Regulated investment crowdfunding, also known as equity crowdfunding, is the process of raising money from a large number of investors, often through online platforms, in exchange for equity in a company. While it can be an attractive way for startups and small businesses to access capital, there are several reasons why it can be difficult to navigate the regulatory environment surrounding investment crowdfunding.

1. Regulatory compliance: Investment crowdfunding is regulated by securities laws, which can be complex and vary by jurisdiction. Platforms that facilitate investment crowdfunding must comply with these laws, which can be difficult to navigate without legal expertise.

2. Investor protection: Securities laws are designed to protect investors from fraudulent or misleading investments. As a result, investment crowdfunding platforms must take measures to ensure that investors are adequately informed about the risks associated with the investment, and that they meet certain criteria for investing, such as income or net worth thresholds.

3. Capital raising limitations: Investment crowdfunding is subject to limitations on the amount of capital that can be raised from individual investors, as well as the total amount that can be raised through crowdfunding in a given period. These limitations can make it difficult for companies to raise the capital they need through investment crowdfunding alone.

4. Competition with other fundraising methods: Investment crowdfunding is not the only way for companies to raise capital. Other methods, such as traditional bank loans, venture capital, or angel investing, may be more attractive to some companies depending on their stage of growth, industry, or funding needs.

Overall, regulated investment crowdfunding can be a complex and challenging process due to regulatory compliance, investor protection requirements, capital raising limitations, and competition with other fundraising methods. However, it can also provide an opportunity for companies to access capital from a large pool of investors and reach a wider audience than traditional fundraising methods.

According to our data Q2 tends to have the most funded deals of the year. Since most offerings last around 4 months, launching in Q4 might be smart. Of course, there are other factors that play into account like whether the issuer is a startup or established and what geopolitical or macroeconomic events are pressuring investors. 

Based on the report by the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), it seems likely that they would have a cautious stance toward Regulation Crowdfunding. The report emphasizes the importance of defending public capital markets and raising concerns about efforts that expand the incentives for staying private. This suggests that NASAA may view Regulation Crowdfunding as a potential threat to public markets and the traditional principles of securities regulation.

The report expresses concerns that legislative proposals, such as those in the JOBS Act 4.0, could erode public markets and adversely affect businesses and investors that rely on those markets to raise investment capital. NASAA also highlights opposition to proposals that would limit the role of state regulators in overseeing capital raising in the private market. This stance suggests that NASAA is likely to be cautious about expanding exemptions for private offerings and other regulatory changes that could make it easier for companies to raise capital without going through public markets.

However, NASAA does support certain proposals that could enhance investor protection and improve coordination among state and federal regulators. For example, they advocate for a comprehensive enforcement database that covers everyone convicted or held liable in criminal, civil, and regulatory actions involving financial services. They also call for stronger coordination between state and federal regulators and improved regulatory data collection, particularly on activity in the private markets.

Overall, while NASAA is likely to be cautious about Regulation Crowdfunding, they are also interested in finding ways to improve investor protection and strengthen regulatory oversight in both public and private markets.

Yes, there are websites and companies that aggregate crowdfunding deals that are active (as well as other types of deals).

Some of these primary deal aggregators include:

1. KingsCrowd ("Trusted by over 475,000 investors to vet startup investments from 60+ online investment platforms")

2. so.capital ("Equity Crowdfunding, Donation Crowdfunding, NFTs, Alternative Assets")

3. Vincent ("exempt reporting adviser in the alternative investment space")

4. CrowdLustro ("Reg CF, Collectibles, Real Estate, NFTs, & other alternative assets")

5. Alts.co ("alternative assets" -- more than just crowdfunding)

6. Sharky - ("Discover startups like a pro!")

7. Investibule - ("Investibule opens the door to community investments - aggregating opportunities across 30+ platforms.")

For those looking for deals outside the US, there are other aggregators (e.g. CrowdInvest - "Invest in promising start-ups in India from the UK"). As with any service provider, it's important to verify information listed on these sites with information on the site of the funding portal or provided by the issuer. 

Completely different process for the two sorts of offering.

In a Reg CF offering, the Form C is filed with the SEC and the moment it shows up on the EDGAR system, the issuer can start accepting investment commitments on the intermediary's site. The SEC does not review or sign off in any way. That doesn't mean they (and other regulators) aren't looking, though!

