Biography
Michelle is a finance expert on a mission to democratize the American economy. With over twenty years of experience in the arenas of law and small business finance, she saw a momentous opportunity with the passing of Title III of the 2012 JOBS Act to save upward mobility and the American Entrepreneurial Dream. Passionate about improving economic equality, she is a fierce advocate for access to capital for mission-driven enterprises and self-directed investing. She’s known for being a stickler for compliance—a major boon to her clients—and for trailblazing an alternative to the traditional investing marketplace.
She is the proud founder of Crowdfund Main Street. This grassroots platform gives investors a network where they can review and support companies creating the change they want to see in their communities.
Coming from an entrepreneurial family, Michelle was raised with the belief that self-determination and grit were all that she’d need to achieve her dreams. But life experience taught her otherwise as over the years she watched conditions deteriorate and opportunities diminish for certain populations, particularly women and people of color.
The truth is marginalized populations have even less chance of getting funded by banks or professional investors than does the average small business owner. Crowdfund Main Street is changing that narrative. This disruptive investing platform empowers prosocial businesses to fund the development of women and BIPOC-led ventures, often leading to synergies between collaborators who never would have met otherwise.
Alongside her co-founders, Michelle brought to life two sister enterprises: Opportunity Mainstreet, which builds community wealth through real estate and small business investment; and Angels of Mainstreet, which makes resources and investment opportunities available to more people, regardless of income or net worth.
Michelle sees in regulation crowdfunding the opportunity to shift resources from Wall Street and personal savings to Main Street and local economies. She believes small businesses are the unsung heroes of our economy and that they have the potential to revitalize local communities through an infusion of capital and new jobs.
Combining passion with a depth of experience, Michelle draws upon her legal career to go all-in on advancing economic equality. As the co-founder of Thimesch Law Offices, Michelle gained years of experience helping small businesses with succession planning. During this time, she pursued advanced facilitation skills and became a certified community mediator, holding the conviction that healthy communication among stakeholders is integral to sustainable business.
Michelle is looking forward to seeding more equality in the financial market and providing a path for investors to put their money where their heart is.
“Critical mass will take time, but that just means we have to get started.”
- Michelle Thimesch
