Crowdfund.Co Expands into Acquisition Financing with Crowdfunded Debt Offerings

Deal Capital Partners assists company and real estate owners in sourcing capital through Regulation D 506(c), Regulation D 506(b) and Regulation A+ offerings

 By Robert Hoskins

Seattle, Washington – Crowdfund.co, an equity crowdfunding website focused on middle market business finance for everything from real estate to technology, announces the launch of a newly-designed website and logo. In addition to the firm’s website changes, the firm also announces the expansion of service offerings that include debt crowdfunding for things like acquisition financing and recapitalization of privately-held businesses.

Deal Capital Partners assists company and real estate owners in sourcing capital through Regulation D 506(c), Regulation D 506(b) and Regulation A+ offerings

“We believe there are forms of crowdfunding, including debt crowdfunding, that are not being fully utilized,” says Carl Christensen, VP of Strategy. “The use of crowdfunding for private company debt is just one area where we feel businesses owners can take advantage of some of the new and expanded regulation for sourcing capital from accredited investors,” he says.

The firm is focused on real estate and privately-held businesses where gaps exist in the funding marketplace. While there are many sources for senior, subordinated and mezzanine debt options, there are very few that are sourced through crowdfunding. Crowdfund.co intends to expand its offering into more options that include debt financing for privately-held businesses.

Debt crowdfunding works as a mechanism for financing things that fall in the gap area of small business finance. Currently gaps still exist between Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and other traditional, small bank loans and the larger debt offerings for upper middle-market companies. “We intend on structuring deals so investors benefit by higher returns on their money and companies are better able to source the funding they need for growth and expansion capital,” says Christensen.

Crowdfund.co is a website owned and operated by Deal Capital Partners, LLC–a middle market capital advisory firm. The company works with entrepreneurs to assist in the process of raising growth equity with an eye toward a successful company exit. As a full service capital advisory firm, Deal Capital Partners assists company and real estate owners in sourcing capital through Regulation D 506(c), Regulation D 506(b) and Regulation A+ offerings.

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Robert Hoskins
(512) 627-6622
@Crowdfunding_PR

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Mr. Robert Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns to gain market traction for a wide variety of products and services.

On a regular basis, Mr. Hoskins consults with crowdfunding campaign managers as well as crowdfunding sites, portals and platforms to deliver successful crowdfunding marketing campaigns.

Google search “Robert Hoskins Crowdfunding” to see why Mr. Hoskins is considered one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding experts that has amassed a huge social media following, which is dedicated to supporting donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns.

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Merit Harbor Group’s Boutique Investment Banking Arm offers Startups Crowdfunding Consulting Assistance

Boutique middle-market investment bank offers crowdfunding assistance to late-stage startups and growing companies

By Robert Hoskins

Seattle, Washington – Boutique investment banking firm, Merit Harbor Group, now offers expanded capital requisition and crowdfunding assistance ahead of the full release of Title III crowdfunding. The firm, which provides a myriad of expert consulting services to startups, growth and established businesses, is positioning itself to be a market leader in some of the new equity crowdfunding rules and regulations.

Merit Harbor Group’s investment bank works directly with startups via crowdfunding

“As we get closer to the full implementation of Title III equity crowdfunding, our team is gearing up to assist companies in raising the capital they need,” says company Director, Nate Nead. Title III equity crowdfunding, which allows small businesses to raise a maximum of a million dollars in any given twelve-month period, is on the firm’s radar as another method available for smaller companies seeking access to capital.

Equity crowdfunding, an alternative financing medium for small business, allows companies seeking capital to source it through individual investors on portals built for the purpose of information and promotion. The company maintains its own proprietary list of both accredited and non-accredited investors who have expressed keen interest in seeing available deals from real estate to software. The company also maintains key relationships with other equity crowdfunding portals where companies can syndicate for broader exposure.

“We are excited about the partnerships we have formed with other portals and we are confident these alliances will provide a great benefit to our crowdfunding clients who are seeking to raise capital,” says Nead. While the company acts as a traditional investment bank, advising middle-market clients on merger and acquisition transactions, the firm’s and its principals and investment bankers see the wisdom in marrying crowdfunding with traditional middle market business finance. “We are confident that crowdfunding and traditional business finance are not mutually exclusive. While it may take some time for the two to play well together, we are hoping to be able to assist when that marriage becomes more real,” he says.

Merit Harbor Group is a middle market investment bank with offices in multiple cities across the United States. The company provides merger, acquisition and capital raising assistance to post-revenue startups and growing companies across nearly every market sector. The company assists promising companies in structured growth before a meaningful exit via merger or acquisition. The company’s licensed investment bankers in Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Portland.

