Come to a meetup of social changemakers in PDX! This will be a relaxed and informal gathering with a focus on how you fund and launch a social impact initiative. Our speaker guest is Tom Dawkins (@tomjd), co-founder of social good crowdfunding site StartSomeGood.com who will share what they have learned in their first 12 months of supporting social startups to raise funds and launch. While crowdfunding is the buzziest buzzword going at the moment, what does it really mean and how does it open up new opportunities for social entrepreneurs? How can you succeed when more than half of all crowdfunding campaigns fail to reach their goals? Tom will share lots of practical advice and suggestions for how you can raise the funds you need directly from your community in order to start good. The event will be hosted by the new Collective Agency Work Group - SocialMediaUserGroup.org (@SMUGPDX)!

Libations will be provided. BYOB and sharing welcome.

Crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter.com have set the entrepreneurial world ablaze with their democratizing effect in the project funding realm. You’ve read about crowdfunding successes like Pebble, Kickstarter's biggest crowdfunding success (the project raised over $10 million). Now find out how you can use these same sites to get YOUR project off the ground or accelerated into the marketplace.

Crafting the Perfect Pitch for Getting Your Projects Funded through Crowdsourcing

In this HANDS ON workshop you will create your fundraising pitch and set-up your profile on one of these crowdfunding websites: KICKSTARTER.COM, INDIEGOGO.COM, FUNDABLE.COM.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE:

Sat, Jan. 12th and Sat. Jan.19th Classrooms,

    10a -4p—1-hour lunch break

Monday January 14th thru Friday January 18th

 e-mail support
Two conference calls during the Week of Jan 14th - 18th

INCLUDED IN THE WORKSHOP:

Workbook for creating a powerful pitch

Guides for writing and producing content

Budget planning worksheet (paper & .xls) to help estimate the project budget and pledge levels

eMail and teleconference support the week between classrooms Links to helpful online resources

Case studies of successful crowdfunded projects and summary of projects that failed and why

List of the top crowdfunding sites for everything from projects to investment clubs.

After a review of the workbook, resource material & budgeting tools, we roll up our sleeves to begin the work of creating your project pitch.

The first-ever Kickstarter Project Jam

Join us on Saturday, May 18 for an afternoon of hands-on learning about Kickstarter and shaping your creative project.

What is a Project Jam?

A Project Jam is a collaborative workshop on how to launch a Kickstarter project. Kickstarter staff and experienced project creators will share tips, experiences, and best practices on all things Kickstarter.

Things to know

A Project Jam is an in-depth workshop on how to build your Kickstarter project, beginning at 1pm and ending at 6pm. Participants should plan to be there for the duration of the event.

The Project Jam is intended for people interested in launching projects. We'll be announcing meetups in all of these cities shortly, and look forward to seeing current and past creators there in the evening.

Come see why Core 77 says “Crowd Supply is Kickstarter for product designers.”

Join Crowd Supply, Portland’s own crowdfunding platform, on Wednesday, June 19 from 6:30 to 8:30PM at ADX to learn about crowdfunding and launching your product.

Crowd Supply's Director of Projects (and ADX member) Josh Lifton will share tips and tricks from the trenches of preparing, launching, and successfully funding your product. This workshop will give you an overview of how you can use Crowd Supply to launch a successful product campaign, from planning and production, to marketing and fulfillment. The Crowd Supply team will be on hand to talk with you about crowdfunding in general and answer your specific questions.

Been toying with crowdfunding your latest project? This class provides an in-depth introduction to crowdfunding and will arm you with everything you need to know to launch your campaign on Crowd Supply, Portland's own crowdfunding platform. Come prepared with a project or two and we'll help you determine if crowdfunding makes sense for you and, if so, how to put together the campaign.

By the end of the second meeting, we hope several participants will be up and running with their own campaigns, though the class is also appropriate for anyone just looking to learn more. In addition to crowdfunding fundamentals, the class will also cover Crowd Supply in particular and how it compares to Kickstarter.

