– Record-high number of applicants for the program: over 1,000… Practical consulting, including tips for success, proved effective
– Cumulative participation of 10,000 people… Approximately 40% of teams that launched funding campaigns have taken courses at Wadiz School
"Wadiz," an educational and consulting program designed to introduce participants to the world of crowdfunding, is seeing remarkable growth in popularity.
Wadiz, a life design crowdfunding platform, announced that its "Wadiz " program—designed to revitalize the crowdfunding industry and local startup ecosystems—has been setting new enrollment records, with the number of individual applicants exceeding 1,000.
This marks explosive growth over the past seven years, with the average monthly number of applicants increasing 56-fold compared to 2016, when Wadiz School first launched. While approximately 80 people applied per month in 2016, as of January 26, 2023, more than 5,000 had applied, bringing the cumulative total of participating startup teams to over 10,000.
Wadiz School offers a range of educational and networking programs tailored to makers looking to launch crowdfunding campaigns, including “Maker Day.” These programs are organized into distinct stages—Introduction, Practical Application, Mentoring, and Special Lectures—to provide the information makers need in a step-by-step format. The “Beginner Class,” which attracted a record 1,000 participants—the largest number ever for a single program—is designed for those new to crowdfunding. The class shared know-how on how to get started and increase the chances of success.
Prior to the pandemic, the program was conducted exclusively in person, but it has become even more sophisticated following a successful transition to an online format. In fact, approximately 40% of the teams that launched funding campaigns had previously taken courses at Wadiz School.
The key factor was word of mouth spreading about how participants could receive practical help through the sharing of success strategies and consulting, rather than just one-way instruction. Notable makers who started and grew their businesses alongside Wadiz include Tomin (food), Dimap (beauty), and Bella C&C (beauty). Kim Mi-ra, team leader at Bella C&C—a maker that has raised a cumulative 800 million won through its vegan beauty products—said, “At first, the concept of crowdfunding was unfamiliar to me, but as I gradually learned the ropes, took on the challenge, and achieved good results, I truly realized the immense impact crowdfunding can have,” she said. “I believeWadizis a platform that allows us to communicate with customers with genuine sincerity. If you take the plunge without hesitation, it will be a great help in expanding your brand.”
Jang Min-young, Team Leader of Wadiz School, stated, “We have devoted all our efforts to educating the market about crowdfunding—from its basic concepts to the practical benefits it offers entrepreneurs.” She added, “Having achieved significant growth over the past seven years, we will continue to provide comprehensive information and foster communication to build an ecosystem where anyone can launch a crowdfunding campaign and grow their business.”
