The Nitty-Gritty explained...
How do I submit a project?
Just fill in our online application form (click on the big green button saying 'Start a new project' on the right side of this page).
Bear in mind you don't have to fill it in all at once. You may save your form and get back to it as many times as you need.
You will need: a video pitch (even basic), a funding target, a short summary of your project, rewards for your backers, and a copy of your ID (passport, driving licence, or national EU identity card). We will help you with your application if necessary.
How do project creators receive their money?
Once the deadline is reached, the funds are immediately transferred to the project owner who becomes responsible for delivering the promised rewards within a reasonable amount of time.
The funds can be sent either to your Paypal account (anywhere in the world) or to your UK bank account. Please note that Sponsume and our payment partners (including Paypal) will NOT charge for transferring funds to your account, even if that's outside the UK or the European Union.
It's free and only takes a few seconds to open a Paypal account.
Is there anything that cannot be a project?
We accept a wide variety of projects. However projects promoting illegal, offensive, violent, or sexually explicit activities are not permitted on this website. Sponsume reserves the right to reject any project it deems unacceptable. Please refer to the terms of use for more details.
Does your payment provider charge any fees?
Yes, Paypal charges a reduced fee of 2.9% of the amount raised + 20p per transaction (please note these are better terms than the standard 3.4% + 20p you will be charged elsewhere). The fee only applies to payments made to your project page. All payments, including credit and debit card payments are processed through Paypal.
Do my backers need to have a Paypal account?
No, backers can pay using any major credit or debit card, from almost anywhere in the world.
How does it work when people back us with a
currency that is not GB Pounds, Euros, US or Australian Dollars? How do they do that?
Users can back any project in any currency using either their credit or debit card or their Paypal account. We take payments from virtually all major credit or debit cards providers around the world. The process is exactly the same as when paying with Pounds, Euros US or Australian dollars. However our payment provider (Paypal) may apply an exchange rate fee to the payment.
How do I know who backed my project?
Your page automatically generates a spreadsheet that contains the contact details of your backers. The spreadsheet is only accessible to the creator of the page, which is why you will have to be logged in to access it. The spreadsheet is accessed by clicking on the 'backers' tab on your page and by clicking on the orange XLS button at the bottom of the page.
Does Sponsume take some percentage of ownership or intellectual property of projects or products made through Sponsume?
No. Sponsume is just a platform matching projects with their public.
Do backers take a percentage of ownership or intellectual property of projects or products made through Sponsume?
No. Transfer of ownership or intellectual property rights is not allowed on this website.
How long do I have to develop my project?
Please don’t make your backers wait more than 9 months before delivering the promised rewards. When submitting your project for funding, you need to have a good understanding of what needs to be done and how long it will take to complete your project.
Are my backers investors in my project?
No. Buying a voucher does not constitute an investment. Sponsume only offers a platform for retail vouchers. Sponsume does not offer any equity, loans or income-sharing scheme.
Can I create a bilingual page?
Yes, provided one of the two languages you use is English. We successfully helped crowdfunding a number of bilingual projects. Make sure the overview and rewards texts are in both languages. Also please add English subtitles if your video pitch is not in English.
I've submitted my project but nothing happened. What's going on?
We check project applications before they can be published. The process generally takes 24 hours. If you did not receive any email notification from us our messages probably got blocked by your email provider. Please set your email inbox so as to authorise incoming emails from Sponsume.com.
Can I recover any VAT?
If you are EU-based and VAT registered, you are entitled to recover 20% of the fee Sponsume charged you. Our fees are inclusive of VAT.
What should I do if a project changes during the funding process?
Always inform your backers on your project page. The substance of your project should not change. If it does, your campaign will be cancelled.
Can a project owner cancel a project after it has received funding?
No, unless the project owner pays back all sponsors.
