In this edition of our “Introducing” blog series, we interviewed Manolis Sfinarolaki, founder and CEO of Reality Crowd TV Media Corporation.

Reality Crowd TV Media Corporation provides virtual events, online business incubation, and consulting services with a niche specialty in crowdfunding. The company’s mission is to inform, educate, inspire, and motivate entrepreneurs worldwide to start small businesses through crowdfunding, and to provide a blueprint on how to crowdfund.

What inspired you to start Reality Crowd TV Media Corporation?

“I was inspired by the government passing the 2012 JOBS Act, which allows anyone, regardless of income, to invest in a private company via the crowdfunding model. It is revolutionizing the way startup funding is secured and a new entrepreneurial renaissance is upon us as a result.”

Why did you choose to become a reSET member?

“I had attended a few of the organization’s past events and liked the community and local startup ecosystem. I wanted to support the community with a membership and to say thank you to reSET by acknowledging the great work it was doing for social entrepreneurs in the state of Connecticut.”

How do you see Reality Crowd TV Media Corporation positively impacting the community?

“As a crowdfunding expert, we can provide access to free webinars, events, and a virtual community with over 2,400 members (VICN: Virtual Incubator & Crowdfunding Network), which serves as a pre-launch platform for entrepreneurs learning how to crowdfund.”

What do you want your company to look like five years from now?

“We want to power the world’s virtual business incubation ecosystem by developing the technologies used by organizations globally to build, grow, and fund startups.”

Why did you bring Reality Crowd TV Media Corporation to Connecticut? What do you hope to give to and to gain from the community here?

“I’m a very loyal person and Connecticut is my home. I also find that with a state like Connecticut, that is not doing so well nationally in terms of friendly environments for business growth, there are a lot of opportunities to receive funding from state programs that have managed to fly below the radar. Because of this environment, the state may be more willing to release funding for promising startups and there may be less competition for that capital. I think Connecticut is a great place to grow your company simply because we are the underdogs and the state is looking to find ways to support the emerging entrepreneurial culture.”

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received about being an entrepreneur?

“While customer feedback is our greatest lifeline as entrepreneurs and it should be taken seriously, it’s also important to try and understand who is providing it and why they may be doing so. At times, people have discouraged me about what my company’s business model was, but I ultimately came to see that their comments were coming from a place of fear and competitiveness rather than a place of honesty. You can’t become discouraged and give up because of every piece of negative feedback. But again, it’s also crucial to know when it’s in fact time to listen up and to improve your product.”

For more information on his work, contact Manolis Sfinarolaki at realitycrowdtv@gmail.com.