The Design Council encourages small businesses to bring innovative ideas to life

Crowdfunder.co.uk has announced a new partnership with The Design Council to support and encourage UK businesses to design new products and get them marketed.

The crowdfunding platform has collaborated with The Design Council’s Spark 2018 initiative, a support and funding programme designed to help turn ideas into products. Finalists receive £15k investment and join a 16-week programme led by design experts.

To kickstart the partnership, there will be a #BrightSpark takeover on Thursday November 2 to encourage more businesses to get involved with Spark 2018.

Ellie Runcie, director of growth and innovation at The Design Council, said: “The advice and guidance that Crowdfunder provides to Spark finalists plays a key role in their planning process not only for product validation, but increasingly it is the main platform for their market entry and promotional strategy.”

To date, Crowdfunder has worked with over 80,000 projects to help raise money. Successful products include the world’s ‘soon-to-be-fastest’ car, Bloodhound; swimwear accessory, Halto and #VOOM winner, What A Melon.

Rob Love, founder of Crowdfunder.co.uk, added: “Crowdfunding offers the opportunity for designers and innovators to reduce risk by validating their ideas at an early stage, but it’s only part of the journey in bringing a product to life.

“Whilst it allows you to validate, fund and gain support from a wider audience, you still need a certain amount of expertise and support from people who know how to successfully get your product to market.

Many project owners who come to Crowdfunder are very passionate about their idea, but they don’t have much experience… They have no real manufacturing expertise.

“There are a number of different steps to create a successful new product and get it to market. Crowdfunder and Spark will help that journey.”