Start me up: Helping youngsters to sell stakes in their future

Thanks to Will for passing this along.

WHEN Matthew Kulp graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design last year, he became part of an intriguing financial experiment. To help pay back student loans and fund a new design company, Mr Kulp raised $38,500 via Upstart, an American firm that helps youngsters, or “Upstarts”, find wealthy investors willing to give them hard cash in return for a stake in their future earnings. This novel application of crowdfunding promises to be both popular and controversial.