The Office for Research Partnerships and Commercialization presents “Innovations in...Crowdfunding,” Thursday, Jan.24, 4-5 p.m., at Elliott Alumni Center, 1925 Room.  

Speakers include Matt Benson, attorney at Cook Little Rosenblatt & Manson, and Tom Elliott, founder and director of Idea Greenhouse Durham. Register: http://orpccrowdfunding-email1.eventbrite.com/#. 

The internet and social web allows innovators to connect to a global audience eager to financially support a compelling new product, business idea, or research project. With this money, however, comes expectations to manage, and pitfalls to avoid.  

Attorney Matt Benson and crowdfunding evangelist Tom Elliott will present on a range of topics, including: 

- What is crowdfunding, and what are the different models (e.g. equity vs reward)?

- How can crowdfunding be used to raise money for a new business, product idea, or research project?

- What expectations will your supporters have, and how do you manage them? 

Benson and Elliott will provide several examples of crowdfunding campaigns, including successes by university students and researchers.

This free event will provide information for innovators, students, faculty, staff and business entrepreneurs, interested in using crowdfunding to support their great ideas. 

The official Twitter hashtag for this event is #orpccatalyst.