwork to support campaigns they believe in.
There is a huge misconception that creating a successful crowdfunding campaign is as simple as hitting submit and waiting for it to go viral. While this has happened to many brands, the vast majority of projects will require a decent amount of effort on the part of the project creator.
Utilizing social media, creating email distribution lists before the project launches, contacting local media, are all necessary steps to take if you are serious about your goal. Remember, this is not a platform to ask for a handout. If you expect people to join your cause, you had better be prepared to prove your salt.
There are three main reasons why people unconnected to a project or business would support it:
1. They connect to the greater purpose of the campaign
2. They connect to a physical aspect of the campaign like the rewards
3. They connect to the creative display of the campaign’s presentation
Knowing these points is extremely key to creating a successful campaign. Each campaign should contain a powerful reason behind the idea, exciting and unique rewards, and an eye-catching display. Video definitely plays a huge role in this last point, and novice film makers might want to consider taking the time to ask for assistance from an educated friend, or seeking a crowdfunding platform that assists with the video editing. In this age of the digital reign, many consumers will stop reading your campaign if they don’t connect to the video, so this is really the gateway to your proposal.
Another common misconception is that crowdfunding is just useful for small businesses and startups. This is definitely untrue. While crowdfunding creates a funding opportunity that certain smaller businesses may not have received in the traditional way, it also is a great outlet for more established companies.

These businesses may be interested in expanding their product range, and reverse engineering the investment could be a good idea, not to mention the excitement they can generate before the launch. Crowdfunding has proven itself as a great asset in sourcing potential customers and growing an audience.

One prime example of this is Villy Custom Bicycles. Already a successful company, having been featured on ABC’s Shark Tank and sponsored by Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran, Villy Custom didn’t need to raise funds to support their business. Gearing up to launch a new line of Glow in the Dark bicycles, Fleetwood Hicks, the founder of Villy Custom, decided to run a crowdfunding campaign on Onevest to test the market reaction. Within the first two weeks he successfully reached his goal of $10,000, received an overwhelmingly positive affirmation towards his new line, and had a number of orders before production had even started.
A great additional benefit to crowdfunding is its economical helping hand. Anything that aids in generating revenue is desperately needed in our sluggard economy, and crowdfunding has proven to be a powerful force. Not only is it pumping small businesses with desperately needed lifeblood, but it is also encouraging entrepreneurs to continue creating even in the face of these slow times.
In sum, crowdfunding is a great asset to businesses and entrepreneurs, generating much needed revenue and increasing the customer base, all the while aiding our country’s economy.

Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and of alternative finance. In 2015, it was estimated that worldwide over US$34 billion was raised this way.


Session 2: How To Make Your Dreams Come True in 9 Simple Steps
by Sonia Thompson

What do you dream about? Running your own business? Completing that 5K? Traveling the world? Buying a house? What do you spend your days fantasizing about, wishing was your reality?
No matter what your dream is, you can accomplish it. You don’t have to watch as another year goes by with you being no closer to your goal than you were the last year. You can move from where you are to where you want to go.
By following these nine steps, you can make your dreams come true.

Details for 9 steps are as below:
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/produc ... steps.html

1. Do some stripping
2. Look fear in the eyes
3. Set your boats on fire
4. Shamelessly steal
5. Build a plan
6. Set a deadline
7. Do the work
8. Praise the progress
9. Don’t go it alone

They can absolutely be your reality. But the majority of the time, dreams come true only as a result of us doing what’s necessary to make them happen.You just have to do the work.
By implementing these steps, you’ll look back a year from now (maybe sooner) at all you have accomplished, and smile.
Because you’ll know that dreams do come true.
Because yours finally did.
After you did the work.

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
— Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Session 1:
1. If you want to run a new business or a startup, will you borrow money from banks or friends& relatives or will you raise money from crowdfunding website? Why do you choose so?
2. If you are a general public and intend to invest through crowdfunding, what kinds of products will attract you? For example, 3D printer flux, which is a crowdfunding project put forth by Taiwanese, has raised US$1,500,000. Another examples are VR, smart watch etc. Will you invest?
3. The article mentioned that three things will attract general public to invest. One is powerful reason behind the idea, another is exciting and unique rewards, and third is an eye-catching display. Will you invest due to these reasons? Why or why not?
4. Only 40 % of projects could successfully raise money through crowdfunding websites. Why is the rate so low? However, over US$34 billion was raised by this way in 2015. Do you think crowdfunding is a good way to raise money and help the economics? Why?

Session 2:

1. Some people use crowdfunding to make their dreams come true. What are your dreams or goals for short-term and long-term?
2. Are you staying in the comfort zone and fear to change? What stop you or make you paralyze it?
3. If most of your friend or relatives do not suggest you to reach goals or tell you that your dream is garbage, will you persuade them or give up? Why?
4. Do you think that setting a deadline or budget is good way to make dreams come True? Or you think that dream is beyond price and time? For example, Movie
Director Ang Li stayed at home for 6 years. What steps will you take to reach you goals?
5. Who is the successful dream maker and make it become true in your opinion?

p.s. Maybe Michael and Wendy will bring 桌遊 on that day, because there is 3-days holiday, and maybe桌遊 could attract more people to come.


********************************************************************************************************************************************
Agenda:
3:45 ~ 4:00pm Greetings & Free Talk / Ordering Beverage or Meal / Getting Newcomer’s Information
4:00 ~ 4:10pm Opening Remarks / Newcomer’s Self-introduction / Grouping
(Session I)
4:10 ~ 4:50pm Discussion Session (40 mins)
4:50 ~ 5:10pm Summarization (20 mins)
5:10 ~ 5:15pm Regrouping / Instruction Giving / Taking a 10 Minutes Break (Intermission)
(Session II)
5:15 ~ 5:55pm Discussion Session (40 mins)
6:00 ~ 6:20pm Summarization (20 mins)
6:20 ~ 6:30pm Concluding Remarks / Announcements ********************************************************************************************************************************************
聚會日期：列於該貼文主題內
聚會時間：請準時 4:00 pm 到 ~ 約 6:30 pm 左右結束
星期六聚會地點：丹堤濟南店
地址、電話：台北市濟南路三段25號 地圖 (02) 2740-2350
捷運站：板南線 忠孝新生站 3 號出口
走法：出忠孝新生站 3 號出口後，沿著巷子(忠孝東路三段10巷)走約 2 分鐘，到了濟南路口，左轉走約 2 分鐘即可看到。
最低消費： 80 元


注意事項：
1. 文章是否需要列印請自行斟酌，但與會者請務必自行列印 Questions for discussion。
2. 與會者請先閱讀過文章，並仔細想過所有的問題，謝謝合作！


給新朋友的話：
1. 請事先準備2~3分鐘的英語自我介紹；會議結束前可能會請你發表1~2分鐘的感想。
2. 請事先閱讀文章以及主持人所提的討論問題，並事先寫下自己所欲發表意見的英文。
3. 全程以英語進行，參加者應具備中等英語會話能力，對任一討論問題，能夠以5到10句英文表達個人見解。
4. 在正式加入之前，可以先來觀摩三次，觀摩者亦須參與討論。正式加入需繳交終身會費 NT$1,000。

[Christinawu]

How to say 桌遊 in english?