Crowdfunding
SeedInvest Gaining Momentum
COVID-19 has made life difficult for many. There are those however, that have made the best of a bad situation. A prime example of this is the recent resurgence of crowdfunding platform, SeedInvest.
In a recently shared update, SeedInvest elaborated on a notable uptick in platform participation throughout 2020.
Moving Forward
Best quarter on company record? Check. Investment volumes reaching new highs? Check. Massive investor signup, dwarfing multiple previous years combined? Check.
With people adjusting to the new world, it is clear that they are recognizing the benefits and efficiency afforded through crowdfunding. April, alone, saw roughly 25,000 new investor signups on the SeedInvest platform.
Commentary
In their post, SeedInvest CEO, Ryan Feit, elaborated on how their platform differs from traditional means of raising capital.
“Unlike venture capital firms, online fundraising platforms are perfectly situated to help startups in the current, post-COVID-19 world we are in. Online fundraising platforms are not dependent on capital from a handful of pensions and endowments, but rather a large, diverse network of investors (SeedInvest has had over 350,000 investors register for example).”
He continued,
“…while the traditional venture capital investment process is highly dependent on in-person meetings (which is next to impossible in the current environment), the online fundraising and investing process is inherently digitally native. Furthermore, there are a number of pending improvements to U.S. securities laws (the most significant changes since the JOBS Act was signed into law), which will turbocharge online fundraising for entrepreneurs and investors alike.”
Widespread
SeedInvest is not the only platform to see a recent boost in usage. Rival crowdfunding platform, StartEngine, has seen a similar uptick.
While this positive turn may be due, mainly, to venture capitalism drying up, due to the ongoing pandemic, there is no doubt that the SEC has also played a role.
While the SEC is often viewed as a regulatory body that simply punishes those breaking the rules, they also have a direct hand in crafting friendly environments for growth. Recognizing the potential harm of COVID, they recently relaxed regulations surrounding crowdfunding. The following are a few examples of this:
- Financial statement exemptions
- Broader eligibility
- Easier ‘early closing’
SEC to Give Crowdfunding a Boost through Relaxed Regulations
Boding well
While no official announcements have been made, it has long been suspected that SeedInvest owner, Circle, intends to sell the crowdfunding platform.
Reports of a possible sale surfaced after Circle began streamlining their operation in 2019. Their efforts saw the sale of popular exchange, Poloniex, as well as the departure of multiple ‘C-level’ employees.
With the recent growth seen at SeedInvest, Circle has every reason to be happy. Either they keep SeedInvest under their umbrella, and benefit from their successes, or they sell the platform, and benefit from an increased market value.
Circle Ponders SeedInvest Sale while Doubling Down on Stablecoin
SeedInvest
Founded in 2011, SeedInvest is a crowdfunding platform, which operates out of New York. Above all, SeedInvest acts as a bridging platform, connecting vetted investment opportunities with eligible investors.
CEO, Ryan Feit, currently oversees company operations.
In Others News
For those interested in learning more about what Crowdfunding is, and how it can transform the way we invest, make sure to peruse the following article.