Cost: $20 This is a two session class that meets from 6:30-9:30 PM on the following Tuesdays: July 30th and August 6th

Crowd Supply's Director of Projects (and ADX member) Josh Lifton will share tips and tricks from the trenches of preparing, launching, and successfully funding your product.

This webinar will give you an overview of how you can use Crowd Supply to launch a successful product campaign, from planning and production, to marketing and fulfillment.

Presenter: Josh Lifton, Crowd Supply

Josh received his doctorate from the MIT Media Lab and holds a BA in physics and mathematics from Swarthmore College, which is to say he's devoted a significant amount of his time learning how to make things that blink. As head of Crowd Supply's project efforts, he is helping others launch successful crowdfunding projects. Prior to Crowd Supply, Josh worked in a variety of technology settings, from instrumenting thousands of audience members with custom wearable computers for a Cirque du Soleil performance to, most recently, serving as head of engineering at Puppet Labs.

Been toying with crowdfunding your latest project? Crowd Supply Co-Founder and Director of Projects, Josh Lifton, will share tips and tricks from the trenches of preparing, launching, and successfully funding a wide variety of products. This workshop will give you an overview of how you can use Crowd Supply to launch a successful product campaign, from planning and production, to marketing and fulfillment. Come see why Core 77 says “Crowd Supply is Kickstarter for product designers.” Join us for this free event on Tuesday, September 17 from 5:30 to 7:30PM at NedSpace 1400 SW 5th Ave., Third Floor (the Fifth Avenue Building) between Columbia and Clay.

You have a project, product or start-up you KNOW has a market—people want what you are offering.

Traditional fundraising is not for you. You've done your research on Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, Crowd Supply or other crowdfunding sites, and that’s the way you want to go.

Now what?

Two of the area’s top workshop facilitators in the craft of crowdfunding (on sites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo), mother-son team Adrienne Fritze and Colwyn Fritze-Moor from Marketing Moxie, LLC are running their 8-day “Money 4 Something” workshop in NE Portland.

Designed with smart, business-savvy, creators and makers like you in mind—this practical course is 8-days of crowdfunding fundamentals and roll-up-your-sleeves-work to CRAFT that Pitch, PLAN that Campaign, PROMOTE your project so you GET FUNDED.

They've offered crowdfunding presentations, and facilitated this workshop the past two years, to tech entrepreneurs, fashion designers, artists, farmers and others through Oregon Technology Business Center in Beaverton–Oregon’s premiere start-up incubator.

And this month they are offering the course in NE Portland (just off NE Alberta) in a private setting. This no-nonsense team is out to let Inventors, Makers and Creators know about this opportunity to get real-world training and support in crafting, launching and managing a powerful campaign.

If you are ready to put together your crowdfunding campaign, and want a solid step-by-step process and expert support in you crafting the best campaign possible for your project, then read on. Or go straight to the course's registration page at http://marketingmoxie.biz/ai1ec_event/1673-2/

This seminar is a powerful tool in crafting the best possible crowdfunding pitch and campaign you’ll find out there.

What are you waiting for? Sign-up for this step-by-step course that will get you closer to crowdfunding success.

Course starts Wednesday, October 16th with a full day classroom. There is a second full-day classroom on October 23rd. The days between classrooms are filled with additional training and campaign-crafting support via conference calls and online tutorials.

A seat in the course is $325. If your are in a multi-person start-up or on a project team, you may purchase a second seat at half-off.

What: $150,000 Plus Crowdfunding Rumpus When: Monday February 24th 2014 - 5:30-7:00pm When: Doors open at 5:00pm, event starts at 5:30pm Where: NedSpace - 1400 SW 5th Avenue, third floor, Portland, OR (between Columbia & Clay)

Crowdfunding is hot.

Portland is red hot....as a top five leading city in funding Kickstarter crowdfunding projects

These three are BEYOND red hot...Within the realm of local crowdfunding success stories, this gang is lava red, burn your mouth, hot as hell, with each raising over one hundred fifty grand.

How did they do it?

