Crowdfunding

A way to raise money for a project or business by soliciting contributions from a large number of people, often online. Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and alternative finance. It's often used by startup companies or growing businesses to access alternative funds.
Crowdfunding usually involves a private company asking large numbers of people for small contributions, usually in exchange for equity in the company. Crowdfunding has been used to fund a wide range of entrepreneurial ventures, such as artistic and creative projects, medical expenses, travel, and community-oriented social entrepreneurship projects.