Crowdfunding Now!

  Top 50 Crowdfunding Campaigns: Fifty Most Successful Crowdfunding Campaigns Kindle Edition https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RKK4NL0/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

The JOBS Act: Crowdfunding Guide to Small Businesses and Startups  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1484224086/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_2RZS2VT5VH3ED1MMQFJR via @amazon 

As the article notes, "For a people who revere startup culture and the idea that one can bootstrap one’s way to business success, we seem to prefer the TV version to the real thing — especially as of late. It turns out that new business creation recently approached its 40-year low. Banks are retaining their Great Recession-era tight-fistedness and the costs of education, housing and healthcare continue daily to expand beyond the ability of most Americans to keep pace... Due to these factors — along with the legalization of equity crowdfunding accomplished via the passage of the JOBS Act in 2012 — crowdfunding has arisen as a means of raising startup funds. You may only be familiar with crowdfunding in the context of all the medical- and disaster-based campaigns that have been making the news lately, but crowdfunding is a viable way to raise money for businesses as well." See the full article at:  https://www.merchantmaverick.com/crowdfunding-for-startups-8-tips-you-s...

Crowdfunding campaigns that reach 30% of their goal in the first 48 hours dramatically increase their chance of success. Early contributions are more valuable, since they help drive interest and attention. Create multiple touchpoints. Comparing crowdfunding campaigns: Campaign A:  Email: 6.23 conversion rate. Facebook Group: 28.69% conversion rate. SMS 6.96% conversion rate. Campaign B:  Email: 2.06 conversion rate. Facebook Group: None. SMS 6.74% conversion rate.

Blockchain for Social Impact NYC November, 2017 https://youtu.be/0_m5qp_iLUs via @YouTube

The Download: A crowdfunding site for black entrepreneurs By Steven OverlyApril 14, 2013 William Michael Cunningham says the black community has a tradition of “passing the hat” to collect donations when a friend needs financial help. That same custom guides BlackCrowdfunding.net, a Web site Cunningham has created where black entrepreneurs can raise money to start businesses. It’s one of many initiatives underway nationally, including several here in Washington, that aim to harness the potential of crowdfunding to benefit women and minority entrepreneurs. For a variety of reasons, these groups have often struggled to tap more traditional financing mechanisms, such as bank loans and venture capital. Cunningham said that fact was compounded during the economic downturn as many black families lost wealth when home values soured and unemployment climbed. “Most people start a business by taking out loans on their houses or going to friends and family and raising money that way,” C...

1. A verifiable track record of growth 2. Make sure the deal stands on its own 3. Remember that people invest in people Planning To Raise Millions Of Dollars? Consider These 3 Pieces of Advice via @Entrepreneur http://entm.ag/pzg1

Yesterday, Don Cheadle's crowdfunding campaign for a Miles Davis biopic (called Miles Ahead) closed and was successfully funded with $343,496. He is one of quite a few Hollywood celebrities that have gone to the crowd to raise funds for a project. Spike Lee and Zack Braff are in that number as well. Both of them hosted successful campaigns. However, there are several celebrities that had unsuccessful campaigns like Melissa Joan Hart and James Franco. Most of the campaigns are film-related in nature. There has been much concern from the public as to why these celebrities would even think to go to the crowd for funding. Some have even gone as far as to say that it is downright criminal. We don't believe this is completely true. Crowdfunding at the heart of it is a concept that has been around for many years. The civil rights' movement was essentially crowdfunded. The idea is that everyone rallies together for a particular cause and contributes as much as they can to support...

I thought I would share some initial feedback I have received on the new book:  The JOBS Act: Crowdfunding Guide to Small Businesses and Startups 2nd ed.   https://www.amazon.com/JOBS-Act-Crowdfunding-Businesses-Startups/dp/1484224086 "Definitely clear. I really enjoyed the depth of substance on the Act. I also liked the enthusiasm for crowdfunding w/o any of the manic cheerleading seen elsewhere (impact investing has the same problem - IMHO). Balance goes a long way in my view and you reminding readers that crowdfunding is real work is very important. Scott S. Thank you, Scott!

