Produzioni Dal Basso

What Produzioni Dal Basso does

Produzioni dal Basso (operated by FolkFunding Srl Benefit, a Società Benefit incorporated in Milan) is one of Italy's longest-running crowdfunding platforms, founded in 2005 to enable open, disintermediated fundraising for creative, social, civic, and territorial projects. The platform hosts a horizontal, no-filter model where any individual, association, or company can launch a campaign across three mechanics: All-or-Nothing (5% platform fee, funds released only if goal is hit), Keep-it-All (5% fee, immediate fund availability), and Donation (3% fee, no rewards). Since launch, the platform has channeled over €33.16M into 10,874 funded projects across 524,944 registered users, with 15,457 campaigns self-tagged against UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The technology stack centers on a self-serve web platform with multi-language support (Italian, English, French, Spanish) and social login (Facebook, Google, Twitter). Payment processing is split between PayPal (3.4% + €0.35 per donation) and Lemon Way (1.6% + €0.35), the latter acting as the platform's authorized payment agent in Italy and providing KYC/KYB plus Onfido-powered identity verification for AML compliance. PDB Studio, the platform's education sub-brand, offers paid courses and 1:1 mentorship on crowdfunding campaign design as an adjacent revenue stream.

The business model is transaction-based: PDB earns 3–5% commission on each successful donation, plus pass-through payment-processor fees, with no equity, debt, or revenue-share exposure to the underlying projects. Distribution is anchored by an institutional partner network — Banca Etica (509 projects), BPER Banca (45 projects, up to 60% matching), Comune di Milano (50% municipal matching), Comune di Venezia (33 projects), Fondazione Perugia (2025 program) — that drives recurring co-funded campaign flow. Customer segments are split across creative makers (film, music, publishing), nonprofits and Third Sector organizations, civic/municipal projects, and individual backers; the long-tail creator base is highly fragmented, with concentration risk sitting primarily at the partner level rather than the end-user level.

Name

Produzioni Dal Basso

Legal name

FolkFunding Srl Benefit

Website

https://produzionidalbasso.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Produzioni dal Basso is an Italian crowdfunding platform founded in 2005 and operated by FolkFunding Srl Benefit, enabling open-access fundraising across creative, nonprofit, and civic projects via three fee-based models, supported by an institutional co-funding partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Crowdfunding platform

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

Creator Fundraising & Crowdfunding Platforms (Recurring/Project-Based) (MPACAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Creator Tipping, Donations & Micro-Payments (MPACAFAB), Crowdfunding & Fan-Financing (MPADAAAN), Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders (BPAGAKAO)

Keywords

• Reward-based crowdfunding
• Donation-based crowdfunding
• Crowdfunding platform
• Community fundraising
• Civic crowdfunding

Headquarters

HQ city

Milan

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Platform Commission - All-or-Nothing Model: PDB charges 5% VAT included on successful campaigns where the fundraising goal is reached or exceeded. If the goal is not reached, no commission is charged as no funds are transferred.
2. Platform Commission - Keep-it-All Model: PDB charges 5% VAT included on all donations received, regardless of whether the goal is reached. Creator receives funds promptly for each subscription within payment provider timeframes.
3. Platform Commission - Donation Model: PDB charges 3% VAT included on donations received, typically for campaigns without material rewards (moral/minimal rewards only).
4. Payment Processing Fees (Passed Through): Payment service providers (PayPal and Lemon Way) charge transaction fees: PayPal 3.4% + €0.35 per donation, Lemon Way 1.6% + €0.35 per donation. These are collected by the payment provider and passed through to creators net of commission.
5. PDB Studio Education Services: PDB Studio is the academy of Produzioni dal Basso dedicated to teaching how to design and launch successful crowdfunding campaigns. Offers thematic courses and one-to-one mentorship to transform ideas into concrete projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Produzioni dal Basso operates a disintermediated online crowdfunding platform where any individual or organization can create fundraising campaigns under three funding models — All-or-Nothing (5% fee, goal-conditioned), Keep-it-All (5% fee, immediate transfer), and Donation (3% fee). Funds are processed through PayPal and Lemon Way with built-in KYC/KYB verification, and the platform enables institutional partners (banks, municipalities, foundations) to run co-funded branded networks.

Product overview

Produzioni dal Basso is a crowdfunding platform founded in 2005, operated by FolkFunding Srl Benefit, offering three distinct funding models (All or Nothing, Keep It All, and Donation) to support social, cultural, and territorial initiatives. The platform connects project creators with a community of 524,944 registered users who have funded over €33 million across 10,874 projects. The ecosystem includes the core crowdfunding platform, educational services through PDB Studio academy, and integration with payment providers PayPal and Lemon Way for secure transactions. Projects span 18 categories including community & social, film, publishing, art, music, and more, with support for sustainable development goals (SDGs) tracking.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PDB Studio: The academy of Produzioni dal Basso dedicated to those who want to learn to design and launch a successful crowdfunding campaign. Offers thematic courses and one-to-one mentorship to transform ideas into concrete projects.
• FolkFunding

