FAQ

Eppela is a crowdfunding platform: it's a meeting place for those with ideas to realize and those who want to back creative projects in any sector or no-profit initiatives. Scroll to top

Creators present a project to the Eppela community, setting a goal - a minimum objective to collect by a deadline, to be able to realize their project. The creator also establishes a series of rewards to recompense those who decide to give a contribution.
Members of the Eppela community (the sponsors) evaluate the project and decide whether to give the creator a cash sum to back their project. Scroll to top

Whether you're a creator or a sponsor, if you want to join Eppela you have to register. All the projects published are visible also to non-registered users, but if you want to propose a project, get in touch with creators and back a project, you must register. 
Register to the site and choose a nickname to identify yourself. You can also register using your Facebook account. Then you can build your own personal page, adding a photo and personal information. Your Eppela sponsoring and creating activities are registered on this page. Scroll to top

Anyone who is a member. You need to have a verified PayPal account to make a contribution. PayPal is an international service for making and receiving payments and sending money online without disclosing your bank or card details. For further information see www.paypal.com Scroll to top

Anyone over the age of 18.
Private Italian or foreign individuals (there are no territorial limits), associations (sports, cultural, voluntary, etc.), nonprofit and non-governmental organisations may propose projects on Eppela. 
You must have a verified PayPal account to be able to collect funds on Eppela. Scroll to top

The deadline is the last date within which the creator may reach their goal. It is set when the project is drawn up and cannot be changed afterwards. Eppela projects can be set within a time span between 15 and 40 days. Scroll to top

The goal is the cash threshold which a project creator wants to achieve to realize it in the best possible way. It is set when the project is drawn up and cannot be changed when the project has been set in motion. The goal of these projects must be reached or surpassed by the pre-established deadline, otherwise the project will be considered unsuccessful and the contributions will not be collected. Scroll to top

On projects, the contribution is a preapproved payment. Money is not immediately debited from the sponsor's PayPal account. The contribution will be debited if the financial goal is reached, but only at the project's deadline. If the project does not reach its goal, no money changes hands. Scroll to top

This is the best way to incite people to back an idea. The creator must recompense every cash contribution given by sponsors with an appropriate reward. Thank-yous, finished products, tickets for a show and much more... they just have to be connected to the project, its realization, its contents. The more original, likeable and inviting, the more they entice sponsors. Scroll to top

If the goal is reached or surpassed by the deadline, the money offered is debited from the sponsor's PayPal account and credited to the creator who will contact and reward the sponsors. If the goal is reached or surpassed, Eppela will keep 5% of the amount collected as commission. If the goal is not reached, no money will change hands and the creator will not owe Eppela anything. Scroll to top

You will get an e-mail from Eppela at the deadline with the project's final outcome. Scroll to top

No, the contribution is a form of backing which the sponsors receive a reward for. A cash contribution, even if of a considerable amount, does not give intellectual property or financial participation rights over any of the creator's profits from the idea's subsequent development into an enterprise. Scroll to top

As soon as he's made a contribution, the sponsor’s nickname is added to the list of project sponsors. Public cannot see the amount of the contribution. If the project is successfull, the creator will have access to sponsors’ full name, contributions and chosen rewards, with the email addresses to get in contact with them. Scroll to top

Social credibility is a fundamental principle on Eppela. Every creator is asked to introduce themselves, to include their face in the video with accompanies the project, and provide links where we can find out about their work. Their friends and acquaintances, perhaps their first sponsors, are another important part of their credibility. Every user can directly contact creators via email and ask them questions about their project to get more info. Further updates at the end of the project and comments from other users help to construct a good creator's image: when they propose a second and third project these will act as their credentials for the Eppela community. If you have problems with a creator, you can of course contact us to let us know. Scroll to top

First of all, join the site. You can leave a short presentation about yourself and your idea in the login area. We will evaluate your proposal and you'll get an answer from our team as soon as possible.
At this point, you can start to prepare your presentation and create your Eppela page. You will need to have a verified PayPal account, able to receive payments. If you don't have one, it's easy to set one up at the address www.paypal.com. Scroll to top

The Eppela team reserves the right to evaluate the proposals received and select them, following credibility, feasibility, compatibility with our system and opportunity criteria. We try to give back a motivated response to all projects. Scroll to top

Once you've got an “Ok, you can go on!” from the Eppela team, you can access your project page from the login area and begin creating it. To do that, you will need:

- a project icon;
- a text explaining the project. The text must be written in English;
- a video explaining your project, lasting a maximum of 5 minutes. The video must be in English or have subtitles;
- the goal you want to reach and the deadline within which your project will stay online;
- the rewards you offer in exchange for backing;
- a profile presenting yourself with photos and any links to your website or blog. Scroll to top

To establish the right goal you should calculate both the sum you will need to realise your project and what you need to cover the costs for your sponsors' rewards. Scroll to top

No, the goal is set once the project has been published and stays the same. Scroll to top

No, once the project is on line. Scroll to top

Great! That means that the project is going well and that the word-of-mouth between you and the Eppela community has worked. It will keep collecting contributions until the deadline! Scroll to top

In addition to collecting funds, Eppela offers you the opportunity to test your idea for free by presenting it to the community and extend your network of contacts within a community which is extremely interested in creativity. Scroll to top

When a project reaches its goal, Eppela keeps the 5% of the total amount as commission. If your project doesn't reach its goal, Eppela keeps nothing. Scroll to top

Yes, the commission is only debited to the creator. For information on PayPal tariffs: https://www.paypal.com/en/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-receiving-fees-outside&countries= Scroll to top

No, once a project has been posted it will be online until its deadline, as a matter of correctness and transparency towards users. Projects can stay posted on Eppela after their deadline, whether they've been funded successfully or not. Scroll to top

Crowdfunding is a way to promote and support creative projects with a social vocation. This means that ideas are shared and communicated and sometimes even improved through contact with the community's doubts and suggestions. If this isn't enough to convince you, Eppela probably isn't the tool you're looking for.

What's more, Eppela has been founded for ideas that are already at the planning, and thus pre-realisation, stage, or that have already been realised and that perhaps need a funding for their communication and promotion. They are ideas which have already been set in motion and these are difficult to replicate and better in a short time. We advice you, if you think it necessary and useful, to make use of the tools which the law of your country offers to protect original ideas. Scroll to top

You can integrate information from your personal profile and add details, developments, images and notices for your sponsors and the entire Eppela community in the update page. You can't change the goal, the project deadline, or the rewards offered. Scroll to top

On accessing the personal area, creators can add update a posted project. Photos, texts, videos… anything which may help illustrate the project set in motion better... answer questions from potential sponsors and share them on social networks! Scroll to top

No. A project can grow endlessly until its deadline. Scroll to top