From Idea to Reality: Crowd4SME-NW

Pilot project aims to test an innovative financing mechanism blending ERDF funds with crowdfunding to provide SMEs in S3 sectors access to alternative financial resources, reducing reliance on public funding. It will assess the feasibility of a hybrid model where selected SMEs receive €10,000 from ERDF funds if they raise an equivalent amount via crowdfunding. The pilot will lead to a direct adjustment of the current policy instrument which is NW RP 2021-2027. If successful, the experience gained through this pilot will inform future calls and may lead to the institutionalisation of crowdfunding as a permanent feature in the Next Regional Programme.
Key aspects tested include SMEs' readiness to run crowdfunding campaigns, the effectiveness of blending public and participatory funding, investor openness to financing S3 SMEs, and the model’s scalability. The pilot will integrate good practices from Marche Region and Extremadura Region, particularly Marche’s reward-based crowdfunding model, which reduces risks for investors. It will also test whether investors are more inclined to fund SMEs when their contributions are matched by public funds.
This approach ensures public funding supports only SMEs demonstrating market demand. It will also enhance SMEs' ability to market their ideas online and engage with a digital crowdfunding platform, improving digital literacy for both SMEs and investors. The requirement for a strong marketing campaign will further develop their capacity to sell products and services online.
PP4 will select SMEs from key sectors, guide them in choosing crowdfunding platform, and support campaigns. Beyond testing a new financing model, the pilot will raise awareness of alternative funding sources, showing that SMEs are not solely dependent on public funds. Ultimately, this initiative will contribute to adjusting the current policy instrument under Priority 1—fostering a competitive region through innovation, digitization, and dynamic enterprises.