Market-based social networking website method and apparatus for creating new funding and referral fees

Abstract

In one embodiment, the method uses a secure website and employs a monetary incentive to individuals or businesses to identify potential funding sources for entities that are growing or need liquidity, wherein the secure website secure website is hosted on a web server that includes an email system and a database that is internet or remotely accessible and provides search and other capabilities for users of the secure website and wherein a funding seeker and a funding finder, who agree to terms of use of the secure website, act to enter into a contract providing for a contingent referral fee for the funding finder if the terms of the offered contract are met.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method implemented using a website on a web-based system, comprising the steps of
 (a) establishing a secure website, wherein the secure website is hosted on a web server that includes an email system and a database that provides email and database search, query and display capabilities for the secure website, wherein the email system and database is internet accessible;   (b) obtaining a funds seeker and a funds finder who agree to terms of use of the secure website;   (c) the funds seeker enters into the database the funds seeker's business profile, preferred funding type and amount, preferred funding sources and a contingent referral fee that the funds seeker would pay if the funds seeker obtained a minimum level of funding from a named funding source, which the database stores and transforms to searchable data in the database on the server;   (d) the funds finder searches the database and retrieves from the database information that identifies the funds seeker as a potential client and sends an email through the email system to the funds seeker, wherein the email offers an introduction to a company insider(s), wherein the funds finder himself or herself is not a company insider or an owner or operator of the secure website, via an offer system of the secure website thereby offering a single company-exclusive contract with the funds seeker, wherein the offered contract, if accepted by the finds seeker, is stored in the database and wherein said offered contract, if accepted, would obligate the funds seeker to pay a contingent referral fee if the funds seeker is introduced to a company insider by the funds finder and the funds seeker receives funds from the funding source according to the terms of the offered contract, optionally wherein the funds finder is qualified to receive a referral fee under FINRA regulations;   (e) the funds seeker responds through the offer system of the secure website to accept one or more of the offers of step (d), wherein the server's database is tangibly transformed to contain a searchable single company-exclusive contract that obligates the funds seeker to pay the contingent referral fee if the funds seeker is introduced to a company insider at the named funding source and receives funds from the funding source, wherein   (1) the database allows automated searching of funds seekers by geography and business/profession and displays the amount of the contingent referral fee, whereby funds finders can identify funds seekers for funding opportunities,   (2) the database allows the funds seeker or funds finder to perform an automated search or query of the database for the attributes of company names, one or more professional attributes, or key words in the funds finders' or funds seekers' professional profile and the database displays funds seekers or funds finders who have the searched or queried attributes, wherein discussions of common interests between the funds seeker and the funds finder, optionally via email exchanges through the email system, are facilitated and/or a basis is provided to the funds finder to offer to make an introduction between the funds seeker and the funding source,   (3) the database allows entry of and searching or querying for a funds seeker digital patent portfolio, video profile and/or resume to differentiate the funds seeker's profile as a value-added for-fee service,   (4) the database provides for protection of the funds seeker's identity and discloses, only after a search or query of the database, a user-defined username and user profile for the funds seeker, thereby enabling a funds seeker to conduct a search for funds for a startup or other business enterprise without the funds seeker's current employer's knowledge thereof, and/or   (5) the secure website allows payment of said contingent referral fee though the use of an electronic payment system for a fee.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein, the funds finder introduces the funds seeker to one or more insiders or employees at the funding source and the named fund source screens the funds seeker. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step (f), the funding source offers the funds seeker a financing contract comprising a financing offer, the funds seeker accepts the financing offer and receives the funds from the named company, wherein the offered contract of step (d) becomes a binding contract that is stored in the database, wherein the binding contract obligates the funds seeker to pay the contingent referral fee to the funds finder according to its terms, optionally wherein the secure website utilizes an electronic payment system to facilitate paying the contingent referral fee if requested by the funds seeker or the funds finder or if required by the terms of the binding contract; and 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step (g) paying the owner or operator of the secure social networking website or another designated payee a use fee, optionally a portion of the contingent referral fee, according to the terms of the binding contract of step (e) or according to the terms of use of the website of step (b) through the use of an electronic payment system, wherein 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the database allows automated searching of funds seekers by geography and business/profession and displays the amount of the contingent referral fee, wherein the funds finder identifies funds seekers for funding opportunities. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said database allows the funds seeker or funds finder to perform an automated search or query of the database for the attributes of company names, one or more professional attributes, or key words in the funds finders' or funds seekers' professional profile and the database displays funds seekers or funds finders who have the searched or queried attributes, wherein discussions of common interests between the funds seeker and the funds finder through the email system, wherein a basis is provided to the funds finder to offer to make an introduction between the funds seeker and the funding source. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said secure website utilizes an email-based offer system to generate a contingent referral fee contract between the funds seeker and the funds finder through email offers and acceptances with all terms and conditions of the contractual obligation to pay the contingent referral fee being specified and stored in the database, optionally wherein the funds seeker and/or the funds finder can retrieve such contracts from the website, optionally the database or the email archives, for a fee. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said database allows the searching and displaying of funds seeker and/or funds finder profiles by profession or expertise, enabling funds seeker and/or funds finder to determine how their professional peers differentiate themselves within their profiles, optionally through FINRA affiliation, licensing, education, and professional certification, wherein the secure website is enabled to derive revenues through the use of click-through advertisements. