Irish crowd-funding platform, Fund It, celebrates sixth birthday

Over the last 6 years, Fund it has firmly established itself as Ireland’s leading reward-based crowdfunding platform. Having attracted €4.2million in pledges from 66 countries, over 1,400 projects across every county in Ireland have been funded. 66,500 people have successfully funded Irish performances, films, events and projects in music, science, art, fashion, publishing, tech and gaming since the site launched in March 2011.

Fund it is among the most successful reward-based crowdfunding websites globally, and is run by the charity Business to Arts who support creative partnerships between business and the arts in Ireland. Project creators from across the creative industries encourage pledges to their idea by offering rewards linked to their project, and promoting them to their network. By doing this, it not only enables projects to attract financial support but also to build a new connection with their audiences and consumers.

Just a few project highlights over Fund it’s history include the pop-up establishment of Our Table, a café run and staffed by those exiting the Direct Provision system; the development of Free Feet Medical, a breakthrough in technology for sufferers of Parkinson’s disease; over 100 Dublin, Galway and Edinburgh Fringe Festival performances; critically acclaimed films such as How to be Happy, Breathe, Atlantic and Them’s the Breaks.

In September 2015, Bank of Ireland announced a three-year investment and partnership with Fundit.ie to further its support of Ireland’s entrepreneurs and creative sectors. This investment has empowered the team at Fund it to invest in and develop the technology of the site, continue to provide hands-on moderation and engage with new markets.

Andrew Hetherington, Chief Executive of Business to Arts and Fund it reflects on this milestone:

“Looking back on Fund it’s six-year history it is important to acknowledge the remarkable talent and creativity that has emerged through various projects. Many project creators are now showcasing their work internationally and turning their ideas into viable businesses. Artist Kevin Callaghan found the rewards offered for his exhibition project so successful, he created a start-up business from them with the help of Bank of Ireland Workbench, Cork. Joanne Condon found crowdfunding for a book a game-changer for the success of her furniture restoration business Furniture Crush.

"Fund it has become a mainstream route to raise funds and validate products and we, along with our partners at Bank of Ireland, look forward to continuing to engage and nurture Irish creativity in all sectors, championing projects, so that dreams become reality.”

To mark the 6th birthday, Fund it has collaborated with Aoife Challis from Print Block, a collective of textile artists, who has designed a limited edition, hand-printed tote bag to reflect the individuality and creativity behind every Fund it idea. Digital versions will be released through social media over the coming week and a lucky few will receive a unique hand-printed bag. See here for more details.