• Timing & Deductibility- Before launching a campaign you need to think about timing and whether your idea is ready to be created. Do you have manufactures lined up? If you make this product will you be profitable? Do you have a marketing strategy? For example, if you launch a crowdfunding campaign for a product without having manufactures in line, how will you make those products in a timely manner?
• Audience- Most of the people who will support your crowdfunding campaign will be people you have already networked with. Some crowdfunding sites allow you to reach an audience outside of that network, but you can’t always count on this. Therefore, it is important to use the cheapest crowdfunding avenue possible because most often, you are going to be delivering the audience. If you don’t think you have a strong audience, take a step back and see if you can rework your network to get more established. Once you have a stronger audience, go back to the idea of launching a crowdfunding campaign.
• Marketing Strategy- Share the creative journey with your ambassadors and supporters. You need to have a marketing plan in place before launching a campaign to ensure that you can properly market your idea during and after the campaign.
• Funding and Cost- There are three different crowdfunding options you can choose from when selecting a campaign. Be sure to select the one that will benefit you the most. When it comes to cost take into consideration time and marketing.

• Rewards- Rewards in campaigns are important because they encourage someone to donate. For example, if you are selling a product related to coffee, you might offer an award of two bag of coffee for every $25 donated. This way, the donor will get something, regardless of the success of the campaign.
• Value- What’s the value of using a crowdfunding campaign that brings an audience vs what’s the value of just getting the money? Whatever amount you want to raise by doing a campaign, you should assume it will cost 20% of that money raised.

Have an idea on how to improve or change the world? Burning up with ideas to help the environment, society, business, your friends, social media or anything else you can dream up? UMBC wants to give you up to $750 for telling us your idea! How can you win cash for your innovative solution? Read on!

The UMBC Idea competition is designed to challenge you to think about problems and opportunities facing society. If UMBC is one of the most innovative schools in the nation, then UMBC students are just the kind of innovators that can really change the world. Now’s your chance to make it happen.

• Analytical- When making a deal you want to make sure you are analytical and know all aspects that could affect a deal. For example, if someone offers to sell you 100 bananas for $5,000 would you take the deal? Probably not because you know that 100 bananas are worth around $100. But if you did not know the market value of bananas, and considered bananas your favorite food, they might be worth $5,000 to you.
• Emotion- It’s important to keep your emotions in check when making a deal with friends and family. How do you communicate with someone you don’t want to make a deal with and not ruin a relationship? This is something important to think about.
• Critical- When making a deal remember to be critical and think about why you are making it. If you are making a deal with a new partner or investor you want to ask yourself, why are you doing this, what can they offer you? You want to think about what leverage you have and what you can and cannot offer.
• Savvy- When you first start a business you have a limited number of assets. Make sure the deals you make are savvy and creative, with low risk and high opportunity. For example, you are starting a new business and need some where to work. Instead of renting a whole building for yourself maybe contact ABCE and see if they will let you work full time in the entreSpace for a significantly lower price. That is a deal you want to make.

1. Update/enhance Alex. Brown Center website on a regular basis 
2. Ensure all social media tools, including the Center’s Twitter feed, LinkedIn group, Facebook page, myUMBC Group and ENTR Minor Group page is consistently up to date by providing relevant information on applied learning opportunities, events and professional development opportunities
1. Content contains information about upcoming events, competitions, or other opportunities.
2. Usually 2-3 posts a week
3. Set up/post a calendar of events for entreSpace on myUMBC
4. Post top events for UMBC representatives (student, faculty and company entrepreneurs) to attend or present
5. Provide students interested in starting businesses with relevant tools and documentation on how to get started
6. Attend Center sponsored events for documentation purposes
1. Encourage others to get involved in the online conversations
2. Compose and post recaps of certain Workshops and Speaker Series

1. Excellent writing/communication skills
2. Knowledgeable and skilled in use of social media techniques/methods
3. Responsive and responsible
4. Able to connect and network with both student and professional entrepreneurs