Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people. It is a form of alternative finance, which has emerged outside of the traditional financial system - wikipedia 
Today crowdfunding is often performed via internet-mediated registries, but the concept can also be executed through mail-order subscriptions, benefit events, and other methods.
printed receipt 135 x 97 mm issued between 1850 and 1857 to support the French Philosopher Auguste Comte. See Olaf Simons, "Crowdfunding Comte" positivists.org (2016-03-11) - wikimedia 
The crowdfunding model is based on three types of actors: the project initiator who proposes the idea and/or project to be funded; individuals or groups who support the idea; and a moderating organization (the "platform") that brings the parties together to launch the idea .
In 2013, over US$5.1 billion was raised via crowdfunding worldwide.
# Types of crowdfunding
The Crowdfunding Centre's May 2014 report identified two primary types of crowdfunding: - wikipedia
* Rewards-based Crowdfunding: entrepreneurs pre-sell a product or service to launch a business concept without incurring debt or sacrificing equity/shares.
* Equity Crowdfunding: the backer receives shares of a company, usually in its early stages, in exchange for the money pledged - entrepreneur.com
# See also * History * Types * Role of the crowd * Crowdfunding platforms * Significant campaigns * Crowdfunding applications * Benefits and risks * See also * References * Further reading