Crowdfunding Workshop Offered by San Juan County EDC

Monday, October 27, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Brickworks in Friday Harbor

— from Victoria Compton, Executive Director, San Juan County Economic Development Council —

Crowdfunding is an exciting way for entrepreneurs to use online communities like Kickstarter to ask for monetary pledges from individuals. Crowdfunding has significantly expanded the way that small U.S. companies can raise growth funds, launch new products and find new customers.  But do you know the legal requirements for seeking crowdfunding? What about the type of disclosures that you need to make to potential investors…or the potential liability?

Learn how to procure money legally for your business through crowdfunding during a comprehensive and informative all-day crowdfunding workshop offered by the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC).

Presenting at the workshop will be Faith Anderson, Chief of Registration for the Washington Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) Division of Securities, and a key crowdfunding rule maker; Gregory Paley, entrepreneurial mentor, angel investor and crowdfunding advisor; James McCafferty, of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County, and a management consultant for over a decade, and Victoria Compton, director of the EDC and a long-time marketing consultant.

The presentation will cover how the law has changed, which companies may be eligible to crowdfund, how much money you can raise (and where you can raise it), and the legal requirements and pitfalls facing companies that use crowdfunding. The event will start with an overview of legal requirements, continue to a crowdfunding “best practices” segment, then a segment on writing a business plan for a crowdfunding launch, then a short segment on the basics of setting up a crowdfunding launch online through Kickstarter.

The workshop has been scheduled to accommodate the interisland ferry schedule so that attendees may arrive and return home in a timely manner:  Monday, October 27 from 9am until 3pm, at Brickworks in Friday Harbor. Lunch is included, cost: $35 per person in advance, $45 at the door. Advance registration is required; please call 360-378-2906 to reserve your space, or email:  info@sanjuansedc.org.

The EDC thanks the Washington State Department of Commerce, San Juan County government, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, Whidbey Island Bank, and the Port of Lopez for their support.

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County. We believe a strong economy builds a strong community. The EDC works to build an environment that helps business owners create jobs. We serve business:  linking organizations and resources, providing valuable information, rendering assistance and advocating for an improved island business environment.