South African crowdfunding platform Thundafund has announced a series of free workshops around the country throughout July, following a partnership with the country’s Department of Arts and Culture aimed at encouraging creatives and innovators to use crowdfunding to fund their projects.
The “Crowdfunding Creative Economy Development Programme” aims to develop crowdfunding as a viable funding option for innovators and creative projects, with a focus on those from less affluent and historically less networked sectors.
12 successful applicants will be accepted to the programme, and will receive assistance and mentorship throughout their crowdfunding campaign, as well as a percentage of the crowdfunded funds being matched.
Applications for the programme remain open until July 31, and can be made online.
Throughout the application period, Thundafund has announced it will be travelling around South Africa hosting crowdfunding workshops.
According to Thundafund, the workshops form part of the wider project, and aim to educate South Africa’s creative community on the ability of crowdfunding to act as a tool in bringing projects to life.
“Through these workshops Thundafund aims to instill a culture of crowdfunding in South Africa as a viable tool for fundraising , as well as an avenue through which to gain market validation and provide proof of concept,” said Daniel Shaw, chief operations officer at Thundafund.
“Thundafund is also encouraging attendees to directly apply to crowdfund through them, as a result of the skills and knowledge gained through these workshop experiences.”
Workshops will be held in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.
The first workshop is set for Friday, July 10, at the Bandwidth Barn in Khayelitsha; followed by three events in Johannesburg on July 13 at JoziHub, July 14 at the Museum of African Design, and July 16 at OPEN Workspace.
Events are due in Pretoria on July 15 at the Innovation Hub and July 17 at U the Space.
Further Cape Town events will be held on July 17 at Daddy O and July 22 at MTN Solution Space.
