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For Rivas, co-founder and president of the festivals board of
directors, it was important to offerentrepreneurs the chance for
exposure. Fighting through the stigma of failed business that
haslong plagued Jacksonville, Rivas was compelled by the revelation
that launching a businesscould be made easier with the help of the
public.The realization that it doesnt have to be as hard as it is
perceived to be to launch a newcompany has driven the One Spark
mission since day one, Rivas said. The more successful,passionate
new businesses and creators that we have, the better off were all
going to be.And better off they are: for an example of a
crowd-funding festival gone right, look no furtherthan Rethreaded,
One Spark 2013s top prize winner. The non-profit, which provides
job trainingand rehabilitation for victims of prostitution and
human trafficking, generated the most votes ofall the creators and
earned nearly $7,000 in crowd-funding and contributions.Not all
contestants are promised such a large cash prize, but that doesnt
stop hopeful startupsand innovators from all over the world taking
their chances with One Spark.Forge, a 3D printing studio and store
which was entered in 2013s One Spark festival as a post-launch
project, finished with a tally of 483 votes and $2,265 in funds a
comparativelyunderwhelming amount next to the top prize.However,
its founders dont regret the experience.For Forges creators, though
the cash prizes were the main draw, the lasting benefits
ofparticipating in One Spark were more than monetary. Theyd won the
interest of the public.Wed been doing an organic amount of work
before and One Spark served as a publiclaunching pad, said
co-founder Adam Dukes. Making contacts and getting the word out
was
the real benefit.And thats where One Spark differs from other
crowd-funding efforts.Where others promise a chance at the
resources new businesses need to get their start, OneSpark brings
them face-to-face with potential customers, teammates and
networks.So far, were the first and only to bring crowd-funding to
the masses, in-person and in real-time, said Rivas. The power of
walking up to a creator and asking them why they are doing hisor
her project is immense. You get to look the person in the eye, ask
them details about whatthey will do with your contribution, and get
to know the team behind the project.According to Rivas, a key
component of starting a business is being able to identify
whatpotential customers, supporters and advocates do and dont like
about what products and ideastheyre being sold.Real-time feedback
from such a dense population can be priceless, he said.
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Its a widely echoed sentiment. With a packed roster of projects
and creators, not all participantswill leave with a hefty sum of
cash but for many, getting feedback and market validation is aprize
in and of itself.Having the opportunity to showcase products and
processes in a well-attended venue was veryhelpful, Dukes said.
Doing direct marketing and practicing our pitch was a valuable
learning
experience.For creators, the power to speak directly with their
market is extraordinary. The relationshipsestablished between
business and customer, Rivas said, are powerful and
deep-rootedconnections.Remember, people invest in people, Rivas
said. And One Spark provides the commonmeeting ground and
purpose.
