Staples partners with Fundable for crowdfunding contest
Staples has teamed up with Fundable, a business crowdfunding platform, to launch a new contest called Crowd2Shelf, which invites entrepreneurs and small businesses to leverage crowdfunding for a chance to sell their products in Staples stores as well as online.
“We’re thrilled to work with Staples to help small businesses tap into the power of crowdfunding as well as Staples’ world-class retail capabilities,” Fundable CEO Wil Schroter said. “Staples shares Fundable’s mission of empowering entrepreneurs to do great things, and we’re looking forward to helping great businesses launch through the Crowd2Shelf Contest.”
The winning entrants will have the opportunity to present their products to the Staples store merchandising teams for the chance to sell their products in stores and online through the Staples Brands Group product line.
“The Staples Brands Group is always looking for new ways to help our small business customers make more happen for their business,” Scott Young, SVP, Staples, said. “We’re thrilled to team up with Fundable as the sponsor of the first-ever Crowd2Shelf Contest and to help emerging businesses by bringing their innovative products to our customers.”
Entrepreneurs and small businesses can enter the Crowd2Shelf contest at http://www.fundable.com/crowd2shelf. Participants will be asked to create a crowdfunding campaign page and share their profiles through their social channels, asking the public to vote for them. A panel of innovation experts including Fundable and Staples representatives will select the top 25 submissions that make it to the final round. Contestants will be judged on their number of votes, the success of their crowdfunding campaign and judges' recommendations.
Submissions will be accepted from August 1through August 31. The top 25 submissions will be announced October 5. Final winners will be announced December 10.
The panel of judges will consist of:
- Elliot Schneier, startup funding and growth architect
- Scott Miller, visionary creator and force behind iRobot
- Wil Schroter, veteran technologist and internet entrepreneur
- Daniel Reilly, director product design innovation, Staples
- Scott Young, SVP, Staples
- Peter Gerstberger, director of new business development, Staples
- Brian Coupland, VP business development, Staples