Come join this explosively interactive session as the irreverent and oft time incomprehensible startup founder John Friess (CEO Journey Gym) leads an open conversation with three local founders that have each raised over $150,000 from their Kickstarter projects.

What worked?

What didn't?

What would they do different should they do it all over again? What caught them by surprise? What are their top tips to others considering a crowdfunding campaign? What is their advice regarding other crowdfunding platforms?

How did the spread the word and market it? What was the best and worse advice they'd received before their campaigns? What insights do they have regarding day to day management of a campaign? What are the most important things to do prior to a campaign launch?

Come hear their stories, learn for yourself, and ask your questions.

Andy Baio XOXO Festival $175,000 raised http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/waxpancake/xoxo-festival

Ryan Frayne windcatchergear.com $149,000 raised http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1484284472/windcatcher-inflates-in-seconds-with-no-power-or-p

Zeke Kamm nice-industries.com $6,000 and $223,000 and $87,000 raised http://www.kickstarter.com/profile/461078637/created

Please RSVP via the website link

It’s an exciting time for artists, musicians, and creative business people. Crowd funding has become an increasingly commonplace way to get financing for creative projects and business ideas.

The concept is simple: Explain what you’re planning to accomplish in a compelling way and offer small incentives to reward people who support your plan. Get a lot of people to give small amounts, enough to fund your project.

This workshop will cover time-tested nonprofit fundraising principals and show you how to apply these principles to your individual crowd funding campaign. You’ll leave with a easy-to-follow framework for planning and implementing a successful crowd funding campaign.

We’ll look at critical elements such as:

• Setting an appropriate fundraising goal

• Identifying the potential backers you already know

• Giving levels and backer rewards

• Promoting your campaign

• Writing an effective appeal

We’ll also take a look at some case studies of successful crowd funding campaigns and discuss what made them successful.

UPDATE: This is now a FREE FREE FREE event. (suggested donation $5 - $15)

Sign-up for Secret Knowledge's newsletter to receive timely updates about workshops and events like this.

Time tested fundraising wisdom you need to finance your next album, publication, business idea, or art project.

This workshop will cover time-tested nonprofit fundraising principals and show you how to apply these principles to your individual crowd funding campaign. You’ll leave with a easy-to-follow framework for planning and implementing a successful crowd funding campaign.

Free ($5 - $15 suggested donation). Let us know you're coming. Registration is free (and optional)

Instructor: Noah Kleiman

Secret Knowledge offers free/low-cost workshops aimed at giving working class artists, musicians, and creative entrepreneurs the tech & business skills they need to succeed.

Every third Thursday we hold our main Meetup at Hatch. The primary theme of our group is: Social Entrepreneurs - PDX: How we help each other solve business and social problems.

We consist of over 300 members of which 1/3 are business owners, or trying to start a business, 1/3 are freelancers that support small business, and 1/3 are folks with shared interests or who are networking.

We plan to hear five or six five minute pitches from social entrepreneurs.

Some nights we will hold Mastermind events where a specialist fields questions, other times we do Crowdsolving events where the attendees ask their questions or ask for help with a problem and the group provides feedback, ideas, connections, suggestions.

Overall, we are a fascinating group of highly motivated changemakers. Hatch is a great co-working space, so if you have not been there, this is a good time to check it out.

Cold beer and treats are always provided. Suggested Donation is $5 to $10

I look forward to seeing you there. If you would like to speak (not really a pitch, just casual information) about a local social enterprise or know someone who would, please contact me. (contact info is above)

Want to launch your idea,startup and need the support of your community? Crowdfunding might be the solution. Join us for a discussion around crowdfunding.

Lets explore what crowdfunding is and what it is not. We will explore the good and the bad of crowdfunding.

We ask for a 15$ donation to cover venue and refreshments.

Want to launch your idea, startup and need the support of your community? Crowdfunding might be the solution. Join us for a discussion around crowdfunding. We will help you find answers to these questions: 1. Is crowdfunding right for me? 2. What is the best crowdfunding platform for me? 3. How do I know what financial goal to set? 4. Can I run the campaign solo or should I have a team? 5. What is the small and the big picture of crowdfunding? 6. What myths of crowdfunding? 7. What are the top 5 biggest mistakes of a successful crowdfunding campaign? 8. What are the 3 circles of crowdfunding? Lets explore what crowdfunding is and what it is not. We will explore the good and the bad of crowdfunding.

