Indiegogo Principal Adam Chapnick Bets Big on Real Estate Crowdfunding, Joins Upstart Platform AssetAvenue

Former Principal Exits VC-Darling Indiegogo to Oversee Strategy at Commercial Real Estate Platform Up-and-Comer

By Robert Hoskins

Los Angeles, CA  – Adam Chapnick believes real estate crowdfunding is on the precipice of becoming a major disrupting force in real estate investing, and chose to join AssetAvenue’s team of highly experienced real estate and technology professionals, betting big on a newcomer in one of the fastest-growing segments of the crowdfunding market.

New Equity Crowdfunding Platform Kicks Off by Closing First Deal in Manhattan’s Exclusive Trump Palace Within 48 Hours of Launch

The  former principal and employee number one with leading crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, announced that he is leaving the industry giant to join real estate crowdfunding company AssetAvenue. The company’s first completed deal raised $485,000 from investors in less than 48 hours to acquire a commercial real estate loan backed by office space in New York City’s prestigious Trump Palace.

“AssetAvenue’s disruptive vision and the team’s industry expertise are what set the company apart. The leadership team has decades of combined real estate experience, and they’re focused on breaking barriers, which is music to my ears,” said Chapnick. “When AssetAvenue CEO David Manshoory shared the scale of what he’s aiming to accomplish, I knew this was a mission I wanted to be a part of and the team I had to join. I can’t wait for the impact we’re going to make together.”

Chapnick joined Indiegogo as its first employee in 2009 and quickly helped the company grow into new markets and become one of the most successful crowdfunding platforms in the world. The company, which recently announced it raised a $40 million Series B round in January led by prominent investors Kleiner Perkins and Institutional Venture Partners, has hosted more than 200,000 campaigns to date in over 175 countries, four languages and five currencies.

Chapnick will be AssetAvenue’s chief strategy officer, bringing his expansive network and crowdfunding expertise to revolutionize the real estate investment experience for real estate sponsors, lenders and retail and institutional investors.

“We are thrilled that Adam has chosen AssetAvenue as his next home out of all the opportunities available to him,” said Manshoory. “We’re excited to couple one of the thought leaders in the crowdfunding industry with our real estate team to create an exceptional experience for our community.”

“Crowdfunding as a whole has been an incredibly revolutionary force in so many business verticals. It was thrilling to help drive this growth as the original player in the space,” added Chapnick. “Looking forward, those of us who are steeped in crowdfunding have seen real estate as the next explosive opportunity, given the sheer market size, coupled with all of its financial benefits to investors.”

Headquartered in Los Angeles, AssetAvenue is led by a management team leveraging a combined $10 billion in commercial real estate acquisitions experience. The company was founded in December 2013 by CEO David Manshoory, a seasoned real estate professional and successful entrepreneur with a track record of building rapid-growth companies.

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DealScene.com Takes Advantage of New General Solicitation Laws to Market Private Placement Offerings to Accredited Investors

 In the first six months since adoption, operating companies have filed to raise $6 billion using general solicitation

By Robert Hoskins

Rye, New Hampshire – Investor Access LLC announced today that it launched DealScene.com to connect investors with private companies raising capital.  The inaugural group of offerings can be viewed at www.dealscene.com.

DealScene.com Takes Advantage of New General Solicitation Laws to Market Private Placement Offerings to Accredited Investors

Through adoption of the new Rule 506(c) exemption, the Securities and Exchange Commission recently lifted the decades-old ban on general solicitation to allow private companies raising capital to appeal directly to potential investors who are not part of their existing network of friends and family.  In the first six months since adoption, operating companies filed to raise $6 billion using general solicitation.  And the substantial majority of these companies are taking a “do it yourself” approach to capital raising.

Against this backdrop, Investor Access developed DealScene to provide a turnkey presentation and deal processing platform in a customizable online environment where companies offer their securities directly to accredited investors. DealScene gives companies investor screening tools, creates a secure environment for companies to share their stories with investors, establishes a second layer of access control to company documents, and provides a back-end process to support efficient closings. Investors receive due diligence information, review investment documents, and participate in discussion forums with managements and each other.

“With the introduction of general solicitation and the appeal of the internet to create connections to investors, more companies need online tools to handle their securities offerings,” said Brad McGee, cofounder of Investor Access, “DealScene is a robust and secure environment that can save companies time and development costs that would be necessary to recreate the capabilities and interactive experience DealScene offers.  This leaves companies free to focus on developing connections to investors.”

“The benefits of DealScene aren’t limited to companies.  Until now, access to investments in private companies relied on exclusive connections and private communications. But recent changes in the securities laws now permit open communications between investors and companies raising capital, creating a transparency previously absent in small company investing.  DealScene affords accredited investors an engaging experience where they can access private placements online and interact with each other and company managements,” Mr. McGee added.

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