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(512) 627-6622
@Crowdfunding_PR

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Mr. Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns to gain market traction for a wide variety of products and services.

Hoskins is one of the crowdfunding industry’s foremost crowdfunding advocates and has amassed a huge social media following that is dedicated to supporting donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns. Due to the overwhelming demand from the general public for crowdfunding information, he empowers entrepreneurs with some of the internet’s most affordable ($20) online crowdfunding training classes, which provide insight to startups around the world on a 24 x 7 basis.

Hoskins adamantly believes that the crowdfunding industry will empower everyone in the United States to rediscover the possibility of living the American dream with a little hard work, a great business idea and the dedication to researching, planning and launching a well-thought-out crowdfunding campaign. He consults on a regular basis with crowdfunding campaign managers as well as crowdfunding sites, portals and platforms to deliver successful crowdfunding marketing campaigns.

Crowdfund.co Expands Customers’ Options for Debt & Equity Crowdfunding Real Estate Investment Banking

The company continues to have an interest in and the education of how investment crowdfunding will ultimately impact their customers’ ability to raise funding, including offering Reg D 506(c) alongside the new Regulation A+ offerings

By Robert Hoskins

Seattle, Washington – Crowdfund.co announces a service expansion of the company’s debt and equity crowdfunding into the real estate investment banking market. The move comes after several clients operating in commercial real estate expressed interest in combining institutional capital raises with individual, accredited investors. Luckily the company has maintained an interest in and the education of how investment crowdfunding will ultimately impact their client’s business, including offering Reg D 506(c) alongside the new Regulation A+ offerings.

Crowdfund Equity and Debt Crowdfunding for Real Estate Investment Banking

Real estate investment banking—facilitated through both debt and equity crowdfunding—is likely to continue to be one of the faster growing segments in the crowdfunding market. Crowdfund.co is fully-equipped to facilitate commercial real estate transactions involving both accredited and institutional investors. “At the end of the day, it does not really matter how we fill out the capital stack,” says Craig Dickens, CEO. “All that matters is that we run a successful, clean and legitimate process and that we are able to meet the needs of our clients looking to raise capital.”

“We consider ourselves a traditional private investment bank,” says Nate Nead, Director, “but the latest legislative changes are creating demand for offerings that are structured much differently than traditional investment banks operate. We are simply going with the flow and providing our clients the flexibility in raising the capital they desire through the methods that make the most sense for their particular raise,” Nead says.

While the company sees the changes brought about by the JOBS Act as revolutionary, they do not expect their business to be significantly altered. “Each deal still requires someone to drive it to the bank,” says Nead. “That is true regardless of whether you are sourcing capital for real estate or for a private stock transaction. Just because a deal is posted on an equity crowdfunding site, does not ensure the company will be funded.” Crowdfund.co and its affiliates maintain that while crowdfunding will have a significant impact on investment banking and traditional finance, there remains more upside opportunities, particularly as clients become more educated as securities issuers.

“We still spend a great deal of time talking clients out of one form of capital formation or another, Nead says. “Not everyone is a good candidate for Regulation A+, for instance. There is certainly significant opportunity in debt and equity crowdfunding, but too many issuers are trying to put square pegs in round holes. With our business and real estate clients, we are helping to consult them down the proper path for capital formation.” That path could include Regulation D 506(c), Regulation A+ or perhaps, eventually Title III of the JOBS Act, when it becomes available in May.

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(512) 627-6622
@Crowdfunding_PR

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Mr. Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns to gain market traction for a wide variety of products and services.

Hoskins is one of the crowdfunding industry’s foremost crowdfunding advocates and has amassed a huge social media following that is dedicated to supporting donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns. Due to the overwhelming demand from the general public for crowdfunding information, he empowers entrepreneurs with some of the internet’s most affordable ($20) online crowdfunding training classes, which provide insight to startups around the world on a 24 x 7 basis.

Hoskins adamantly believes that the crowdfunding industry will empower everyone in the United States to rediscover the possibility of living the American dream with a little hard work, a great business idea and the dedication to researching, planning and launching a well-thought-out crowdfunding campaign. He consults on a regular basis with crowdfunding campaign managers as well as crowdfunding sites, portals and platforms to deliver successful crowdfunding marketing campaigns.

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Amazon Demonstrates Its Business Expertise, Provides Superior Marketing and Distribution Services for Entrepreneurs and Startups

Kickstarter, Indiegogo and Other Top Crowdfunding Sites Should Pay Attention and Start Providing a Deeper Portfolio of Marketing and Distribution Channel Services or Suffer the Consequences

By Robert Hoskins

Seattle, Washington – Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) announced Amazon Launchpad, a new program that makes it easy for startups to launch, market, and distribute their products to hundreds of millions of Amazon customers across the globe. The program offers a streamlined onboarding experience, custom product pages, a comprehensive marketing package, and access to Amazon’s global fulfillment network, all geared toward helping startups successfully launch their innovations and share their stories. With Amazon Launchpad, startups can overcome many of the challenges associated with launching new products by using Amazon’s retail expertise and infrastructure to create awareness and drive sales.

