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The first crowdfunding cafe in Hefei lost money and changed owners. 86 shareholders had no money and did not take it back.

Published: 2026-06-05 Author: World Gafei

Last Updated: 2026/06/05, The cafe, started by Kevin, a Hefei native who works in Shanghai, has attracted 86 shareholders because of the dreams of many people. According to one shareholder, too many people and different opinions are the fundamental reasons for the failure to operate in micro-time. Crowdfunding has become a buzzword, especially in small shops such as cafes and book bars, with more and more forms of crowdfunding. However, the reporter found that the first crowdfunding in Hefei in 2012

Started by Kevin, a Hefei native who works in Shanghai, the cafe attracted 86 shareholders because it was "a dream of many people." According to a shareholder, a large number of people, opinions are not unified is the "micro-time" failed to operate the root cause.

"Crowdfunding" has become a hot word, especially in cafes, book bars and other small shops, crowdfunding forms more and more. However, the reporter found that in 2012 Hefei's first crowdfunding cafe micro-time has already changed owners, the shareholders 'capital investment almost did not get back. Started by Kevin, a Hefei native who works in Shanghai, the cafe attracted 86 shareholders because it was "a dream of many people." According to a shareholder, a large number of people, opinions are not unified is the "micro-time" failed to operate the root cause.

[Crowdfunding]2000 yuan a share

On February 13, 2012, Kevin posted crowdfunding on Douban, 2000 yuan a share, looking for shareholders. He positioned the cafe as: dream, friendship, landmark of Hefei people, place to rest. As soon as the "crowdfunding" post was sent out, it received a lot of responses. Within a month, nearly 30 shareholders were recruited. They finally chose Yinping Lane near Baohe Wanda, and the cafe shareholders were determined to be 86 people. 2000 yuan a share, each holding from 1 to 10 shares. Shareholders come from all over Anhui, but also from other provinces. They have a variety of occupations, including white-collar workers, private enterprise bosses and students. We elected a shareholder committee of five members.

The decoration style and operation mode of the cafe were decided by the shareholders 'committee. The management was to invite professional managers as the store manager. Shareholders did not participate. At the same time, professional financial personnel were invited to publish accounts regularly.

[Disintegration] Disagreement on shareholder input failed to be recovered

"Micro Time" does not have a written agreement, connecting shareholders is trust and oral agreement, everyone's communication is through QQ and other network platforms. Crowdfunding, everything to professional managers to run, but also to avoid too many people. However,"micro-time" still failed to escape the fate of "too many parents".

Recently, the reporter found that micro time micro bo, WeChat has not been updated, the store phone also because of unpaid and down. The reporter tossed and found one of the members of the shareholder committee at that time, Cat Dad. Cat Dad was one of the first shareholders to join the crowdfunding. He invested a total of 5 shares, 10000 yuan.

"I joined because I thought it would be interesting for like-minded people to get together and pursue a career." Cat father introduced, shareholders are very enthusiastic, people from all walks of life with their own expertise to do some things for the coffee shop, we also take turns to arrange venues to organize learning, once a week meeting.

Even so,"micro-time" opened less than half a year after the transfer. Until now, shareholders haven't recouped their costs.

[Reason] Verbal restraint Everyone has to make decisions

At the beginning of the establishment of "micro-time", business licenses, lease contracts, etc. were all carried out in accordance with laws and regulations, and lawyers were consulted about "crowdfunding".

The biggest problem is that everyone is doing it with a passion, everyone feels that they are a member of the store and wants the store to have its own elements. Cat father introduced, From the site selection to the opening of the business took 8 months, During the decoration period there are a lot of shareholders to the scene to put forward opinions, Although according to the agreement hired designers, Shareholders do not participate in the decoration and operation, But because there are too many opinions too miscellaneous, Many things can not go on.

Under such circumstances, the shareholders 'committee was also helpless and failed to make a timely decision. Finally, the store comes out of a variety of styles, and faces the same problem in business. Coffee shop opened for half a year, failed to return in time, many shareholders can not sit still, began to convert shares. Six months later, the cafe finally changed hands. After the transfer, the original investment of everyone could not be recovered. "Everyone was disappointed. Although they were unhappy, they didn't have much money, so they thought of spending money to buy a dream." Now, 86 shareholders are doing their own thing, and few people mention "micro-time" again.

[Lawyer] Crowdfunding into a dispute or concentrated in the next year

Anhui Shenghong law firm director Cheng Lin lawyer introduced, Many crowdfunding projects are aimed at obtaining funds, Citizens in the choice must pay attention to clear.

Specific to "micro-time", shareholders have the consciousness of hiring professional finance, but in the end, due to various reasons, the investment can not be returned. In Cheng Lin's view, this is a case without serious consequences, because shareholders 'starting point is "dream" rather than "make money", and investment is not much.

However, there are now many crowdfunding projects, involving a large amount of funds, and shareholders can not understand and interfere with the financial situation, easy to fall into fraud. In addition, the relevant laws and regulations of crowdfunding are not perfect, and it is not excluded that some people play "edge ball" for "illegal financing".

Cheng Lin said that the consequences of an event are delayed, crowdfunding is a new thing, and disputes may erupt in the next year or two.

Of course, crowdfunding is not untouchable. Citizens can choose projects that are fully understood, and participate in crowdfunding when the financing entity has a good business reputation and can grasp the financial situation at any time.

[Crowdfunding] is translated from the word crowdfunding abroad, that is, mass financing or mass financing, which consists of sponsors, investors and platforms. Low-threshold, diverse, crowd-powered, and creative is the act of raising money from the crowd to support the sponsoring individual or organization.

Source: Zhongan Online (Hefei)

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