In a Reg A offering, the SEC must review and "qualify" the offering before it goes live. (We don't use the term "approve"; the SEC never approves or blesses offerings.) If it's a Tier 1 Reg A offering, the states that the offer will be made into also have to sign off.

In both cases, you can "test the waters" before filing or qualification, but any materials you use to test the waters need to be filed with the SEC.

It can depend on the specific circumstances of the equity crowdfunding round and the company's performance since then. In general, investors may view a company that has successfully completed an equity crowdfunding round as a good thing because it can indicate that the company has a strong base of supporters and has been able to raise capital in the past. Additionally, a company that has completed an equity crowdfunding round will have a track record of financial performance and investor relations, which can be viewed positively by potential investors.

On the other hand, if a company has struggled to meet its financial projections or has had difficulty maintaining good relations with its investors, this could be viewed negatively by potential investors. Additionally, a company that has completed multiple rounds of equity crowdfunding without showing significant progress or growth could also be viewed as a red flag.

It's important to note that each company is unique, and the success or failure of one company's equity crowdfunding campaign should not be used as a definitive indicator of future performance. Potential investors should always conduct their own due diligence on any company before investing.

Regulation A+ (Reg A+) is a set of rules and regulations put in place by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that allows small and medium-sized companies to raise funds from a large number of investors through a mini-IPO process. Reg A+ is an update to the existing Regulation A, which was adopted under the JOBS Act.

Reg A+ allows companies to raise up to $75 million in a 12-month period from both accredited and non-accredited investors, and it allows the securities to be sold to the public, which differs from Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) which has a cap of $5 million in a 12-month period.

The process of Reg A+ is similar to a traditional IPO, but it is less costly and less burdensome for companies, with fewer disclosure requirements and ongoing reporting obligations, but it still requires the companies to file an offering statement with the SEC, and the SEC will review the statement to ensure compliance with the rules and regulations.

Reg A+ is seen as a way for smaller companies to access the public markets, by providing an alternative to traditional IPOs and Reg D, which are typically only available to larger, more established companies. Reg A+ also allows companies to test the waters and gauge investor interest before committing to a full-scale IPO.

In summary, Reg A+ is a new regulation that allows smaller companies to raise capital from a large number of investors through a mini-IPO process, by complying with certain rules and regulations set by the SEC. It allows companies to raise more capital than Reg CF and it has fewer disclosure requirements and ongoing reporting obligations than a traditional IPO. 

Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) and Reg CF are the same thing, Reg CF refers to Title III of the JOBS Act, which is also known as Regulation Crowdfunding. It is a set of rules and regulations put in place by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that allows small businesses and startups to raise funds from a large number of investors through crowdfunding platforms.

Regulation Crowdfunding allows companies to raise up to $5 million in a 12-month period from both accredited and non-accredited investors, via crowdfunding platforms that are SEC-registered intermediaries. The process of Reg CF is different from traditional fundraising methods, such as IPOs, venture capital, and angel investing, as it allows companies to raise money from a large number of small investors through online platforms.

Reg CF is a relatively new regulation and it has provided small businesses and startups with a new way to raise funds, by allowing them to tap into a large pool of potential investors. This has also opened up investment opportunities for smaller investors who may not have been able to participate in traditional fundraising methods.

In summary, Reg CF and Regulation Crowdfunding are the same thing, it's the legal framework that allow companies to raise funds from a large number of investors through crowdfunding platforms, by complying with certain rules and regulations set by the SEC.

As someone who believed in the power of community and collective action to bring about change, I would likely see the benefits of crowdfunding and impact investing. These forms of financing allow individuals to pool their resources together to support causes and businesses that align with their values and beliefs.

Crowdfunding, in particular, has the potential to provide small businesses and startups, particularly those owned by minorities and disadvantaged communities, with access to much-needed capital. This can help to create jobs and stimulate economic growth in these communities, which is vital to achieving true equality and justice.

Impact investing, on the other hand, allows individuals to invest in businesses and projects that not only provide financial returns but also have a positive social and environmental impact. It is a way for people to use their financial resources to promote sustainable development and address pressing global issues such as poverty, climate change, and inequality.

I would also see the potential of crowdfunding and impact investing to provide a way for marginalized communities to take an active role in shaping the economy and society. It empowers people to use their financial resources to promote causes and businesses that align with their values and beliefs, instead of being passive recipients of charity.

In summary, I would see the benefits of crowdfunding and impact investing as a way for individuals to use their financial resources to promote economic justice, sustainable development and empower marginalized communities to shape their own future.