It seems regulators took their time in reviewing and approving, StartEngine’s acquisition of SeedInvest.
The deal between the two OG online investment platforms was announced in 2022 as StartEngine paid $24 in shares to purchase the full-stack securities crowdfunding platform. SeedInvest had previously been acquired by Circle – best known for its dollar-based stablecoin USDC – a company that pivoted its strategy once it became clear that US policy regarding digital assets was mired in indecision. Once Circle focused its energy on USDC and not online capital formation – SeedInvest was no longer a fit.
In an email, StartEngine CEO and co-founder Howard Marks said he is thrilled to welcome the SeedInvest community, which numbers over 700,000 registered users and potential investors. Marks said they are now bringing the expertise of the two platforms under one roof. He described his vision as “being better than VCs who can be “unreliable partners.” Combined, StartEngine will now have 1.7 million registered users and lifetime funding of over $1.1 billion.
StartEngine is currently in the midst of a self-funding round looking to raise up to $46 million in a Reg A+ securities offering, valuing the firm at around $1.32 billion.