Products and services

• Produzioni dal Basso crowdfunding platform Self-serve online crowdfunding platform allowing any individual or organization to create fundraising campaigns under three funding models and receive donations from a community of more than 524,944 registered users across 18 project categories.
• All-or-Nothing funding model Crowdfunding product where the creator sets a monetary goal and deadline; supporters are only charged if the goal is reached. Platform fee 5% VAT included, charged only on successful campaigns.
• Keep-it-All funding model Crowdfunding product where funds raised become immediately available to the creator regardless of whether the goal is reached; supports symbolic, digital or in-kind rewards. Platform fee: 5% VAT included.
• Donation funding model Crowdfunding product with no rewards or only minimal/moral rewards; funds are immediately available to the creator. Platform fee: 3% VAT included.
• PDB Studio academy Educational service offering thematic courses and one-to-one mentorship to help individuals design and launch successful crowdfunding campaigns and turn ideas into concrete projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• €33.1M+ total raised on platform
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• PayPalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary payment processing partner enabling supporters to make donations via PayPal accounts. Transaction fees: 3.4% + €0.35 per donation. Provides payment verification for All-or-Nothing campaigns.
• Lemon WaycoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment institution (authorized ACPR, REGAFI n. 72477) providing lower-cost payment processing (1.6% + €0.35) and handling KYC/KYB anti-money laundering verification for campaign creators. FolkFunding acts as Lemon Way's authorized agent in Italy.
• Banca EticamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEthical banking network hosting 509 projects on PDB. Co-marketing partner for social and ethical crowdfunding campaigns, providing credibility and institutional backing for mission-aligned projects.
• Comune di MilanomajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal government running civic crowdfunding campaigns with co-funding (50% matching for qualifying projects). Multiple campaigns including 'Alleanze di quartiere' and civic economy programs for local commerce, artisan shops, and historic businesses.
• BPER BancamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner with 45 projects on PDB. Co-financing campaigns for children and youth in economic marginality, providing up to 60% matching funding for qualifying projects focused on skills development and future labor inclusion.
• Comune di VeneziamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMunicipal government with 33 projects on PDB. Ran 'La città SIcura di sé' program (2021-2022) supporting Third Sector organizations with 22 organizations receiving 25 hours training and 18 of 22 projects achieving co-funding goals. Total collected: €169,929 from 1,888 supporters.
• Fondazione PerugiamajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFoundation running 'Raddoppia il valore delle tue idee' (Double the value of your ideas) crowdfunding grant program with 8 selected campaigns in 2025, providing matching co-funding for qualifying projects.
• ITAS SolidaleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance foundation network with 48 projects on PDB. 'Energie di Comunità' program supporting adolescents and young adults in overcoming social isolation, with 50% co-financing for qualifying projects.
• The Rolling CrowdminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMusical crowdfunding network curated by Marco Olivotto (30 years experience in independent music). Specializes in independent music projects and albums with 6 projects total (5 completed, 1 active).
• Radio 105 SmartUpminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRadio crowdfunding network hosted by Maurizio Guagnetti and Gianluca Pellizzari featuring crowdfunding stories, advice and challenges every Saturday 12-14h. 14 projects funded through radio airtime promotion.
• laFeltrinelliminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBookstore chain partnership with 2 projects on PDB for cultural and publishing initiatives.
• Infinity LABminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFilmmaker talent laboratory from Infinity+ streaming platform. Awards crowdfunding filmmakers who reach 50% of budget goal with 50% co-financing and distribution on Infinity+ streaming platform. 26 projects total.
• riGenerazione FuturominorGTM or Marketing PartnerFuture generation initiative network with 6 projects focused on youth and sustainability initiatives.
• Tech4FinanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology partner collaborating with Attiviamo Energie Positive and Comune di Acquapendente on 'Raccontiamo le Aree Interne 2.0' Summer School 2026 for young creatives (18-35) in Lazio, Tuscany, and Umbria.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ulule: European (France-headquartered) crowdfunding platform with a similar creative-and-social project mix and a comparable institutional co-funding model — a near-analogue peer for PDB in the European market.
• Kickstarter: The largest global reward-based crowdfunding platform, offering an all-or-nothing funding model for creative projects. Directly comparable to PDB's core product but at significantly greater scale and global reach.
• Indiegogo: Reward-based crowdfunding platform offering both All-or-Nothing and Keep-it-All models, closely mirroring PDB's product structure with a global creator base.
• GoFundMe: Leading donation-based and personal-cause crowdfunding platform; comparable on the donation-model side of PDB's offering and on platform scale and user base.

Emerging players

• Patreon: Recurring-fan-membership platform for creators, adjacent to PDB's creator-monetization use case but structured around ongoing subscriptions rather than one-off project campaigns.
• Open Collective: Transparent funding and fiscal-hosting platform for open-source projects, communities, and grassroots collectives — overlapping with PDB's nonprofit/NGO segment on transparency-led giving.
• Ko-fi: Creator tipping, donations, and membership platform serving individual creators with a low-friction, no-fee-on-tipping model — overlapping with PDB's Donation sub-product on the creator-economy side.

Regional players

• Wemakeit: Swiss-based crowdfunding platform focused on creative and cultural projects, with a similar institutional and civic co-funding approach — a close regional analogue for PDB's civic-crowdfunding model.
• DeRevalor: Italian civic and social crowdfunding platform with a public-interest focus, directly comparable to PDB's civic-crowdfunding positioning within the Italian institutional market.
• Eppela: Italian crowdfunding platform focused on creative and social projects; a direct domestic competitor to PDB within Italy with overlapping customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/betapdb
• Facebookfacebook.com/produzionidalbasso
• Instagraminstagram.com/produzionidalbasso

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Produzioni Dal Basso