Manager terminal

Abstract

[PROBLEM] Provided is a manager terminal capable of managing a completely new form of crowdfunding. [SOLUTION] A user terminal 100 is owned by a user who is investing through crowdfunding. A manager terminal 200 includes a storage unit 205 and a control unit 201. The storage unit 205 stores profit information about profits from a business associated with crowdfunding, and stores investment amount information about crowdfunding received via a network N on the basis of an operation from the user terminal 100 owned by the user who is investing through crowdfunding. The control unit 201 calculates a dividends for the user on the basis of the profit information and the investment amount information.

Description

Administrator terminal

[0001] The present invention relates to an administrator terminal for managing crowdfunding.

[0002] In recent years, investment forms using crowdfunding have become increasingly popular. Crowdfunding is known as a purchase type, in which investors (users) invest online in businesses that have solicited investments (contributions) and receive products or services in return in proportion to the amount of their investment, as well as a donation type, in which investors receive a return without compensation. Crowdfunding management systems have also been proposed to stimulate support through such crowdfunding (see, for example, Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] JP 2023-050269 A

[0004] As crowdfunding becomes more popular as mentioned above, investors are also looking for new forms of investment. In particular, crowdfunding forms that offer low investment risk and high returns are highly sought after by investors.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide an administrator terminal that can manage a completely new form of crowdfunding.

[0006] (1) The administrator terminal according to the present invention is an administrator terminal for managing crowdfunding, and includes a memory unit and a control unit. The memory unit stores revenue information for a crowdfunding project and also stores crowdfunding investment amount information received via a network based on operations from user terminals owned by users who invest through the crowdfunding. The control unit calculates a dividend amount for the user based on the revenue information and the investment amount information.

[0007] With this configuration, the dividend amount to be paid to the user is calculated based on the investment amount information entered by the user through operation of the user terminal and the revenue information of the crowdfunding business stored in the memory unit of the administrator terminal, and dividends can be paid to the user based on the calculated dividend amount, thereby enabling the management of an entirely new form of dividend-based crowdfunding.

[0008] (2) The business operator conducting the business related to the crowdfunding may be a business operator selling movable or immovable property, or a business operator providing a service.

[0009] With this configuration, dividend-based crowdfunding can be managed using movable or real estate, or services, as investment targets.

[0010] (3) The administrator terminal may be capable of accepting investment amount information for a single crowdfunding campaign for multiple businesses run by multiple businesses.

[0011] This configuration allows for the management of dividend-based crowdfunding by targeting multiple businesses run by multiple businesses as investment targets for a single crowdfunding campaign. In this case, even if one of the businesses does not generate a good profit from its business, it may be possible to pay dividends to users based on the profits of the other businesses' businesses, thereby reducing investment risk.

[0012] (4) The business operator conducting the crowdfunding business may be an artist or an athlete.

[0013] With this configuration, dividend-based crowdfunding can be managed with the businesses of artists or athletes as investment targets. In particular, since the revenue of artists or athletes can fluctuate significantly depending on their popularity, injuries, etc., if multiple businesses of such businesses are invested in through a single crowdfunding campaign, investment risk can be effectively reduced.

[0014] (5) The storage unit may be capable of storing past performance values ​​of a business operator engaged in a business associated with the crowdfunding. In this case, the control unit may be capable of calculating an expected value of the dividend amount based on the past performance values.

[0015] This configuration allows users to select investment targets by referring to expected dividend amounts calculated based on the past performance of businesses engaged in crowdfunding activities. This allows users to select investment targets that are expected to have low investment risk and high returns, making it possible to provide a form of crowdfunding that is desirable for users.

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to manage a completely new form of dividend-based crowdfunding.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a crowdfunding management system equipped with an administrator terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the specific configuration of each terminal used in the crowdfunding management system of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a modified example of the crowdfunding management system. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by a control unit of an administrator terminal. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of display on a display unit of a user terminal. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining an example of crowdfunding.

[0018] 1. Overall Configuration of the Crowdfunding Management System Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a crowdfunding management system equipped with an administrator terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this crowdfunding management system, a user 1 can use crowdfunding services managed by an administrator 2 via a network N.