Google searches for crowdfunding up 37% in past week Worldwide-Wednesday, December 28, 2016 - Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Google searches for  crowdfunding  up 17% in past week Worldwide - Tuesday, December 20, 2016 - Tuesday, December 27, 2016

2016's Most Innovative Projects collection on @Indiegogo: https://www.indiegogo.com/campaign_collections/2016-s-most-innovative-projects https://www.indiegogo.com/campaign_collections/2016-s-most-innovative-projects

AGENDA 9:30 a.m. Co-Chairs Stephen Graham and Sara Hanks call meeting to order Introductory Remarks by Chair Mary Jo White and Commissioner Kara Stein 10:00 a.m. Consider “Accredited Investor” Definition Recommendation as discussed at May 18th Meeting 10:30 a.m. Regulation A+ Update and Review Update from SEC Division of Corporation Finance staff on the usage of Regulation A+ in its first year Presentation from Paul Elio, CEO and Chairman of Elio Motors Inc., a company that conducted a Regulation A+ offering Discussion by Committee Members 12:00 p.m. Lunch Break 1:30 p.m. Regulation A + (Continued) Presentation by Daniel Zinn, General Counsel, OTC Markets Group regarding secondary trading of Regulation A+ shares 2:30 p.m. SEC Proposal to Amend the “Smaller Reporting Company” Definition Briefing from SEC Division of Corporation Finance staff regarding the Commission’s proposal issued June 27, 2016 to amend the “Smaller Reporting Company” Definitio...

The summary below was written by the Congressional Research Service, a nonpartisan division of the Library of Congress. Fix Crowdfunding Act This bill amends the Securities Act of 1933 (Act) to increase from $1 million to $5 million the aggregate amount of securities sold to all investors by an issuer that qualify for the crowdfunding exemption from certain prohibitions relating to interstate commerce and the mails. The bill amends the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act) to declare that a crowdfunding portal shall have a reasonable basis for disqualifying issuers from offering securities through the portal if through a background check it has found that an issuer has made an untrue statement of a material fact, omitted to state a material fact necessary to avoid making misleading statements, or engaged in fraud or deceit. No intermediary (crowdfunding portal) shall be liable for an issuer's material misstatements and omissions unless, in connection with the offer ...

https://youtu.be/1aM-IKPPJeg ‪#‎ crowdfunding‬  session at @WallStreetProj  #‎ WSPES2016  ‬ https://youtu.be/1aM-IKPPJeg  via @YouTube

We note with interest a recent study from the University at Buffalo School of Management that shows "high quality photos and video, previous crowdfunding success and positive comments from backers are the keys to a successful campaign." This syncs with what we uncovered in our two books, " The JOBS Act: Crowdfunding for Small Businesses and Startups " and in " Top 50 Crowdfunding Campaigns: Fifty Most Successful Crowdfunding Campaigns ." According to news reports, the University at Buffalo School of Management study "found that by receiving these signals, potential investors..gain valuable information that motivates them to participate and increases the likelihood of a project achieving its funding goal." One part of the analysis we found in error, however. One of the authors of the study was quoted as saying that "These sources are important because backers of crowdfunded projects have less access to information than typical priv...

I attended the Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation held at the US Securities and Exchange Commission on November 19th.  According to the SEC, one of the Forum's goals "is to .. highlight perceived unnecessary impediments to small business capital formation and address whether they can be eliminated or reduced. Each forum seeks to develop recommendations for government and private action to improve the environment for small business capital formation, consistent with other public policy goals, including investor protection. Participants in the Forum typically have included small business executives, venture capitalists, government officials, trade association representatives, lawyers, accountants, academics and small business advocates..the format of the Forum typically has emphasized small interactive breakout groups developing recommendations for governmental action."  Let me just say that the Forum was a  confirmation of some ...

As we  forecast , today (10/30/15) the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted 3 to 1 to allow small companies to raise up to $1 million online. Small firms and startups can now solicit anyone, regardless of their location, net worth or wealth, thereby giving small investors a chance to own what may be the next Facebook or Google (or not).  More likely, it means the day care center or restaurant down the street can now offer ownership stakes, or shares of stock, to their most supportive customers and clients. This is great news for women and Black-owned firms, which tend to be small and capital starved. The SEC vote approving rules implementing  Title III of the JOBS Act  means greater opportunity for minority, women and veteran firms to obtain equity funding. In addition to allowing firms to raise capital from anyone via a crowdfunding platform (a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority or FINRA registered internet website set up specifically for t...

"Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the Government  in the Sunshine Act, Pub. L. 94-409, that the Securities and Exchange  Commission will hold an Open Meeting on Friday, October 30, 2015 at  10:00 a.m., in the Auditorium, Room L-002.  The subject matter of the Open Meeting will be: The Commission will consider whether to adopt rules and forms related  to the offer and sale of securities through crowdfunding under Section  4(a)(6) of the Securities Act of 1933, as mandated by Title III of the  Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act.  http://www.sec.gov/news/ openmeetings/2015/ ssamtg103015.htm  " Having said, in March, 2015 that the SEC wasn't going to do Title III,  we changed our minds last week and declared that the SEC was going to  approve Title III after all. https://www.linkedin.com/ pulse/sec-poised-implement- title-iii-jobs-act-cunningham- am-mba?trk=pulse_spock- articles We think they will also announc...