Canada's Largest Crowd Funding Platform Selected for Key Technology Role
VANCOUVER, Sept. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - Vancouver-based FundRazr had a lot to cheer about today after getting the proverbial green light.
FundRazr, founded by entrepreneur Daryl Hatton, was selected as the preferred fundraising platform for Season 1 of the upcoming TV series, the Crowd Funder show, which launches September 22nd on FOX affiliate WUTV.
The new half-hour TV show is produced by Merton Park Film Studios of Toronto and is being dubbed as the first of its kind. Each episode will focus on six or seven inspiring projects that will provide audience members with insight into the project, thereby giving campaigners extra exposure and hopefully, an added financial boost.
Jordan Whelan, Merton's Executive Producer said "the FundRazr platform has some important features, such as increased security and advanced social media technology, which provide his show participants with benefits that didn't seem to be available from other companies."
"Being selected as the preferred platform for this kind of innovative project is definitely a vote of confidence," said Hatton. "The reach of TV, combined with the show's high value sponsor perks and the FundRazr platform, promise to break new ground in the industry."
Hatton expects the TV Show relationship to vault FundRazr's business volume significantly as it battles with larger rivals Indiegogo and Kickstarter for the burgeoning crowdfunding market.
Although the crowd funding industry has only been around in a prominent way for a few years, Hatton and FundRazr are considered pioneering innovators in an industry where approximately 400 active platforms compete for a finite number of viable projects.
About Merton Park:
Merton Park is a fully integrated production company based in Toronto.
About FundRazr:
FundRazr is a global crowdfunding platform that has raised $20 million in the past year alone and was recently voted the BCTIA Most Promising Startup Winner. FundRazr was also recently cited as the 30th fastest growing Canadian company in PROFIT Magazine's Hot 50 ranking.
CROWD FUNDER SHOW LAUNCHES INITIAL CAMPAIGNS ON FUNDRAZR
Merton TV (Merton Park Film Studios) has now launched the first crowdfunding campaigns that will appear on the new Crowdfunder Show live on FundRazr.com. Merton TV selected FundRazr as a preferred crowdfunding platform, given the innovative, flexible platform feature set and track record as Canada's most proven crowdfunding platform.
"While the Crowdfunder TV show broadcast will be the driver of campaign success, we also wanted to ensure that the campaigns will be optimized for online presentation and social sharing and finally, that the funds collection and perks claims could be done in a highly secure manner," stated Jordan Whelan, Executive Producer. He added, "After careful review, FundRazr was the first proven crowdfunding platform that met our requirements for ease of use, flexible campaign lengths, strong customer service and tight social media integration."
The first campaigns cover a diverse range of entrepreneurial ideas, creative and community projects and causes like a family with two boys battling cancer that has already raised over $3k in a few days, a full 2 weeks prior to the debut of the show!
"As fellow Canadian innovators, we were pleased to be selected by Merton TV as a preferred platform for their innovative production," said FundRazr CEO/Founder Daryl Hatton. "The addition of broadcast and high value sponsor perks is an industry first, and we're very pleased, together with the Crowdfunder Show, to help people fund their dreams, passions and causes in this exciting new way."
Each episode, with hosts Stacey Englehart and Preet Banerjee, will focus on six or seven inspiring ideas that will give the viewing audience insight into the projects, its founder(s), and the reasons why it should go from inception to reality.
To help educate viewers on each week's TV broadcast, a short Q&A featuring crowdfunding industry pioneer, Daryl Hatton, will air to address key questions on the how-to of successful crowdfunding and the evolution of the industry itself. Hatton's FundRazr platform has raised over $33 Million so far for thousands of campaigns in 20 countries.
Each broadcast segment will end by highlighting the campaign's active landing page and a nudge from the host to support the idea. Members of the viewing audience that contribute to a campaign can then select a gift card from a list of local and national businesses as a 'thank you' for their support.
Whelan added, "Basically, a supporter can contribute $50 and receive a $50 gas or grocery voucher that has been discounted by one of our show sponsors....the difference between the discount and the face value of the voucher goes into the campaign's funding bucket."
"Contributors will feel good about helping launch a great idea they believe in, and can do so by simply contributing a sum of money in return for a gift card or voucher of equal value they can use to make everyday purchases they already buy."
The show will launch in Southern Ontario, Toronto and Western New York on the local Fox affiliate to an estimated 3 million households starting September 22nd, with the rest of Canada and the United States rolling out right after.
Interested campaigners are invited to apply to the company's website at www.crowdfundershow.com
About Merton Park:
Merton Park is a fully integrated production company based in Toronto. Its director, Allan Schwartzenberger has over 15 years production experience in the commercial television and video business.
About FundRazr:
FundRazr is a global crowdfunding platform that has raised over $33M, based in Vancouver. Canada's most successful platform was the 2013 TIA Most Promising Startup Winner and recently named 30th in the PROFIT Magazine Hot 50 ranking of Canada's Top New Growth Companies.
About Jordan Whelan:
Jordan Whelan is a writer (Sun Media, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune), Radio and Television Producer (MuchMusic, Newstalk 1010, Virgin Radio) and Entrepreneur based in Toronto, Canada.
About Daryl Hatton:
Daryl Hatton is a serial entrepreneur, CEO and Founder of FundRazr and generally regarded as one of the crowdfunding industry's true pioneers. Daryl is based in Vancouver, Canada.
Image with caption: "Daryl Hatton CEO FundRazr presenting at the Canadian Crowdfunding panel at Ryerson DMZ June 11th 2013 - Photo by Motion and Still (CNW Group/FundRazr)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130912_C6455_PHOTO_EN_30721.jpg
Image with caption: "Fundrazr Daryl Hatton (CNW Group/FundRazr)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130912_C6455_PHOTO_EN_30722.jpg
Image with caption: "Two Young Boys Battling Cancer Together (CNW Group/FundRazr)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130912_C6455_PHOTO_EN_30727.jpg
Image with caption: "Welcome to Canada Kickstarter Parody (CNW Group/FundRazr)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130912_C6455_PHOTO_EN_30730.jpg
Image with caption: "FundRazr Logo (CNW Group/FundRazr)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130912_C6455_PHOTO_EN_30728.jpg
Image with caption: "The Crowd Funder Show Logo (CNW Group/FundRazr)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130912_C6455_PHOTO_EN_30724.jpg
SOURCE: FundRazr
For media inquiries please contact:
Joanna Davis
Production Coordinator
Merton Park Film Studios Ltd.
[email protected]
Bret Conkin
CMO
FundRazr
[email protected]
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