[0019] Crowdfunding is a service that allows users 1 as investors to make investments via a network N in businesses 3 that have solicited investments (contributions). By receiving investments from multiple users 1, the business 3 can receive the total amount as capital contributions. In this case, a portion of the capital contributions received by the business 3 may be paid to the administrator 2 as compensation. If multiple businesses 3 solicit investments through crowdfunding, users 1 have more options for investment targets, making it possible to provide a crowdfunding service that provides greater user 1 satisfaction.

[0020] Each user who invests through crowdfunding owns a user terminal 100. In addition, an administrator 2 owns an administrator terminal 200 for managing the crowdfunding. Each user terminal 100 and the administrator terminal 200 are connected to a network N by wire or wirelessly.

[0021] A server S is also connected to the network N via a wired or wireless connection. The server S provides an internet site for soliciting investments through crowdfunding. Each user 1 can access the internet site from a user terminal 100 and use the crowdfunding service. An administrator 2 can access the management screen of the internet site from an administrator terminal 200 to manage the crowdfunding.

[0022] The network N is, for example, the Internet, and an unspecified number of users 1 can use the crowdfunding service by accessing the Internet site provided by the server S from their respective user terminals 100 via the network N. However, only users 1 who are members and have registered an account in advance may be able to use the crowdfunding service by logging in from their user terminals 100.

[0023] 1, crowdfunding investment can be made by online payment by a user 1 operating a user terminal 100 on an internet site provided by a server S, inputting the investment amount. The investment amount information input in this manner (investment amount information) is input to an administrator terminal 200 via a network N. That is, based on the operation from the user terminal 100, the crowdfunding investment amount information is received by the administrator terminal 200 via the network N.

[0024] Manager 2 pays capital contributions equivalent to the investment amount through crowdfunding to Business 3. Then, Business 3, having received the capital contributions, uses the capital contributions to carry out the business associated with crowdfunding. Business 3 then reports information on the amount of revenue (revenue information) from the business associated with crowdfunding to Manager 2. This report may be made by Business 3 sending a written document to Manager 2, or by sending data via email or the like.

[0025] The administrator terminal 200 stores the revenue information received from the business operator 3. Based on this revenue information, the amount of dividend (dividend amount) to be paid to each user 1 who has made an investment is calculated. In this embodiment, the user 1 can receive the dividend amount calculated in this manner. The dividend amount to each user 1 is an amount that corresponds to the investment amount of each user 1. In other words, the more the investment amount of a user 1, the more dividend the user 1 can receive.

[0026] The calculated payout amount is transmitted from the administrator terminal 200 to the user terminal 100 via the network N, and can be confirmed by the user 1 who owns the user terminal 100. The payout amount may be received by the user 1 operating the user terminal 100, by having the amount automatically transferred to a bank account registered in advance in the administrator terminal 200, or by some other method.

[0027] 2. Specific Configuration of Each Terminal Figure 2 is a block diagram for explaining the specific configuration of each terminal used in the crowdfunding management system of Figure 1. Each terminal (user terminal 100 and administrator terminal 200) can be configured as a personal computer, but is not limited to this, and may be configured as a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or tablet terminal, or a dedicated terminal may be used.

[0028] The user terminal 100 includes a control unit 101, a communication unit 102, an operation unit 103, a display unit 104, and a storage unit 105. The control unit 101 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the processor executes a program, causing the control unit 101 to function as a functional unit for executing various functions. The communication unit 102 establishes communication between the user terminal 100 and the network N based on a signal from the control unit 101.

[0029] The operation unit 103 includes an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse, and various input operations can be performed via the operation unit 103. The display unit 104 is configured with, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and can display various types of information. However, the operation unit 103 may also include a touch panel. In this case, the operation unit 103 and the display unit 104 may be integrated into a touch panel type operation display device.

[0030] The storage unit 105 includes a main storage device such as a random access memory (RAM) or an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk or a solid state drive (SSD), and can store various types of data.

[0031] The administrator terminal 200 includes a control unit 201, a communication unit 202, an operation unit 203, a display unit 204, and a storage unit 205. The control unit 201 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the processor executes a program, causing the control unit 201 to function as a functional unit for executing various functions. The communication unit 202 establishes communication between the administrator terminal 200 and the network N based on a signal from the control unit 201.

[0032] The operation unit 203 includes an input device such as a keyboard or a pointing device such as a mouse, and various input operations can be performed via the operation unit 203. The display unit 204 is configured with, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and can display various types of information. However, the operation unit 203 may also be configured with a touch panel. In this case, the operation unit 203 and the display unit 204 may be integrated into a touch panel type operation display device.

