I’ve spent years immersed in the world of impact investing, and if I sound a little fired up today, it’s because I am. The traditional capital markets continue to overlook brilliant, diverse entrepreneurs—especially those working in and for their communities. That’s why I’m passionate about regulated investment crowdfunding (Regulation Crowdfunding or Reg CF, particularly). It’s not perfect, but it’s the most promising tool we have to democratize access to capital, empower underrepresented founders, and reshape our economy from the ground up. Here are just a few of the reasons I believe so deeply in this movement:

1. Democratization of Capital
   Reg CF breaks down barriers that historically excluded all but the wealthy from investing in private ventures.

2. Access to Overlooked Founders
   Traditional VC overlooks diverse founders; Reg CF helps level the playing field by allowing the crowd to support talent the system ignores.

3. Rooted in Community
   Reg CF enables investment in local businesses a

Hi! I'm Elizabeth Eichhorn. An avid crowdfunder, business coach, and business owner. The picture above is of me running at the gym. I'm currently training for a half marathon, which I feel very unready for at the moment. But, I am wearing my "Community" shirt that my friend from WeFunder sent me a few weeks ago. It is my reminder that the people who we commune with, gather with, live next to, can all be community--thus be people who can support in you and your ideas. 

My husband and I recently opened up a wine bar in Texas. Our first checks were from our neighbors, not a big bank or wealthy family, but those who would be directly impacted by the success or failure of our neighborhood. 

Giving people the power to decide where to invest their money for it to make a direct impact is so significant for a cyclical economy. 

I love regulated investment crowdfunding and the portals that participate in the space. I’ve got gripes and complaints, but overall, I’m their biggest fan. They are fundamentally essential to the ongoing success of the industry—and its future growth.

Today, I’d like to enumerate some of my favorite things about portals operating under Regulation Crowdfunding:

9 Things I Love About Portals

1. Pre-Screening Investments: We all rely on portals to screen the offerings they host. They all use different criteria, but they are all required to exclude companies associated with “bad actors”—people who have been in trouble with the SEC in the past.

2. Regulatory Compliance: Having run a FINRA-member, SEC-registered broker-dealer, I know how hard it is to comply with the regulations. That is a big reason I don’t run a portal today! I’m grateful that they have made the effort to comply with the rules. These sometimes impose on us minor inconveniences, but the net effect is a safe and

One thing I will never get tired of working in this space is the variety of companies that have been able to effectively utilize offerings under Regulation CF and Regulation A. These exemptions are versatile, and allow for companies to raise funds whether they have no interest in being more than a neighborhood restaurant, or dream of growing into an exchange listed multinational company. The commonality is that these companies believe they will have the most success with an appeal directly to retail investors, some of whom may be friends, family, and fans.

One notable example at the higher end of using Regulation A is Newsmax. Newsmax went out to its viewers and gave them the opportunity to become investors. This fit perfectly with Regulation A, and as a result, Newsmax was able to raise $75 million ahead of listing on the New York Stock Exchange. This type of Reg A IPO has some challenges that differ from an underwritten IPO in which there are fewer holders of record to manage. Howeve...more

Calls Out Congressional Neglect of Main Street, Urges Senate to Amend Bill to Include the TRUMP Jobs Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Coalition for Crowdfunding American Jobs and Prosperity (CCAJP) issued a scathing rebuke today of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” recently passed by the House of Representatives, condemning the legislation as a massive gift to large corporations and the ultra-wealthy - while leaving America’s small businesses out in the cold.

“The bill is nothing short of a betrayal of Main Street,” said Brian Christie, Co-Chair of the Crowdfunding Professional Association (CfPA) and acting spokesperson for CCAJP. “It fails to account for the new realities small businesses face under rapidly changing tariff conditions. The bill does nothing to help small businesses adapt, pivot, or survive - and worse, it strengthens the hand of their biggest competitors: bloated corporations with lobbyists and the scale to absorb or shift the impacts of global supply chain shocks.”

Despite...more

Registration is NOW OPEN!
Join us for the 2025 Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit
October 21–22, 2025
Washington, DC

This is the must-attend event for anyone in the Reg CF and Reg A ecosystem.

Connect with industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, and innovators from across the public and private sectors. Hear from top thought leaders driving the future of regulated investment crowdfunding - and gain insights you won’t find anywhere else.

From policy to practice, this summit builds on the growing momentum of a rapidly evolving industry.

✅ Register now to get the early bird rate and to secure your spot.

More details coming soon—but don’t wait!

Day 1 (10/21): Advocacy Visits - on the Hill and with Regulators

Day 2 (10/22): Conference  Summit

National Union Building

918 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004

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