The Acorn Collective is using blockchain to help business founders and startups find access to funding. Acorn provides crowdfunding that is accessible, transparent and more likely to succeed.

It's a huge and growing market in the West and a largely untapped market in most developing countries

Acorn uses internet-based technology and the collective knowledge of communities to determine which projects should receive funding while providing real time feedback on interest to proposed ideas. The reality however is that crowdfunding is still a closed shop with the main platforms rejecting the vast majority of projects, selecting those that fit limited and self-serving criteria. Like any great idea, crowdfunding has suffered in practice from a protectionism that denies its better values in principle.





Emerging markets and less economically developed are denied access to the largest platform. Criteria are set for creativity and a minimum number of backers from their roots as free access markets, the larger platforms have limited crowdfunding by implementing restrictions that approach the stringency of venture capital or bank loans. The projects that do make it through, there is little support and a fee of 5-10 percent minimal service.





Acorn is here to provide solutions to Crowdfunding Problems such as:





a. of campaigns fail to achieve their raise target





b. of potential backers didn't believe the project was legitimate





c. of raised funds go to developing countries





d. of campaigns fail even with starting capital





The solution Acorn has put in place include:





Accessible Crowdfunding





We are more accessible than any other platform by allowing all countries and listing any legal & ethical project.





Zero percentage Crowd funding





Where other platforms charge 5-10% just for the crowdfund, Acorn will do it for free.





Flexibility





Acorn flexible funding structure means founders do not need excessive seed capital. Accelerators will help to introduce, vet and mentor projects.





ADVANTAGES





1. Acorn is completely free of charge for all their users. Other platforms charge 4-10 percent in fees.





2. The crowdfunding market is still in its infancy with a potential to reach anything from USD 90B to 1 trillion per year by 2025 (World Bank 2013, MyPrivateBanking 2015). Acorn will allow most legal projects to list on their their platform irrespective of where the project originates from and irrespective of each project's type. Project type could include but are not limited to commercial, creative, research, charity and personal causes. Acorn wishes to expand project exposure in new markets where previous access and competition are low.





3. Goods from successful projects can automatically be listed and sold on the Acorn marketplace with no fees for campaign founders.





4. Subject to the success of their ICO, Acorn has designed Token Growth and Stability Mechanism intended to increase the value of OAK starting after token distribution.









ROADMAP





Pre-OAK Distribution Roadmap





June - August 2017 - Reseach and Concept (Early team build)





September to October 2017 - Infrastructure set up





October 2017 - Whitepaper published and development of Acorn MVP begins





Novermber 2017 - Technical roadmap published and relocation of company to Gibraltar





29 Jan - 19 Feb 2018 - Pre ICO phase 50 percent discount at 1 OAK equal to USD 0.70





March to April 2018 - Main ICO Phase priced at 1 OAK equal to USD 140





Post-OAK Distribution Roadmap





Q1 2018 - Continue development of Acorn MVP. Begin allocation of ICO proceeds. Allocate funds in the Operation Fund to start generating returns. Begin large-scale marketing campaign for the Acorn collective platforms





MID 2018 - Release of Acorn MVP. Implement Currency Growth and Stability Mechanisms, utilising project incentive fund to drive early adoption, setting up affiliate rewards and actively exploring for partnership to integrate OAK into additional 3rd party platforms





Q3-Q4 2018 - Launch of completed Acorn platform. Begin development of Acorn marketplace and Acorn local. Proceed with even larger-scale utilisation of Acorn project incentive funds. Implement project backer insurance

2019 and Beyond - Launch of Acorn marketplace and Acorn local continue running Acorn Currency Growth and Stability Mechanisms to ensure maximum and sustainable growth of the OAK ecosystem.





TEAM





1. Dr. Moritz Kurtz - Co-Founder, CEO





2. Peter-Andreas Kurtz - Co-Founder, CFO





Advisors





1. David Ives - Crowdfunding & Technical Advisor





2. Ian Scarffe - Blockchain & Startup Advisor





3. Theodosis Mourouzis - Blockchain Advisor





4. Kyriacos Pavlou - Blockchain Advisor





5. Jeremy Suarez - Cybersecurity Advisor





6. Steve Good - ICO Advisor





Investment Advocates





1. Hasib Nawaz Shaikh - Investment Advisor





2. Anuj Khanna - ICO, Business Development Advisor





3. Desmond Marshall

ICO & Investment Advisor





CONCLUSION





Acorn is beyond every reasonable doubt very helpful in development and growth of businesses through online crowdfunding provided at no cost. It is easy and accessible and reaches out to businesses no matter their geographical location and nature of business.