Strategy

August 21, 2015 @ 5:30 pm By Swati Chaturvedi  |  

As more investors start to look to equity crowdfunding, to get beyond the typical mobile app startup, it’s important to see what’s going on in deep technology. We define deep technology as companies founded on a scientific discovery or meaningful technological innovation. Deep technology startups… Read More

August 20, 2015 @ 11:00 am By JD Alois  |  

LendingRobot is a “robo-advisor” for the marketplace lending sector allowing individuals to automate the process of investing in loans.  The core premise of the service is that individuals may generate high rates of return (today around 7 to 10%) but require sufficient diversification across a… Read More

August 19, 2015 @ 12:11 pm By Samantha Hurst  |  

  Seeking to help organizers draw more attention to their projects, Indiegogo has revealed tips on how to get the press to cover campaigns. The crowdfunding platform stated: “We want every campaign on Indiegogo to be successful. Our team is constantly researching the best ways… Read More

August 14, 2015 @ 6:42 pm By JD Alois  |  

There is a one variable that will boost Angel investing returns 7X.  This is according to Fundify partner AJ Watson – and he has some interesting data to back up his claim. Perhaps you are psychic, or just super lucky, but for most early stage investors you… Read More

August 11, 2015 @ 10:30 pm By Kevin Berg Grell  |  

After losing a close friend in a drowning accident, California-based entrepreneur, Tom Agapiades, created Kingii. Founded in early 2014, Kingii is dedicated to water safety, and is on a mission to affect the sad statistic of more than 372,000 people who die from drowning accidents… Read More

August 10, 2015 @ 12:23 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

  In the UK, more than 100 peer-to-peer lenders have applied for full authorization from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which took over regulation of P2P last year, notes the Financial Times. Nearly 180 companies have interim permission to operate, according to figures obtained from the FCA… Read More

August 5, 2015 @ 4:56 pm By Anthony Zeoli  |  

The awareness and popularity of real estate based equity crowdfunding (i.e. “RECfunds”) continues to grow exponentially. As do the number of real estate crowdfunding portals. RECFunds offer substantial benefits to today’s investors including access to multiple types of projects, smaller barriers to investment, and portfolio… Read More

July 29, 2015 @ 10:03 am By JD Alois  |  

MakerBot, a 3D printing company, was a vital part of the production process in creating the Coolest Cooler.  Founded by Ryan Grepper, Coolest Cooler was the most funded Kickstarter campaign of all time until it was topped by Pebble Watch earlier this year. Coolest raised… Read More

July 27, 2015 @ 3:35 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

  Asset-backed finance has been chosen as the next round of lending for the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), which was set up in 2014 to offer low-cost loans to lenders, according to a recent story in the Independent. The SBCI, led by Scotsman Nick… Read More

July 24, 2015 @ 3:29 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation (FSF) and the GNU Project, has formed a type of partnership with Crowd Supply, a crowdfunding company mainly focused on open source hardware and software projects, according to Ars Technica. According to Crowd Supply founder Josh Lifton, the partnership… Read More

July 17, 2015 @ 9:45 am By JD Alois  |  

The two leading equity crowdfunding associations, CFIRA and CFPA, came together to present a primer on the two active exemptions under the JOBS Act: Title II and Title IV. Title II, or accredited crowdfunding, has been actionable since the fall of 2013.  Title IV or… Read More

July 16, 2015 @ 10:58 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

Australia’s crowdfunding scene recently took the spotlight with the news that CoAssets, a Singapore-based real estate crowdfunding platform, would publicly trade shares on NSX, an Australian stock exchange. On the investment side, Aussie real estate crowdfunding platform Estate Baron has recently secured backing of note: from Benni Aroni, founder of WaterSun Homes… Read More

July 16, 2015 @ 7:17 am By JD Alois  |  

FundedByMe, based in Sweden, has published a review of successful Nordic equity crowdfunding campaigns.  FundedByMe provides a portfolio of services for companies raising capital including debt, equity and rewards based crowdfunding. The platform has successfully funded around 500 companies from 25 different countries so they… Read More

July 1, 2015 @ 9:26 am By JD Alois  |  

This one falls under the category of recently discovered.  Bill Morrow, co-founder and Director of AngelsDen, a crowdfunding portal that has raised over £18 million for business believes “those who ask for business plans are doomed to fail”.  Now Morrow is not just being glib…. Read More

June 26, 2015 @ 1:12 am By Midori Yoshimura  |  

In a turning of the tables, VCs recently took the stage before a “Dragons’ Den”-style panel of entrepreneurs to pitch for themselves. The event was held by Innovate Finance, part of a series of events complementing London Tech Week, as Innovate Finance reports. “Could it be time for disruption… Read More

June 24, 2015 @ 11:32 pm By Midori Yoshimura  |  

China’s crowdfunding and peer-to-peer lending markets have frequently featured in the news, as China seeks to decrease fraud in its rapidly expanding Internet finance world. Now, Beijing’s financial supervision agencies are using big data to crack down on illegal fundraising, with an online pre-warning platform already… Read More

June 24, 2015 @ 3:02 pm By Samuel Guzik  |  

  On June 23, 2015, the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission provided some public guidance on certain issues arising under the new Regulation A+ Final Rules. In a new section of the SEC’s Compliance and Disclosure and Interpretations (C&DI’s),  a Q and A… Read More

June 21, 2015 @ 10:38 pm By Midori Yoshimura  |  

ThinCats Australia, among the latest peer-to-peer lenders to join the Australian market, is on the prowl for strategic investors as it prepares for a potential initial public offering, notes the Australian Financial Review. The FR writes, It’s understood ThinCats Australia, backed by UK-parent ThinCats, is in discussions with… Read More

June 18, 2015 @ 10:23 pm By JD Alois  |  

There is a lot of excitement, as well as some trepidation, as Title IV of the JOBS Act becomes actionable on June 19th. The new exemption, commonly referred to as Reg A+, will allow issuers to raise up to $50 million in what is described… Read More

June 17, 2015 @ 8:34 am By JD Alois  |  

Investment crowdfunding platform FundedByMe has been reviewing what are the characteristics of a successful campaign.  Their data should come as no surprise. Beyond having a solid concept for a business, social media and the right team is crucial for achieving a targeted funding goal. FundedByMe… Read More