SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- There could be two versions of Comic-Con San Diego in 2021 -- one being a virtual experience and the other a much smaller in-person event later in the year.

Comic-Con organizers announced Monday that the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has forced them to once again transition the traditional in-person summer event to an online celebration.

In 2020, Comic-Con went virtual with its free Comic-Con@Home experience due to the pandemic. This year, the Comic-Con@Home online event is returning for a July 23-25 run.

Last month, Comic-Con -- citing the pandemic and its limited financial resources -- canceled its 2021 edition of WonderCon in Anaheim, opting for a free online WonderCon@Home on March 26-27.

Comic-Con organizers also announced a smaller, in-person convention that could be held in San Diego in November.

Organizers said of the November event: “While we lament the postponement of the in-person Comic-Con, our commitment to this community of fans and our celebration of comics and the related popular arts endures as an important part of who we are. As the timing and scope of our larger event factored greatly into our decision to postpone, we believe that launching a smaller in-person event at a later time may be a safe alternative. For this reason, we are happy to announce that San Diego Comic Convention is planning to present a three-day in-person convention in San Diego in November. At this time, we are still working on specific details as to attendance capacity, badge cost, and related information, and those details will be forthcoming. Please continue to visit our website, comic-con.org, for official updated information as it becomes available.”

Comic-Con organizers said attendees who bought badges for the 2020 convention and had them rolled over to 2021 will have those badges rolled over into 2022, unless they request a refund.

According to organizers: “To submit a badge refund request, visit www.comic-con.org/cci/comic-con-cancellationrefund-policy. All confirmed exhibitors with a rollover payment from Comic-Con 2020 will receive a separate email with instructions and deadlines for continuing to forward your payment on to Comic-Con 2022, or for requesting a refund. In addition, we are currently working on an option for those wishing to transfer their badge or exhibitor deposits/payments as full or partial payment towards our 2021 November event. Information will be forthcoming, so please watch your email inbox and the Comic-Con website for further details.”

This story originally reported by Jermaine Ong on 10News.com.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — After a year of economic hardship, some aspiring business owners say they're thinking twice before taking out loans. In hopes to avoid debt, they're using non-traditional methods to fund their dreams.

Married nearly 25 years, Erik and Geraldine Arreaga are using the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to bring their comic-book-themed coffee shop to life in downtown San Diego.

“This is not going to be, 'come get your coffee.' This is going to be an experience," said Erik, a freelance comic book illustrator and longtime barista.

A comic fanatic, Erik has attended San Diego Comic-Con since 1991, a tradition broken by the pandemic.

“We only get this convention once a year, and it’s for a week. My attitude for the shop is once the show is over, you can come to our shop and continue that fun," said Erik. “Just in case Comic-Con doesn’t happen, we can still bring a little piece of it to the city.”

When customers walk into Pow Coffee Shop, the couple wants it to feel as if they're walking into a comic book.

“Our shop will have its own characters, and within those characters, they have certain character traits," says Geraldine. "Inclusion, safety, unity, empathy – we brought all of that to our characters so that the community can see themselves reflected within these characters. Make it feel like a welcoming environment and a safe environment. A place for the community to come together.”

Seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter, the community can donate to the couple's dream. If the project is ultimately funded, backers are thanked in return with everything from discount cards to a personal tile in the shop.

"For one, we can see if we can raise it without getting a loan. Second, we actually are getting the word out in general, regardless of if it's funded or not," said Erik.

First-time business owners, the couple says it's a safety net. While they don't anticipate reaching their goal with the current campaign, they'll continue seeking alternative options, keeping supporters updated on their website throughout the process.

“I think you’re going to see more and more of that, even as we come out of the pandemic," said Dan Roccato, clinical professor of finance at the University of San Diego School of Business.

Roccato says nonprofit lenders are also growing in popularity.

“Something like Kiva is a very powerful upstart that is designed to basically lend to small business startups," said Roccato.

Loans are crowdfunded, and borrowers pay the money back over time, interest-free.

"It's designed, really, for those businesses that can't access capital in traditional ways," said Roccato.

Another nonprofit lender, Accessity, supports entrepreneurs of color, women, and immigrant entrepreneurs in Southern California.

“Investors want their money to align with their values more and more. We’re much more aware of that than we were just a generation ago," said Roccato.

But with historic low-interest rates, traditional bank loans could also be the right fit. Roccato says qualified borrowers have easier access to money that’s cheap to borrow.

“It’s really kindling wood for the economy," said Roccato. "The federal reserve is trying to jump-start the economy and create this virtuous cycle where business owners are expanding or starting new enterprises, that sort of thing.”

While Erik and Geraldine may consider a loan down the line, they're hoping enough people will channel their inner nerd and help bring their vision to life.

“We believe in it. It’s a dream that we want to become reality," said Geraldine. "I think nothing at this point can hold us back.”