FAQ

What is crowdfunding?

We love to compare crowdfunding to a spaceship making individuals and ideas travel to other planets. However, to make this possible, it is important to drive it in the right direction! From a more professional point of view, crowdfunding concerns the development and expansion of a project. This support can be provided to economic projects, or cultural ideas, social events or charity causes. It will be asked to the crowd, which is your audience, through a platform, a contribution (funding) to promote an idea.

What is Eppela and why choose it?

Eppela is an Italian crowdfunding platform which raises money by pitching a project to as many would-be investors as possible. A meeting point for whoever has ideas to be brought to life and wants to support it. Let's debunk a myth on crowdfunding platforms: they are not communities of benefactors ready to hand out any amount needed, but rather safe and reliable tools for anyone who has bright ideas, to build up followers and make their community grow.

Eppela guarantees constant and effective support during the whole process of crowdfunding for a very small price.

How does funding on Eppela work?

There are two methods to raise funds on Eppela:

• All or nothing, which is our favourite: the amount raised can be redeemed by the project manager only if the final goal is met or exceeded;
• Keep it all, is suitable for non-profit initiatives launched by organisations or individuals to further a social cause. With this fundraising method you are not required to meet the final goal, and the project manager will receive whichever amount is raised when the campaign ends.

What kind of support does Eppela provide to promote the projects?

The active projects will be visible on our website from the date they are live. Their contents will be broadcasted through our channels according to the project timeline, appeal, progress, originality and compatibility with the planned rotation of content which is managed by our team. We consider any collaboration possible (please have a read through Specialist). Do not forget that promotion of the project is first and foremost a project managers’ duty, and they should use all the channels available to them to make it successful: who owns the project knows best its pertaining sector, its target audience and which environments to redirect the promotion to.

How can I be assured my idea will not be stolen? How can I be safeguarded?

Eppela is supports ideas in progress, that are in the pre-release stage or already live but require a certain budget to be successfully fulfilled or promoted.

Those ideas would be difficult to replicate and attain during the relatively short time they are on campaign.

We always suggest to carry out a clearance search and then to follow the procedure established by the European Patent Convention to register your idea with the European Patent Office before submitting it on Eppela (for further info brevetti@eppela.com).

Crowdfunding is a method to provide promotion and financial support for creative projects with a social intent. This means that ideas will be shared, and sometimes improved thanks to the interaction and feedback from the community.

How can I delete my account?

We hope this won't happen, but if there is any reason to do so, you can write an email to customer@eppela.com. Please make sure you provide the email used to register and add any details regarding why you decided to leave our community. This will be helpful to have a feedback to improve our services. Your account will be deleted as soon as possible.

My account is blocked what shall i do?

No fuss! Write an email to customer@eppela.com

Who can submit a project on Eppela?

Anyone over 18 and any company, foundation, corporation private or public can become a project manager if they are based within the Euro Zone, or in Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, United States. To receive funds from Eppela you need a bank account or credit/debit card with an IBAN code, and you will need to provide all your personal detail for the invoicing procedure.

Is there a selection for all the projects submitted?

Eppela does not make an initial selection or any sort of judgement on the submitted projects. The final decision though is on how feasible the project is. This is based on few factors: if the project description page is complete, to what degree the idea has been developed, how many followers the idea has already attracted in relation to the final goal and if the rewards offered are appealing.

Your campaign successful outcome is close to our hearts, crowdfunding is about working through a challenge together.

Do I have to register to the platform to contribute or submit a project?

Well yes, but do not worry it will be quick and easy. Without an account you will only be able to browse projects, but you cannot support them or submit your own! You can create an account on Eppela by going on the top right corner under "Log in".

How long does it take to get the project confirmed and live?

These timings will depend on if your initial proposal is ready and when is the due date for projects to go live. Please be aware that an assigned advisor will get in touch with regards to your submission within 5/7 working days. We recommend submitting your idea far in advance, to allow for a good independent promotion through your preferred channels and so that we can advise on some final touches to finalize your campaign!

How do i "build" my project?

Download our support kit for your campaign or go to our Specialist section for further services.

What is a project goal?

The goal is the amount of money that project managers need to develop their idea. This amount is defined and approved at the beginning of the process and cannot be changed when this is ongoing.

What is a project deadline?

The deadline establishes the time frame within which the project manager can achieve the goal and the supporters can provide a contribution. Eppela, after years of experience, found the optimal timing to be between 15 and 40 days. A project will expire at the same time it goes live.

Which benefits can I obtain besides funding?

A crowdfunding campaign it is not only a way to raise money, but also an opportunity to test your project for free, to present it to the web community and to broaden your network thanks to a platform that connects creative people. Last but not least, a project launched thanks to crowdfunding has already proven to have what it takes to make a name for itself!

What are the rewards?

Rewards help you to create engagement with your community and they are the way to express gratitude and pay back your supporters. These can be anything: from a simple thank you, to products or tickets events. The main purpose of rewards is to let supporters know that they played a unique role in making your idea come to life!

What are the projects updates?

