Investment Platforms and Marketplaces

May 4, 2016 @ 9:37 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Roofstock, an online marketplace for investing in leased single-family rental (SFR) homes, announced this week it is expanding into the Atlanta and San Francisco East Bay region.  CEO and co-founder of Roofstock, Gary Beasley, stated: “Atlanta and the San Francisco East Bay are very active… Read More

May 4, 2016 @ 7:00 am By Erin Hobey  |  

DriverUp, an online marketplace for automotive financing, today announced that tech industry veteran Anthony Fratiani has joined its executive team as Chief Technology Officer.  In this newly created position, Fratiani will oversee the continued build out of DriverUp’s consumer-facing side of the business. “We are thrilled about Tony… Read More

May 3, 2016 @ 11:17 pm By JD Alois  |  

Fincera (OTCQB: AUTCF), formerly a commercial vehicle leasing company that has now migrated into internet finance for SMEs in China, reported full year results for 2015.  According to the company release, the internet finance based portion of the company (launched in 2014) continues to grow rapidly…. Read More

May 3, 2016 @ 3:28 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Monday, Kickstarter’s community education director, Stephanie Pereira, discuss the importance of attracting backers to campaigns during a new class on strategic storytelling.  The crowdfunding portal shared: “One of the best parts of working at Kickstarter is getting to talk to people about their ideas…. Read More

May 3, 2016 @ 12:57 pm By Erin Hobey  |  

Rebel Girls, try, fail, try again!  In a new Kickstarter project for the children’s book Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, 100 Stories about courageous, unconventional women who changed and are changing the world in “every field imaginable”– many of whom were also mothers (US reader… Read More

May 3, 2016 @ 9:42 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Tuesday, global crowdfunding platform Indiegogo unveiled seven key stats on campaign perks. The website stated that perks were created as a way to encourage backers to support an initiative. These range from tangible products (DVDs), personal (thank you tweets, notes, etc.) or an experience… Read More

May 3, 2016 @ 9:00 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Monday, popular reward-based crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter, announced it has formed a partnership with the Brooklyn Comedy Festival to present its first-ever comedy short film festival, Shorts. The event will take place at the Nitehawk Cinema in Williamsburg on August 27th-28th.  Starting this Sunday (May 8th), Kickstarter… Read More

May 3, 2016 @ 7:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Real estate crowdfunding platform RealtyMogul.com is reporting the sale of two properties: Jackson Industrial Park in Indianapolis and Cumberland Metro Office Park in Chicago.  Chicago-based real estate firm Brennan Investment Group purchased both properties with financing provided by RealtyMogul. The two properties have been sold to… Read More

May 2, 2016 @ 6:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

Online lender to SMEs, OnDeck (NYSE:ONDK) announced their Q1 results after the bell today that disappointed investors while guiding lower for the year.  Shares of OnDeck took a bit of a beating after hours following the earnings release as the numbers missed analyst expectations. Perhaps… Read More

May 2, 2016 @ 1:44 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

European peer to peer lender Bondora announced last week that it has developed its very own cash flow page, which is aimed to build a useful analytical tool for all of its users. The website shared: “We decided to fill you in on the journey how… Read More

May 2, 2016 @ 11:59 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

In celebration of the this year’s teacher’s appreciation week, crowdfunding portal GoFundMe announced that it is matching the first $100 to any campaign that is dedicated to any educator or classrooms. The GoFundMe team revealed: “Teacher Appreciation Week has arrived, and here at GoFundMe we want… Read More

May 2, 2016 @ 11:51 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Monday, crowdfunding platform DonorsChoose announced that it has teamed up with Burlington Stores for the second year in a row. The companies joined forces last year and raised $515,382 to help classrooms in need nationwide through customer donations at check out. Monies raised is now… Read More

May 2, 2016 @ 11:19 am By JD Alois  |  

Co-founder and former CTO of FundedByMe, Arno Smit, has taken on a new role at the investment crowdfunding platform. Smit will now be the lead manager of investor relations as registered members now number over 65,000 individuals. In his place, FundedByme has hired Daniel Wahlqvist,… Read More

May 2, 2016 @ 9:24 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Last week, Finland-based financial service group, Nordea, announced that it was launching its very own equity crowdfunding platform. The company revealed that the new website will help will match entrepreneurs seeking financing with investors and the service will be linked to the book-entry system. Nordea reported: “Successful businesses… Read More

May 1, 2016 @ 12:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

NextSeed, an investment crowdfunding platform based in Houston, Texas, may be the first funding portal approved by FINRA under Title III of the JOBS Act.  NextSeed reported they had received approval by FINRA on April 28th, the SEC filing is available here.  Last month, Crowdfund… Read More

April 30, 2016 @ 2:36 pm By JD Alois  |  

The European Investment Fund, which is part of the European Investment Bank, along with KfW, a German government supported bank, have jointly invested in securitized loans from peer to peer lending platform Funding Circle.  The initiative is part of a broader objective of supporting SME… Read More

April 30, 2016 @ 11:50 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Following the inaugural Seedrs Present of 2016, the equity crowdfunding platform offered details about the exciting event that drew in over 200 attendees. Seedrs Presents, which occurred last week at the Alphabeta Building just one week after it opened its doors in Finsbury, reportedly featured… Read More

April 29, 2016 @ 3:30 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Following the celebration of its seventh birthday, Kickstarter announced that it has donated funds to four charities as part of its mission to create a more creative and equitable world. The crowdfunding portal shared: “When we reincorporated as a Public Benefit Corporation in September of 2015 we… Read More

April 29, 2016 @ 12:00 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

On Friday, equity crowdfunding portal, Crowdcube, opened its new Manchester office. The website revealed details about the location earlier this year and noted it has already helped at least nine businesses in the North West to raise more than £1.4 million in the last two years. Sharing details… Read More

April 29, 2016 @ 10:57 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

Seed&Spark, crowdfunding platform for independent films, recently announced its new class, Crowdfunding to Build Independence. The portal has taught this class at over 100 film festivals, schools and organizations around the U.S. The classes feature co-founders Emily Best and Erica Anderson.  The Seed&Spark team shared: “Crowdfunding to… Read More