Event Features New Funding Opportunities for Small Business

David Fisher, small business consultant, will discuss crowd funding for small businesses. Courtesy photo.

By Sonia Isotov

A seminar on new funding opportunities for small business on Maui, “Crowd Funding and More to Jump-Start Your Business” will be held at the Maui Tropical Plantation on Wednesday, Jan. 30.

The event is a collaboration between Maui Brainstormers and the Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Maui County Business Resource Center and others involved in small business development on Maui.

Attendees will learn about different funding resources to start and grow a business from four industry experts:

• David B. Fisher, Maui Ventures Consulting, will discuss crowd funding and how it works as well as other non-banking loan opportunities;
• Scott K Sakakihara, Central Pacific Bank, will discuss commercial small business loans;
• Susie Thieman, Lokahi Pacific, will discuss local small business community loans;
• Richard Keohe, lead SCORE counselor on Maui and certified public accountant, will discuss key steps for getting and managing your loan.

Susie Thieman, interim executive director, Lokahi Pacific. Courtesy photo.

“Crowd funding has many applications including funding. The ‘crowd’ part of this means using the internet to reach lots of people quickly. Crowd funding has an established legal form called “donation crowd funding” which flowered four years ago in the ʻ08 Obama campaign, and since has helped developers of new products through internet sites such as Kickstarter.com,” explained David Fisher.

“I will focus on donation crowd funding and the part of the JOBS Act that will improve transparency and access to qualified investors. This latter part is an important part of the Hawaii Community Exchange (H-CX.com) that I am developing.”

This special small business event begins at 5 p.m. with business networking and the program starts at 5:45 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The cost of this special small business event is $22 and includes dinner. Seats are limited. Online RSVP is required. No admission at the door.

To RSVP and for more information, go to http://www.meetup.com/MauiBusinessBrainstormers/events/58270942.