Amazon Launchpad for Entrepreneurs and Startups

“As the pace of innovation continues to increase within the startup community, we want to help customers discover these unique products and learn the inspiration behind them. We also know from talking to startups that bringing a new product to market successfully can be just as challenging as building it,” said Jim Adkins, Vice President, Amazon. “Amazon Launchpad gives customers access to a dedicated storefront featuring a variety of innovative new products from emerging brands. For startups, we handle inventory management, order fulfillment, customer service, and more, allowing them to focus their efforts on the innovation that results in more cool products.”

Amazon Launchpad offers participating startups:

• Brand Development: Custom product pages help bring products to life through visually-compelling imagery and videos. Founders can tell their story and connect with customers in a personal way with Q&A about the startup. Products from these emerging brands are featured in the new Amazon Launchpad store, which is dedicated to showcasing startups and their innovations.
• Customer Reach: Amazon’s most powerful marketing tools – including merchandised placements, personalized recommendations, and participation in the Amazon Vine customer reviews program – give products from startups added visibility. Startups also enjoy access to Amazon’s global fulfillment network, fast and free shipping with Amazon Prime, and customer service.
• Global Expansion: When startups are ready to reach customers outside the U.S., Amazon Launchpad can help them expand globally with cost-effective supply chain solutions and marketing programs in more than 10 Amazon marketplaces around the world.

Amazon is working with more than 25 venture capital firms, startup accelerators, and crowd-funding platforms to bring startups into the Amazon Launchpad program. Andreessen Horowitz, Y Combinator, and Indiegogo are a few of the companies that have funded the more than 200 products currently available in the Amazon Launchpad store – which features everything from Electronics to Kitchen to Beauty items. Products from startups in the program include the Bluesmart Smart Carry-On Luggage, eero Home Wi-Fi System, Cuff DVB Smart Sport Band, Fenugreen FreshPaper Produce Saver Sheets, Electric Objects EO1 Digital Art Panel, Soma Sustainable Pitcher & Plant-Based Water Filter, Thync Mood-Changing Wearable System, and Casper Mattress, among others.

Initial feedback from some of the companies in the Amazon Launchpad program includes:

• “Launchpad makes Amazon an ideal partner for the most innovative young tech companies,” said Marc Andreessen, Co-Founder and General Partner, Andreessen Horowitz. “It’s yet another way Amazon fosters a real ecosystem of invention and creativity.”
• “At Y Combinator, our support doesn’t end on Demo Day. With Amazon Launchpad, we are reinforcing our commitment to help bring physical products to a wide audience,” said Luke Iseman, Partner, Y Combinator. “This program will help our hardware startups get in front of more users than ever before.”
• “Indiegogo empowers campaigners to turn ideas into reality through customer engagement and funding mechanisms. By partnering with Amazon Launchpad, Indiegogo entrepreneurs gain instant access to Amazon’s powerful distribution capabilities and massive audience,” said Slava Rubin, Co-Founder and CEO, Indiegogo. “I’m excited to see how this unique partnership enables startups to accelerate their growth and share their innovative products with the world.”
• “Amazon recognizes the increasing importance of fast and reliable home Wi-Fi as consumers stream more video and music than ever before and connected devices go mainstream,” said Nick Weaver, Co-Founder and CEO, eero. “We couldn’t ask for a better partner and are honored to be one of the emerging companies in the Amazon Launchpad program. We’re excited to showcase our product on the world’s largest discovery platform.”
• “Amazon Launchpad is the perfect home for our smart jewelry. This innovative way to shop lets us tell consumers the story and philosophy behind Cuff, and hopefully makes them fall in love with our product,” said Deepa Sood, Founder and CEO, Cuff. “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of this initiative.”
• “I am an accidental entrepreneur – I never dreamed that FreshPaper, which started as my middle school science project, would one day be in the hands of farmers and families across the globe. But my unlikely story is only possible because of visionary partners like Amazon who believe in our product’s potential to change the way the world eats,” said Kavita Shukla, Inventor and Founder, Fenugreen FreshPaper. “By throwing their considerable weight behind ideas like FreshPaper, Amazon is using its technology and reach to make innovation accessible to all.”
• “The sheer scale that Amazon Launchpad offers a startup like Electric Objects is unparalleled,” said Jake Levine, Founder and CEO, Electric Objects. “Working closely with their team these last few months, I’ve been consistently impressed with the level of service and access that this program makes available. This partnership could be game-changing for our company, and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to participate.”

