Investment Platforms and Marketplaces

August 27, 2014 @ 3:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanly to Act as Joint Leads. In a widely anticipated move, peer to peer lending platform Lending Club has filed their S-1 registration with the SEC to launch their initial public offering (IPO).  Lending Club made the announcement with an official… Read More

August 27, 2014 @ 3:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

Digital intelligence company Compete recently published a post noting that in the month of July Kickstarter experienced a surge in traffic.  And what say you was the cause?  Potato Salad of course. Yes it is true.  But this should not be surprising as we have… Read More

August 26, 2014 @ 5:23 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Feather the Nest is a new online platform that allows friends and family to contribute to real estate-related and home improvement undertakings with monetary gifts. Feather the Nest contributions are gifts that can add real financial value to a home or assist a loved one… Read More

August 26, 2014 @ 12:21 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Crowdfunding is a savvy new way to raise money, and it requires a savvy audience. Old fashion fundraising is still effective for most nonprofits, but there is a brave new world of “online investors” who love to give money and be a part of something…. Read More

August 26, 2014 @ 10:59 am By JD Alois  |  

CrowdProperty has announced its platform launch with a target of £20 million in funds to be raised from private individuals in its first financial year.  Crowdproperty estimates that around £80 million is the current size of the property crowdfunding market in the past 12 months…. Read More

August 25, 2014 @ 6:17 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

Over the weekend, the crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo for The Fine Young Capitalists was randomly shut down on the platform without any indication as why it was cancelled. Sources reveal that the project was hacked. Luckily, Indiegogo stated on Monday (August 25th) that there was no breach… Read More

August 25, 2014 @ 8:23 am By JD Alois  |  

Seattle based InvestNextDoor Allows Communities to Back Businesses and Skip the Banks. In the first 6 weeks of operations, InvestNextDoor has experienced  impressive interest in their new peer to peer lending platform that helps small business skip the banking bureaucracy.  More than 50 new listing… Read More

August 22, 2014 @ 8:35 am By JD Alois  |  

So the Food Category on Kickstarter is not their biggest category by far.  In fact Food sits in 7th place with a below average success rate of a bit over 34%. The largest category on Kickstarter is games (both video and board games) representing about… Read More

August 22, 2014 @ 7:46 am By JD Alois  |  

Non-profit donation based crowdfunding platform GlobalGiving, has launched an Ebola Epidemic Relief Fund to allow donors to contribute directly to locally driven Ebola relief efforts in West Africa.  The fund has been set up to supper nearly a dozen nonprofits that have been vetted by… Read More

August 21, 2014 @ 8:34 am By JD Alois  |  

Global crowdfunding platform Indiegogo has published an interesting diversity report that tackles not only the make up of their employees but also touches on the  crowdfunding campaigns created by women. The report entitled “Diversity Matters” is part of a growing movement that highlights the importance… Read More

August 21, 2014 @ 7:14 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

New York-based venture firm, Collaborative Fund has partnered with crowdfunding platform, CircleUp to invest $4 million into certified B Corps. According to Wall Street Journal, CircleUp has already helped nine certified B Corps raise $10.2 million in equity funding from accredited angel investors. One of… Read More

August 20, 2014 @ 9:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

Finland welcomed a new equity crowdfunding platform today. Innovestor, a company formed this past May, was launched by CEO Tommi Äijälä and Antti Parviainen to help cultivate and fund startups.  Recognizing a common theme around the world that one of the most challenging obstacles for… Read More

August 19, 2014 @ 12:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a posting on the Pave site, co-founders Oren Bass and Sal Lahoud announced a new process for funding peoples careers.  The new funding vehicle has been titled the “Pave Loan”. Pave is a site that provides the means for motivated and talented individuals to… Read More

August 19, 2014 @ 11:47 am By JD Alois  |  

Groundfloor, a micro lending / crowdfunding community for real estate, has shared they have raised $1 million in seed round funding from angel investors including Michael Olander, Bruce Boehm, Mark Easley Sr. and Inception Micro-Angel Fund. Groundfloor simultaneously announced the company has moved their corporate… Read More

August 19, 2014 @ 10:47 am By JD Alois  |  

EquityNet has announced receiving two more patents from the U.S. Patent and Trade Office.  The patents surround crowdfunding and represent the company’s fourth and fifth crowdfunding patents. Patent number 8,793,170 is titled “Electronic Enterprise Capital Marketplace Apparatus and Method” and patent number 8,793,171 is titled “Electronic System… Read More

August 19, 2014 @ 9:22 am By JD Alois  |  

Luevo has announced partnerships with fashion weeks across North America, including with Fashion Week San Diego, Portland Fashion Week, Fashion Week Brooklyn, DC Fashion Week, Fashion Week Tampa Bay, Kansas City Fashion Week, Virginia Fashion Week and Dallas x Fashion. Luevo is also the official… Read More

August 18, 2014 @ 9:52 pm By JD Alois  |  

Hubbub is a crowdfunding platform.  They offer their services to universities and other educational entities to fundraise for student projects, faculty or just about whatever the institution desires.  Their core product is a white label offer that is branded to work with engaged communities. Now… Read More

August 18, 2014 @ 8:41 am By JD Alois  |  

LendingTree, an online lending exchange that aggregates loan options from many providers, has announced their loan revenue exceeded $1 million during the month of July.  The company also shared their growth has increased seven fold since July of 2013.  This significant growth in both volume… Read More

August 18, 2014 @ 7:58 am By JD Alois  |  

LendInvest, a UK based peer to peer lender that targets the mortgage sector, has announced they have surpassed £100 million in loans via their platform.  The P2P lender was launched in May of 2013 and according to the site this paces LendInvest as the fourth… Read More

August 16, 2014 @ 12:11 pm By JD Alois  |  

Seed Equity, founded by an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year, is launching a U.S. Registered Broker-dealer and online equity-based crowdfunding platform for Startups targeting a global audience.  Seed Equity is a member of FINRA and SIPC.  Founder Todd Crosland previously started and sold… Read More