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein other users who are potential business advisors, coaches, consultants, mentors and mentees designate themselves in the database, which stores in their other user profiles, and the other users search the database for matching mentors and mentees within their local geographical market and/or within their expertise, communicate through the website's email system, and enter into the same contractual obligation to pay the contingent referral fee that the funds seeker may enter into with the funds finder. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the funds seeker enters into the database, and the database stores and allows retrieval of the funds seeker's digital patent portfolio, video profile and/or resume to differentiate the funds seeker's profile as a value-added for-fee service. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said database provides for protection of the funds seeker's identity and discloses, only after a search or query of the database, a user-defined username and user profile for the funds seeker, thereby enabling a funds seeker to conduct a search for funds for a startup or other business enterprise without the funds seeker's current employer's knowledge thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said secure website's single company-exclusive contract includes in the database a fraud clause that requires timely notice of receiving funds from the company named in the binding contract of step (g) and the funds seeker registers receipt of funding in the secure website's database, which stores information regarding said funding receipt within a specified period of time. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein searching or querying for and displaying of the funds seeker's profile is provided in a companion website database that provides financial institutions information about the funds seeker as stipulated by a terms of use agreement for the secure website, wherein the owner or operator of the secure social networking website database acts as the funds finder and receives the contingent referral fee after an accepted offer of introduction from the owner or operator resulted in funds received from the named company for the funds seeker according to the terms of the offered contract or the binding contract. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the contingent referral fee is paid through an electronic payment system component of the secure website for a fee. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said database stores, is searched and retrieves an acceptance and notification of a referral fee deposit in the funds seeker's profile or the website obtains revenue from the interest earned on the referral fee deposit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein,
 (a) the funds seeker is (i) a for-profit or a non-profit business, organization or entity seeking financing, (ii) an individual seeking financing for a for-profit or a non-profit business or organization, or (iii) a federal, state, county, city or other local government branch or agency, 
 (b) the funds finder is qualified to receive a referral fee under FINRA regulations, and this qualification is optionally displayed in the funds finder's profile and stored in the website's database, 
 (c) the funds finder is an individual, a consultant, an advisor or a business or service provider, or 
 (d) the funding source is one or more of a for-profit or non-profit entity, a government agency, a bank, a venture capital group, a charitable trust or an angel investor. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the secure website is includes a mobile communication application for wireless communication through personal computers, laptops, tablets, cell phones or other devices connected to the internet and communications between users and wireless communication occurs via the mobile communication application, wherein the secure website optionally is (i) configured as a social networking site, (ii) integrated into a social networking site, (iii) integrated into a crowd-funding site, (iv) an angel investor funding site, or another funding site of like investors or (v) a separate application within one of these sites. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus comprising an internet server operatively linked to a secure website, wherein the internet server includes a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon and encoded with a database and communications system, optionally communications via email or text messaging using a personal computer, laptop, tablet, cell phone or other device connected to the internet, wherein the database and internet communications system have search, query and display capabilities wherein, the secure website permits users who are funds seekers or funds finders to
 (a) agree to terms of use of the secure website and enter into the database information related to user's business profile, preferred funding type and amount, preferred funding sources and the amount of a contingent referral fee to be paid if a minimum level of funding from a named funding source, which the database stores and transforms to searchable data;   (b) search and retrieve from the database information that identifies a funds seeker as a potential client and send through the communications system to the funds seeker an introduction to a company insider(s) and an offer of a single company-exclusive contract with the funds seeker, wherein the offered contract, if accepted by the finds seeker, is stored in the database wherein said offered contract, if accepted, would obligate the funds seeker to pay a contingent referral fee if the funds seeker is introduced to the company insider by the funds finder and the funds seeker receives funds from the funding source according to the terms of the offered contract;   (c) respond through the offer system of the secure website to accept one or more of one or more funds finder's offers, wherein the server's database is tangibly transformed to contain a searchable single company-exclusive contract that obligates the funds seeker to pay the contingent referral fee if a funds seeker is introduced to a company insider at the named funding source and receives funds from the funding source.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein (a) the apparatus can be transformed to contain a binding contract that is (i) stored in the database and (ii) searchable and displayable to the funds finder and funds seeker, wherein the binding contract obligates the funds seeker to pay the contingent referral fee to the funds finder according to its terms or (b) the apparatus includes programming for an electronic payment system to facilitate paying the contingent referral fee. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein
 (1) the database allows automated searching of funds seekers by geography and business/profession and displays the amount of the contingent referral fee,   (2) the database allows the funds seeker or funds finder to perform an automated search or query of the database for the attributes of company names, one or more professional attributes, or key words in the funds finders' or funds seekers' professional profile and the database displays funds seekers or funds finders who have the searched or queried attributes,   (3) the database allows entry of and searching or querying for a funds seeker digital patent portfolio, video profile and/or resume to differentiate the funds seeker's profile as a value-added for-fee service,   (4) the database provides for protection of the funds seeker's identity and discloses, only after a search or query of the database, a user-defined username and user profile for the funds seeker, and/or   (5) the secure website allows payment of said contingent referral fee though the use of an electronic payment system for a fee.