Please join us for a dynamic discussion among renewable energy startups, funders and investors, and cooperative developers --
Crowd Funding, Technology Startups, and Cooperatives: A New Era of Innovation?
Technology ventures now have the opportunity to be socially and environmentally responsible in their legal charter. Unlike corporations and other forms of business, cooperatives are legally allowed to address concerns for sustainable economic development--and not only be held to the standard of profit maximization for shareholders. Lack of financing has previously been a barrier to forming technology ventures as cooperatives, but the recent emergence of crowdfunding sites and the passage of the JOBS Act changes this landscape significantly. Instead of conventional VC (venture capital), we may start to see the emergence of "CV (community venture)" funding.
This session explores what's happening with technology innovation and cooperatives around the world, focusing on crowdfunding as a potentially game-changing strategy for financing. The session will include a brief presentation and Q&A with three speakers. Luan Cox will present GreenUnite.com's crowd financing platform for projects focused on sustainability; Michael Peck from Mondragon USA will explore how the world's largest worker cooperative approaches technology and innovation; Jon Guice of Combined Power Cooperative will discuss their model for a cooperative renewable energy technology startup. Following will be a panel discussion about crowdfunding and other creative financing options, and implications for/of co-ops and the JOBS Act.
Date and Time: Friday, June 22, 2pm
Location: Mass. Institute of Technology, Room 3-270 Speakers: Luan Cox, GreenUnite; Michael Peck, MAPA Group; Jon Guice, Combined Power Cooperative
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