Strategy

AlphaFlow Wants to be the Etrade of P2P / Real Estate Investing

Investing via online platforms, be they a marketplace lender /P2P site, or a real estate crowdfunding platform, takes time and typically entails jumping from platform to platform.  As the internet finance industry matures, it is inevitable that new channels crop up to help facilitate investors… Read More

Brief: University at Buffalo School of Management Study Reveals Three Key Factors to Crowdfunding Success

This week, University of Buffalo School of Management released a new study that found three key factors that crowdfunding campaigns need to achieve their goals. According to the research, high-quality photos and video, previous crowdfunding success and positive comments. Study co-author Yong Li, PhD, associate professor… Read More

Brief: Kickstarter Opens Creator Community Space “Campus” For Everyone

On Wednesday, Kickstarter announced it was opening creator community space “Campus” for everyone. “Campus” was reportedly created a year ago  and allowed creators to connect with one another through the community to ask for advice and trade insights about the creative process. The crowdfunding giant… Read More

The Top Three Tips for Avoiding a Payroll Crunch

I was recently asked, “What should a small business owner in a major cash crunch do to make payroll?”  Well, honestly, my first response was to say, “Try to not get to that point in the first place.”  As the old saying goes, an ounce… Read More

3 Misunderstandings Lawyers Have About Regulation A+

As equity crowdfunding under Regulation A+ continues to grow since its implementation in June 2015, it’s no surprise that there is a plethora of information about this new financial resource. Unfortunately, that info is not always accurate. From my experience, it’s not just investors or… Read More

Verification of International Accredited Investors: What You Need to Do

International investors have always played an important role in providing capital to private placement offers.  The private placement market under Regulation D is enormous. Since Title II made actionable by the SEC in September of 2013, until the end of 2014, over $1.5 trillion in… Read More

Financing Growth as an Amazon Marketplace Seller

I just returned from the Prosper Show in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is a two-day continuing education event for more than 700 Amazon sellers, focused primarily on education, rather than sales.  Using moderated panels of competitors, the event is focused on key business practices… Read More

SEC Posts Investor Bulletin on Reg CF – Equity Crowdfunding

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has published an investor bulletin on Reg CF or retail crowdfunding. This is the portion of the JOBS Act that allows anyone to invest in securities online, not just accredited investors. The new exemption is different from Reg A+,… Read More

5 Secrets of a Successful Equity Crowdfunding Campaign

With eight companies currently posted on our equity crowdfunding site representing more than $62 million in investor reservations from over 15,000 unique investors, our experience in the sector has given us a wealth of insight into what it takes to run a successful campaign. Here’s… Read More

Equity Crowdfunding is a Lot of Work. Invivo Wines Shares Story of Success

Invivo Wines raised a respectable $2 million on Kiwi investment crowdfunding platform Snowball Effect last year. Prior to listing shares on the site, Invivo was described as the fastest growing wine brand in New Zealand. The company had set a funding target of $500,000 on… Read More

Wriggle Founder Rob Hall Reveals What He Has Learned From Crowdfunding on Seedrs

Following the launch of Wriggle’s second crowdfunding campaign, founder of the startup Rob Hall revealed the five things he’s learned from crowdfunding on Seedrs. Hall shared: “Here we are, 18 months down-the-line on Wriggle’s journey. As the Wriggle team prepares for phase two of growth,… Read More

Crowdfunder Offers Up Fundraising Tips: 506(b) vs. 506(c)

Ready to offer up some tips for crowdfunding campaign organizers, Crowdfunder unveiled some details about 506(b) and 506(c). The equity crowdfunding platform explained in a recent blog post: “With the passage of the JOBS Act in 2012, startup fundraising and investing has changed drastically. An opaque… Read More

Potential Pitfalls of Regulation CF – Part II: Practical Concerns for Funding Portals

As discussed in part one, the SEC’s final Regulation Crowdfunding rules require thorough analysis to not fall prey to potential traps. While I firmly believe that we can make crowdfunding work regardless of the roadblocks set forth, it does not mean that we can afford… Read More

Crowdfunding in 2016: Five Predictions

  With equity crowdfunding poised to take off in 2016 with the recent additions of Regulation A+ and the final rules of Title III, Reg CF, I have compiled a list of predictions for the coming year. The internet has facilitated profound efficiencies in many… Read More

Avoiding Fraud: Good Advice to Dodge Investment Scams

The SEC dedicates much of its time and resources hunting down crooks and white collar thugs. In fact, the agency spent almost a billion dollars in the last fiscal year fostering and enforcing compliance with Federal securities laws. And why is that? Because there will… Read More

Potential Pitfalls of Regulation CF – Part I: Practical Concerns for an Issuer

  When SEC Commissioner Piwowar lodged his controversial “NO” vote for the final rules implementing Title III Regulation CF last October, he did so with concern that the overcomplicated rules were laden with “traps” that could snare an unassuming company trying to raise funds. Unfortunately,… Read More

Updated: Seabin Pitch Video Has Been Viewed Over 30 Million Times on Facebook

I just saw this video pop up into my Facebook timeline.  The video is about Seabin a “trashcan for the ocean”.  Basically, the device floats at water level and vacuums up anything floating nearby. Think of it as a jumbo sized pool cleaner except it is targeting… Read More

Equity Crowdfunding Experience: Someone.io’s Experience on FundedByMe

After a 2-month campaign Someone.io closed it’s equity crowdfunding campaign on FundedByMe. By the end of the campaign 45 investors had purchased 12.8% of the company for €129,508. Following a team debriefing session, the group decided to share some of their findings. Someone.io feels that as… Read More

Kickstarter Completes Creator Basics Video Series

This week, crowdfunding platform Kickstarter announced the completion of its latest project called the Creator Basics video series. Kickstarter Creator Basics is made up of 56 videos that feature dozens of creators from all the campaign categories on the platform. The videos provide specific/helpful advice on… Read More

Indiegogo: “Here Are Four Things Every Campaigner Should Do a Month Before Campaign Launch”

Continuing its new crowdfunding series “Campaign Prep Calendar,” Indiegogo shared the four things that every organizer should do a month before a campaign launch. The global platform shared: “Creating a compelling, informative and engaging campaign will help your potential backers learn more about your idea and… Read More

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