[0033] The storage unit 205 includes a main storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a secondary storage device such as a hard disk or SSD (Solid State Drive), and can store various data. As shown in Fig. 2, the storage unit 205 stores revenue information of the crowdfunding business, dividend amounts for each user 1, and the like.

[0034] Specifically, revenue information associated with crowdfunding for each business operator 3 is stored in association with business operator information, which is information about each business operator 3. The business operator information for each business operator 3 may include, for example, identification information for identifying each business operator 3, as well as various other information such as the content of the business associated with crowdfunding for each business operator 3, or the ratio of dividends to revenue from the business (dividend ratio).

[0035] In addition, the investment amount and dividend amount of each user 1 are stored in association with user information, which is information about each user 1. The user information of each user 1 may include, for example, identification information for identifying each user 1, as well as various other information such as information about a bank account to which dividends for each user 1 are to be transferred. The investment amount of each user 1 is stored for each business (investment target) of each business operator 3 in which each user 1 has invested. There may be one or more investment targets for each user 1. Each user 1 can select a desired investment target and set an investment amount for each investment target by operating the user terminal 100 to invest. The dividend amount for each user 1 is calculated for each investment target of each user 1 and stored in the storage unit 205.

[0036] In this embodiment, the control unit 201 of the administrator terminal 200 executes a program to function as a dividend amount calculation unit 211. The dividend amount calculation unit 211 calculates a dividend amount for each user 1 based on the revenue information (revenue amount information) and investment amount information (investment amount information) stored in the storage unit 205. Specifically, the dividend amount calculation unit 211 calculates an amount (total dividend amount) by multiplying the revenue information stored in association with the business information of each business 3 by the dividend rate for the revenue of that business, and then calculates a dividend amount of the total dividend amount corresponding to the amount invested by each user 1 in that business. However, the method of calculating the dividend amount is not limited to the above method, and any other method can be used for calculation based on the revenue information and investment amount information.

[0037] In this way, in this embodiment, the dividend amount to User 1 is calculated based on the investment amount information entered by User 1 through operation of the user terminal 100 and the revenue information of the business associated with the crowdfunding stored in the storage unit 205 of the administrator terminal 200, and therefore, dividends can be paid to User 1 based on the calculated dividend amount. This makes it possible to manage an entirely new form of dividend-based crowdfunding.

[0038] The business operator 3 engaged in the business associated with crowdfunding may be a business operator 3 that sells movable or real estate, or a business operator 3 that provides services. Examples of the movable property include large-scale facilities such as solar power generation facilities, small-scale facilities used in individual households, and products such as supplements and beauty products. Examples of the real estate include investment properties such as land, houses, or apartments, as well as facilities such as hotels or villas.

[0039] The above services may be provided in exchange for payment or without payment. Specifically, examples of the above services include opening restaurants, franchisees, various events, and other new businesses.

[0040] 3. Modifications Fig. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a modification of the crowdfunding management system. Fig. 3 shows only a modification of the administrator terminal 200, but the other components such as the user terminal 100 are the same as those in the above embodiment, so their description will be omitted.

[0041] 3, the control unit 201 functions not only as a dividend amount calculation unit 211 but also as an expected value calculation unit 212. The expected value calculation unit 212 calculates an expected value regarding the dividend amount for each user 1. This expected value is a value that the user 1 uses as a reference when selecting an investment target.

[0042] The storage unit 205 stores not only revenue information associated with crowdfunding for each business operator 3 but also actual values ​​and expected values ​​in association with business operator information, which is information about each business operator 3. The actual values ​​are values ​​indicating the past results of crowdfunding conducted by each business operator 3, and may include, for example, at least one of the amount of revenue from a past crowdfunding business, the amount of investment from each user 1 in the business, and the amount of dividends paid to each user 1 at that time.

[0043] In this way, the storage unit 205 can store past performance values ​​of each business operator 3 that conducts a business associated with crowdfunding, but performance values ​​do not need to be stored for new businesses 3. The expected value can be calculated based on the performance values, and the calculated expected value is stored in the storage unit 205. Any method for calculating the expected value can be used, but the higher the past performance value, i.e., the more highly rated the business operator 3 is in crowdfunding, the higher the possibility of obtaining a higher dividend amount, and therefore the higher the calculated expected value will be.

