Ask Score: New Funding Source Draws Crowds

Over the last several years crowdfunding has become an increasingly popular option for investors and entrepreneurs trying to raise capital - and public awareness - when launching or expanding small businesses. Rather than approaching a single lender to make a significant loan to your business (which you most likely will need to guaranty personally), crowdfunding platforms give you a way to leverage your network of friends, family, social media connections and the public at large to obtain significant capital in small increments. According to SCORE mentor and Houston entrepreneur Nick Tarte, rewards-based crowdfunding has rapidly become an accepted way to raise capital for small businesses. Watchdog groups and state and federal consumer protection bureaus have begun to focus attention on deceptive crowdfunding campaigns. Tarte will present the details of this increasingly popular but often misunderstood funding option at the SCORE workshop "Crowdfunding - An Alternative Source of Funding" from 10 a.m.