This article is from page 21 of the 2014-12-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
A NORTH Clare woman is taking an innovative new approach to starting her own business by launching an online, crowd-funding campaign – with the public essentially sponsoring her to get her business off the ground. Corof n woman, Camilla Roelants (pictured right), is hoping to raise € 16,500 to fund her new pasta take away restaurant Bosca Pasta, which she hopes to launch in the new year in Ennis.
She has until Christmas Day, December 25, to receive pledges for the entire amount on the crowd funding website kickstarter, or all the money raised will go back to those who pledged it.
Crowd funding has been used by a number of charities or budding musician to get projects off the ground in recent year – however, it is understood that this is the f rst time that a Clare business has attempted to raise start-up capital in this way.
Camilla has been out of work since she was made redundant by Sykes Enterprises in Shannon in 2012, and has completed a number of business training programmes since them, with a view to getting her own business off the ground.
“I lived in France for eight year when these types of restaurants were just getting off the ground.
“When I came home I found that I missed them, the only things you can get in Ennis were burgers is burgers and chips or something similar.
“So I decided I would try something different,” she said.
“I’ve done a lot of research into this idea and now I’m ready to go. I’ve been unemployed for two years and I really want to be able to launch this new business and get myself off the live register, and this way of funding it is how I can do that.
“I like the idea of having thousands of people funding you € 1 each, rather than going to the banks.
“I’m looking for € 16,500 from the crowdfunding site. I put my start-up costs at about € 30,000, including hiring three staff members, and I have about half of that from my own savings, family and friends.
“I haven’t gone to the banks, I’ve been unemployed for a few years and chances are I would be refused.
People can pledge any amount to the project. For more information or to pledge visit www.kickstarter.com/ projects/858962211/bosca-pasta