[0044] In the example of Fig. 3, User 1 can select an investment target by referring to the expected value of the dividend amount calculated based on the past performance of Business Operator 3 that conducts a business associated with crowdfunding. Therefore, User 1 can select an investment target that is expected to have low investment risk and high return, and a form of crowdfunding that is desirable for User 1 can be provided.

[0045] 3, not only can one business run by each business 3 be selected as one crowdfunding investment target (single target), but multiple businesses run by multiple businesses 3 can also be selected as one crowdfunding investment target (group target). That is, by operating the user terminal 100, each user 1 can input investment amount information for a single target, as well as investment amount information for a group target.

[0046] The administrator terminal 200 receives investment amount information for a single target or a group of targets based on operations from each user terminal 100, and stores the information in the storage unit 205. This makes it possible to manage dividend-based crowdfunding by targeting not only one business run by each business 3, but also multiple businesses run by multiple businesses 3 as a single crowdfunding investment target. In this case, even if one of the multiple businesses 3 does not generate good profits in its business, it may be possible to pay dividends to the user 1 based on the profits from the businesses of the other businesses 3, thereby reducing the investment risk.

[0047] 4. Processing by the Administrator Terminal FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the control unit 201 of the administrator terminal 200.

[0048] When the control unit 201 of the administrator terminal 200 receives revenue information received from the business operator 3 (Yes in step S101) and stores it in the memory unit 205 (step S102), it reads out the investment amount information of each user 1 for the business corresponding to the revenue information stored in the memory unit 205 (step S103).

[0049] Then, the control unit 201 calculates the dividend amount for each user 1 based on the read-out investment amount information and profit information (step S104). The calculated dividend amount is stored in the storage unit 205 in association with each user 1 (step S105). The investment amount and dividend amount for each business for each user 1 stored in the storage unit 205 may be read out from the user terminal 100 and displayed on the display unit 104 of the user terminal 100.

[0050] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a display on the display unit 104 of the user terminal 100. In this example, the investment amount and dividend amount for each business of user 1 stored in the memory unit 205 of the administrator terminal 200 are read from the user terminal 100 and displayed on the display unit 104 of the user terminal 100.

[0051] User 1 can invest in one business or multiple businesses using the crowdfunding management system according to this embodiment. The example in Fig. 5 is a display example on the display unit 104 of the user terminal 100 when User 1 has invested in multiple businesses.

[0052] Specifically, the business name and business operator 3 of each business are displayed, and the amount of investment by user 1 in each business and the dividend amount obtained from the profits from each business are displayed in association with each business. As in the example of Figure 5, for each user 1, the total investment amount for all businesses in which user 1 has invested and the total dividend amount obtained from the profits from all businesses in which user 1 has invested may be displayed on the display unit 104 of the user terminal 100. In this case, the total amount may be calculated by the control unit 201 of the administrator terminal 200 and stored in the memory unit 205, or may be calculated by the control unit 101 of the user terminal 100 and stored in the memory unit 105.

[0053] 6. Specific Example Figure 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of crowdfunding. In this example, the business operator 3 is an artist (musician, artist, artist, etc.). In this case, each user 1 who invests through crowdfunding may be a fan of the artist who is the business operator 3.

[0054] The business operator 3 solicits investments through crowdfunding (solicitation) on an internet site managed by the administrator 2. In response, the user 1 makes an investment (contribution) by inputting investment amount information on the internet site, and the investment is paid to the business operator 3. The business operator 3 then uses the investment to conduct its business.

[0055] In this example, a crowdfunding project involves an event such as a concert or exhibition held by an artist (business operator 3), who sells tickets to the event to attract customers. Then, based on information about the revenue gained from holding the event and information about the investment amount of each user 1, a dividend amount for each user 1 is calculated, and a dividend equivalent to that amount is paid to each user 1.

[0056] By using crowdfunding, each user 1 may be able to obtain not only dividends but also other benefits. For example, in addition to dividends as the main benefit, a service may be provided in which each user 1 can obtain a secondary benefit of participating in an event held by an artist (business operator 3) for free or at a discounted price. However, the secondary benefit is not limited to participation in an event, and may be other goods or services beneficial to each user 1, such as being able to purchase merchandise from the artist (business operator 3) for free or at a discounted price, or being able to participate in other events for free or at a discounted price.

