MONTREAL -- Entrepreneur Paul Chipperton aims to raise $129,000 by the end of October for marketing a technology that can suspend the arrival of distracting emails, text messages and phone calls to handheld and other devices. But he's leaving this fundraising to online, not to the banks or venture capital. In a growing movement called crowdfunding, entrepreneurs make video pitches to consumers to help get their projects to market. It all comes down to whether the amount of donations meet the startup company's funding target and deadline.Chipperton is putting his MyFocus Solution product on the U.S.-based crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, which launched in Canada earlier this month.

"If you don't make that threshold number, the project doesn't get funded and you go about your business," said Chipperton, CEO of CanFocus Technologies Inc. in Toronto. Chipperton described his product as a "little force field of solitude" to help people get their work done without electronic distractions.In essence, MyFocus uses software to put messages and calls in a "holding pattern" on cellphones, laptops and tablets for up to two hours with no ringing or buzzing or alerts, he said. Consumers can download the app for their smartphones and tablets or plug a small device into their computers.By pledging $5 to $8,000, donors can receive various rewards -- including T-shirts, the product, or becoming an observer at meetings of the company's board of directors for a year -- for their cash on Kickstarter."It's a transaction. You put money down and you get something back.

The National Crowdfunding Association of Canada (NCFA Canada) is a cross-Canada crowdfunding hub providing education, advocacy and networking opportunities in the rapidly evolving crowdfunding industry.  NCFA Canada is a community-based, membership-driven entity that was formed at the grass roots level to fill a national need in the market place.   Join our growing network of industry stakeholders, fundraisers and investors.  Increase your organization’s profile and gain access to a dynamic group of industry front runners.  Learn more eBrochure | Prezi or contact us at casano@ncfacanada.org.