The projects’ updates are a way for you to share your campaign progress through photos, videos or comments. When a campaign is closed after reaching its goal, new updates can go live after the project has expired, so sponsors will be kept up-to-date about its progress. They will appear on the project page under the section ‘Updates’ and all the sponsors will receive a notification email.

What is the stretch goal?

The stretch goal is a new funding goal that can be set by the project manager when the campaign is ongoing if the amount initially arranged has been reached before the deadline. The stretch goals are not committing the project manager to the new goal, and in case the new amount is not reached, he/she will receive the total raised.

What if the project reaches its goal before the deadline?

That will be amazing! It will mean the project and the word of mouth between you and your sponsors worked at its best: let's celebrate and keep on raising money until the deadline by planning new stretch goals!

Is there a maximum amount a project can raise?

No, there is no limit to your success! A project can develop without bounds until the deadline.

How are the offers made?

Donations are made in two ways:

1. By credit or debit card Visa or Mastercard,
2. By bank transfer. Possible only for offers of an amount equal to or greater than 25 euros.

The donation amount is "frozen" by Stripe on a dedicated fund until the campaign deadline.

With "All or nothing" projects, if the final goal is met the funds are transferred to the project manager. If the project falls short of the final goal, the funds are unfrozen and they will be available again on the supporter's card within 5 to 10 working days.

With "Keep it all" projects, the amount offered is always transferred to the project manager once the campaign ends, regardless of whether the final goal is met.

Are there any limits to the offer amount?

The minimum amount is 5€ and there are no upward limits. You can offer the amount you prefer, just be aware of your credit card's maximum overdraft.

Can my offer be considered an investment?

No, an offer on Eppela is a way to give free support, for which you can receive a reward, only if you would like to. This amount of money, even if it is a considerable one, does not give the right to claim the project intellectual ownership or economic ownership to any profit made by a project manager whose idea has commercial success.

Who are the mentors and what do they do?

The mentors are our and your first supporters. Eppela developed co-funding initiatives in cooperation with important Italian companies to reward your creativity, innovation and solidarity. Mentors joined Eppela to select and co-fund the projects considered to be the most deserving. For further details regarding each specific call, you can read through the terms and conditions on the mentor's section of our website.

Can my offer be considered an investment?

No, an offer on Eppela is a way to give free support, for which you can receive a reward, only if you would like to. This amount of money, even if it is a considerable one, does not give the right to claim the project intellectual ownership or economic ownership to any profit made by a project manager whose idea has commercial success.

What are the rewards?

Rewards help you to create engagement with your community and they are the way to express gratitude and pay back your supporters. These can be anything: from a simple thank you, to products or tickets events. The main purpose of rewards is to let supporters know that they played a unique role in making your idea come to life!

Will the reward be provide if the project meets its goal?

With "All or nothing" crowdfunding, the supporter will receive the reward only if the project reaches the goal arranged (only at this condition is the contribution actually accredited to the project manager). For "Keep it all" crowdfunding instead, the reward will be provided in any case.

Do I have to register to the platform to contribute or submit a project?

Well yes, but do not worry it will be quick and easy. Without an account you will only be able to browse projects, but you cannot support them or submit your own! You can create an account on Eppela by going on the top right corner under "Log in".

How are the offers made?

Donations are made in two ways:

1. By credit or debit card Visa or Mastercard,
2. By bank transfer. Possible only for offers of an amount equal to or greater than 25 euros.

The donation amount is "frozen" by Stripe on a dedicated fund until the campaign deadline.

With "All or nothing" projects, if the final goal is met the funds are transferred to the project manager. If the project falls short of the final goal, the funds are unfrozen and they will be available again on the supporter's card within 5 to 10 working days.

With "Keep it all" projects, the amount offered is always transferred to the project manager once the campaign ends, regardless of whether the final goal is met.

Can I fund a project without getting a reward?

Of course! You can do this going to the reward section on our platform and select the bottom with "Support this project without getting any reward".

Can I offer an amount higher than the reward’s value?

This is possible as well. First, select the reward you would like to receive. Another page will open, and on the top right corner you will find a black box with all your offer's details. By clicking on ‘edit my offer’, it is possible to choose a different amount to be sent out.

It goes without saying that, while you are welcome to offer more, it is not possible to offer less than the prearranged value.

Can I delete my offer?

Yes of course. You can write an email to customer@eppela.com, please provide your profile name and the amount offered and then leave it with us.

Can I do more than one offer?

Yes of course, just be aware of your credit card maximum overdraft.

Are there any limits to the offer amount?

The minimum amount is 5€ and there are no upward limits. You can offer the amount you prefer, just be aware of your credit card's maximum overdraft.

How I will get updates on the project development?

The creator can give updates on the project online while the campaign is ongoing. Each supporter will be notified by Eppela of the campaign's outcome via email once this has expired.

How can I write to the project manager?

Each supporter can write to a creator via email to request further details on the project or ask any sort of questions. You can find the project creator's email on the project page, the "contact" button is available under the project description.