[0057] 6, the case where the business operator 3 is an artist has been described, but a crowdfunding management system can also be provided in a similar manner for other business operators 3, such as athletes. If the business operator 3 is an athlete, the dividend amount may be calculated not only from the revenue earned by hosting a match as a business, but also from revenue such as an annual salary that the athlete receives directly. In this way, the business operator 3 is not limited to cases where the athlete directly hosts a business, but may also include cases where the business operator 3 participates in a business hosted by another person as a host.

[0058] Since the business revenue of artists or athletes can fluctuate greatly depending on factors such as their popularity or whether they are injured, if multiple businesses of such businesses 3 are targeted for investment in a single crowdfunding campaign, as in the example of Figure 3, the investment risk can be effectively reduced.

[0059] However, the business operator 3 is not limited to an artist or an athlete, and may be any person directly or indirectly involved in the business. For example, a business operator 3 whose business is operating a solar power generation facility may install the solar power generation facility using investments made through crowdfunding, earn revenue by selling the electricity generated by the operation of the facility to an electric power company, and pay dividends calculated based on the amount of the revenue to each user 1.

[0060] When the business operator 3 engages in real estate investment as a business, the business operator 3 may use the investment made through crowdfunding to purchase a property such as land, a house, or an apartment, and may rent out the property to earn profits, with dividends calculated based on the amount of profits being paid to each user 1. Furthermore, when the business operator 3 sells a property, dividends calculated based on the sales amount may be paid to each user 1 as a secondary profit.

[0061] When the business operator 3 operates a facility such as a hotel or villa, the business operator 3 may purchase or operate the facility using the investments made through crowdfunding, and may earn revenue from users of the facility, with dividends calculated based on the amount of revenue being paid to each user 1. In addition, each user 1 may receive additional benefits such as being able to use the facility for free or at a discounted price.

[0062] When the business operator 3 operates a franchise service, the business operator 3 may use the investments made through crowdfunding to purchase or renovate a store, provide the service, and earn revenue as sales from the service, with dividends calculated based on the amount of revenue being paid to each user 1. Furthermore, each user 1 may receive additional benefits such as being able to use the store for free or at a discounted price.

[0063] When the business operator 3 operates a store such as a restaurant, the business operator 3 may use the investment from the crowdfunding to purchase or renovate the store, operate the store, and earn revenue from sales at the store, with dividends calculated based on the amount of revenue being paid to each user 1. Furthermore, each user 1 may receive additional benefits such as being able to use the store for free or at a discounted price.

[0064] When the business operator 3 is engaged in a business of selling products (especially new products) such as supplements or beauty products, the business operator 3 may develop the products using investments made through crowdfunding, earn profits by selling the products, and pay dividends calculated based on the profits to each user 1. In addition, each user 1 may receive additional benefits such as being able to purchase the products for free or at a discounted price.

[0065] When providing crowdfunding via the network N as described above, it may be necessary to prove that the investment object (e.g., a painting) is genuine. Therefore, a crowdfunding management system using blockchain may be constructed to prevent tampering. In this case, any technology such as NFT (Non-Fungible Token) may be used.

[0066] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 User 2 Administrator 3 Business operator 100 User terminal 101 Control unit 102 Communication unit 103 Operation unit 104 Display unit 105 Storage unit 200 Administrator terminal 201 Control unit 202 Communication unit 203 Operation unit 204 Display unit 205 Storage unit

Claims

1. An administrator terminal for managing crowdfunding, comprising: a storage unit that stores revenue information of a business associated with the crowdfunding and stores investment amount information of the crowdfunding received via a network based on an operation from a user terminal owned by a user who makes an investment through the crowdfunding; and a control unit that calculates a dividend amount for the user based on the revenue information and the investment amount information.

2. The administrator terminal according to claim 1, wherein the business operator who conducts the business associated with the crowdfunding is a business operator who sells movable or immovable property, or a business operator who provides services.

3. The administrator terminal according to claim 1 or 2, capable of receiving investment amount information of one crowdfunding for a plurality of businesses conducted by a plurality of business operators.

4. The administrator terminal according to claim 3, wherein the business operator who conducts the business associated with the crowdfunding is an artist or a sports player.

5. The administrator terminal according to claim 1, wherein the storage unit can store past performance values of a business operator who conducts the business associated with the crowdfunding, and the control unit can calculate an expected value regarding the dividend amount based on the performance values.

Images