- Promotion of local projects
- www.viele-schaffen-mehr.de live
- VR-Networld, Startnext Network and T-Systems develop platform
The first crowdfunding solution for the financial sector in Germany is online. Internet service providers VR-Networld, Startnext Network and T-Systems have developed www.viele-schaffen-mehr.de (many do more) for banking co-op Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken. Volksbank Bühl is the first branch to go online with its own platform. Other Volksbanken Raiffeisenbanken banks will follow. Crowdfunding - the collecting of many small amounts - can be organized to fund projects, business ideas, services or products from a large group, or crowd, of funders. VR-Networld, Startnext Network and T-Systems subsidiary Multimedia Solutions built the required platform in less than five months. Its focus is to provide local funding for local initiatives. If a sports club wants to renovate the bleachers at its playing field, for example, it can look for financial support from residents of the municipality, city district, village or county at www.viele-schaffen-mehr.de. In the first step, they have to gain as many fans for the project as possible. Once a sufficient quantity has been reached, the project enters the next phase and the donors contribute amounts of their choice. The status of the respective project is displayed openly on the platform at all times. If the funding target is reached, the supporters receive gratitude in the form of free admission to the next game, for example, or an honorary membership. If the target is not reached, the funds are returned to the donors. Neither donors nor project initiators have to pay a fee to use the platform. In addition to the platform, Volksbank Bühl also supports project initiators with word and deed in the run-up phase. An integrated web-to-print option is available, for example, which allows clubs and initiatives to design and print their own advertising materials, without requiring any marketing expertise. Volksbank Bühl advertises for the projects on its web pages and in its branches. Integration with Facebook and other social media channels is also supported. Franz-Sebastian Welter heads the innovation workshop at Volksbank Bühl: "We knew right away that we wanted to be part of a regional crowdfunding platform. We are happy to have this opportunity to create something permanent in the region and promote social projects. It would be great if a lot of outstanding projects were created in our region and our platform helped contribute to their success." "The idea for our crowdfunding solutions arose during a joint workshop with T-Systems. We wanted to make the co-operative way of thinking better known, particularly among the younger generation, while at the same time emphasizing the local ties of the VR banks. So it made sense to link social media elements with the world of finance," says Boris Janek, who is responsible for innovation at VR-NetWorld. Michael Waerder, Account Manager at T-Systems, adds: "The cooperative Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken stand for social commitment, membership and values. Approaching the innovative subject of crowdfunding with this banking group, thus combining the old with the new, was a major motivation for us for this project." The project was implemented in cooperation between T-Systems Multimedia Solutions, Startnext Network and VR-Networld. This included the entire project handling, from consulting and project management to integration, supplying the technology and post-launch support.
About Deutsche Telekom Deutsche Telekom is one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies with more than 132 million mobile customers, over 32 million fixed-network lines and 17 million broadband lines (as of December 31, 2012). The Group provides fixed-network, mobile communications, Internet and IPTV products and services for consumers, and ICT solutions for business and corporate customers. Deutsche Telekom is present in some 50 countries and has 230,000 employees worldwide. The Group generated revenue of EUR 58.2 billion in the 2012 financial year – over half of it outside Germany (as of December 31, 2012). About T-Systems Drawing on a global infrastructure of data centers and networks, T-Systems operates information and communication technology (ICT) systems for multinational corporations and public sector institutions. On this basis, Deutsche Telekom’s corporate customer arm provides integrated solutions for the networked future of business and society. Some 52,700 employees at T Systems combine industry expertise with ICT innovations to add significant value to customers' core business all over the world. The corporate customers unit generated revenue of around EUR 10 billion in the 2012 financial year. About T-Systems Multimedia Solutions Multimedia Solutions, a subsidiary of T-Systems, develops Internet-based solutions for major corporations and SMEs. Some 1,000 employees turn web innovations into services for digital life and business for customers from all industries. This includes solutions for e-commerce, intranet and Internet portals as well as web IT management. For more information visit www.t-systems-mms.com