Crowdfunding symposium to address innovation in social finance

A new symposium at the University of California, Berkeley, will explore the world of crowdfunding, an increasingly popular financing model that harnesses the power of social networks to raise money. Organizers say the event will be the first international academic symposium on the innovative funding technique that has allowed small businesses and start-up ventures to raise needed capital. " Crowdfunding: Setting the Research Agenda ,” organized by the College of Engineering's Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership, will be held from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17, and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, at Blum Hall. Topics will include gender dynamics in crowdfunding, disincentives in crowdfunding behavior, and lessons learned from Kickstarter, Indiegogo and similar online funding platforms. Scheduled speakers include Jason Best and Sherwood Neiss, co-principals of Crowdfund Capital Advisors; Hal Varian, chief economist at Google Inc.; and Julia Groves, managing director of the UK Crowdfunding Association.