Want to launch your idea, startup and need the support of your community? Crowdfunding might be the solution. Join us for a discussion around crowdfunding.

We will help you find answers to these questions:

1. Is crowdfunding right for me?
2. What is the best crowdfunding platform for me?
3. How do I know what financial goal to set?
4. Can I run the campaign solo or should I have a team?
5. What is the small and the big picture of crowdfunding?
6. What myths of crowdfunding?
7. What are the top 5 biggest mistakes of a successful crowdfunding campaign?
8. What are the 3 circles of crowdfunding?

Lets explore what crowdfunding is and what it is not. We will explore the good and the bad of crowdfunding.

Come join us to celebrate our launch!

After months of hard work and many lines of code later, we are excited to share our public launch with the Portland tech community. Join us at Epicodus on Thursday, April 16 as we release our crowdfunding video to celebrate our launch.

We will have beer, wine and snacks, and officially launch our first crowdfunding campaign on the Cogostar social crowdfunding platform. Money raised will fund scholarships to send veterans and their families to code school. RSVP so you don't miss out on this special night to remember.

About Operation Code: Operation Code is a Portland-based non-profit on a mission to help create new career paths for transitioning military veterans who want to go to code school and build careers in software development. Operation Code originally launched to expand the New GI Bill to include code schools, and since has expanded to provide scholarships, mentorship and employment services for our nation’s veterans. Currently, code school tuition, room and board is not covered by the New GI Bill for veterans who’ve served post-9/11 and Operation Code is on a mission to change that. Learn more at: operationcode.org, or follow on Twitter at @operation_code.

Whether you're launching a new hardware startup or simply want to see your product vision come to life, you'll need some capital behind you. On May 19th, explore both sides of hardware finance from two panels of experts.

A full day of great advice and discussion around building your company on a solid legal and regulatory foundation, raising funds successfully and legally and avoiding common missteps that distract and derail new businesses.

Lunch is provided and there will be a well-known lunch time speaker, soon to be announced, who will talk about the local fund raising market and recent deals.

In this engaging day-long course you'll learn how to:

• Pick the right business structure and domicile.
• Meet basic licensing, registration and tax requirements.
• Establish appropriate governance practices.
• Identify and protect critical intellectual property.
• Structure and manage key relationships with co-founders, investors, employees and other stake holders.
• Negotiate better contracts with partners, suppliers and customers.
• Develop a successful financing strategy from seed round to C round.
• Understand and negotiate VC term sheets, plus other advice for successful fundraising.
• Organize and manage a data room to support financings and M&A.
• Identify and meet key regulatory requirements.
• Prevent, manage and resolve commercial disputes and other conflicts.

Have you considered crowdfunding to launch your big idea? Or, have you done the research and felt overwhelmed by the process of crowdfunding, and wished you could ask someone that has been there and done that? Now is your chance! Our panelists, Marguerite Svendson from the Coolest Cooler Campaign, Tara O’Mara from PDX Pet Design Campaign, and Jessica Chan from the Winkpens (now operating as Modern Human Instruments) Campaign covering the ins and outs of crowdfunding strategy and the do’s and don’ts of running a successful campaign. Combined these panelists raised nearly 14 million in crowdfunding money with their campaigns! Amazing Women. We'll have an amazing time.

In recent years, one of the most exciting developments in the world of investing has been the development of investment crowdfunding.

With this new type of investing, there is a chance you could make money from startups, expanding businesses, and even real estate in a way that hasn't been possible before.

This interactive series brought to you by StartOut's VC and Investor Programming Board, in partnership with iFundWomen, will be paving the path to making investments outside of traditional portfolio tools.

Moderator: Alex Cox-Cuzzi, SMBX Speaker: Ashley Olafsen, Startup Coach, iFundWomen