StartSomeGood and ING Direct launch ‘crowdfunding' initiative for social entrepreneurs

DREAMSTARTER is the brand name of a new online ‘crowd-source funding' platform to assist Australian entrepreneurs developing positive social change projects.

 

The StartSomeGood organisation is partnering with ING Direct to launch Dreamstarter.

Dreamstarter wants to offer inspirational Australian entrepreneurs an online platform to raise funds towards diverse social change projects.

The first enterprises to go live on Dreamstarter include a project to connect remote Aboriginal entrepreneurs to new markets via an online store (Enterprise Learning Australia) and an initiative to help rural communities in Malawi to achieve greater self-sufficiency (Empower).

Successful projects that capture the imagination and support of the community will receive extra funding from ING Direct.

StartSomeGood cofounder Tom Dawkins said the partnership breaks new ground in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) sector.

"Crowdfunding is a participatory model that democratises corporate philanthropy," Mr Dawkins said.  The projects that will succeed are those that have a genuine mandate from the community."

He said SomeStartGood selected ING Direct as a partner because of its pioneering approach to branchless banking in Australia, plus its focus on online delivery and social media. These fitted wwll with the crowdfunding model.

"At ING Direct we strongly support innovative projects that address real community needs," said ING Direct CEO Vaughn Richtor.

"Leveraging ING DIRECT's customers, employees and the general public's support benefits all involved."

Ten ventures by social entrepreneurs that graduated from the School for Social Entrepreneurs Australia are launching in the initial round of fundraising through the Dreamstarter platform.

The CEO of the School for Social Entrepreneurs Celia Hodson sees innovative crowdfunding collaborations like Dreamstarter as breaking down many of the traditional barriers social entrepreneurs face when attracting support for their ventures.

"The Dreamstarter campaign is a fantastic way for start up social ventures to raise their profile, attract critical seed funding and inspire others to create change in their communities," said Ms Hodson.

People can apply to be a part of the Dreamstarter program online.

www.ingdirect.com.au/dreamstarter

ends