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(512) 627-6622
@Crowdfunding_PR

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Mr. Hoskins is a seasoned marketing veteran with a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses as well as Fortune 500 corporations launch successful marketing communications campaigns to gain market traction for a wide variety of products and services.

Hoskins is one of the crowdfunding industry’s foremost crowdfunding advocates and has amassed a huge social media following that is dedicated to supporting donation-, rewards- and equity-based crowdfunding campaigns. Due to the overwhelming demand from the general public for crowdfunding information, he empowers entrepreneurs with some of the internet’s most affordable ($20) online crowdfunding training classes, which provide insight to startups around the world on a 24 x 7 basis.

Hoskins adamantly believes that the crowdfunding industry will empower everyone in the United States to rediscover the possibility of living the American dream with a little hard work, a great business idea and the dedication to researching, planning and launching a well-thought-out crowdfunding campaign. He consults on a regular basis with crowdfunding campaign managers as well as crowdfunding sites, portals and platforms to deliver successful crowdfunding marketing campaigns.

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Crowdfundraiser Rolls Out New Regulation A+ Crowdfunding Sites to Support Equity Crowdfunding for Accredited and Non-Accredited Investors

The new rules for Regulation A+ of the JOBS Act allow for capital raising, with some stipulation, of up to $50,000,000 from both accredited and non-accredited investors for private companies

By Robert Hoskins

Seattle, Washington – Crowdfundraiser.com announced the official release of Regulation A+ crowdfunding kickoff pricing for new companies seeking capital. As of June 19, 2015, equity crowdfunding for both accredited and non-accredited investors is now legal.

Crowdfundraiser Readies Equity Crowdfunding Platform to Host Tier 2, Title IV, Reg A+ Mini-IPOs

The deals that will begin registration with the SEC in June and will take a few months to completely cycle through, but the law is now fully in place. The new rules for Regulation A+ of the JOBS Act allow for capital raising, with some stipulation, of up to $50,000,000 from both accredited and non-accredited investors for private companies.

“We are already seeing a great deal of interest from both investors looking to invest and companies seeking capital through the Reg A+ rules,” stated Jake Durrant, Crowdfundraiser’s Managing Director. “We are not expecting this interest to abate as the new tools at the disposal of small business represent one of the greatest opportunities for small business capital formation in a generation.”

Founded in 2014, Crowdfundraiser provides expert guidance for companies seeking to navigate the waters of equity crowdfunding. With a handful of in-house and experienced securities and transactional attorneys, the company has the resources to assist any company seeking access to capital through equity crowdfunding and Regulation A+.

The company includes experienced investment bankers as well as those familiar with microcap stocks, which should provide timely assistance for crowdfunded companies that need future liquidity for investors through the public markets.

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Crowdfundraiser.com Readies Equity Crowdfunding Platform to Host Tier 2, Title IV, Regulation A+, Mini-IPOs

Crowdfundraiser and its partners, including attorneys and accountants, will be prepared to provide Form 1-A filing and audit solutions for businesses looking to perform Tier 2 Regulation A+ crowdfunding

 By Robert Hoskins

Seattle, Washington – Crowdfundraiser.com announced the addition of services geared toward companies looking to file Reg A+ offerings. Starting sometime in June, when the ability to file Regulation A+ becomes completely effective, Crowdfundraiser and its partners, including attorneys and accountants, will be prepared to provide Form 1-A filing and audit solutions for businesses looking to perform Tier 2 Regulation A+ crowdfunding.

Crowdfundraiser Readies Equity Crowdfunding Platform to Host Tier 2, Title IV, Reg A+ Mini-IPOs

Even though the full release of Regulation A+ will not occur until June, the team at Crowdfundraiser is ramping up to prepare several companies who’ve already expressed interest. Each offerer is intent on raising the maximum amount from the offering at $50 million. “We’re already seeing a great deal of interest in Regulation A+ offerings, but we’re being very selective on the types of companies and operators with whom we’re engaging,” says Jake Durrant, Managing Director.

Because the law itself confines the type, size and structure of each deal and company, there is already a narrow definition of the businesses Crowdfundraiser can work with. Furthermore, the Crowdfundraiser team has also opted to ensure the opportunities with which they assist have a high probability of being fully subscribed. “While we have the ability to scale our processes, we would prefer to work with the highest quality deals we can,” says Durrant. “Doing so increases the probability of success and creates the best situation for both investors and entrepreneurs alike.”

Crowdfundraiser is intent on only providing services for companies looking to do Tier 2 offerings with Regulation A+. “We feel Tier 1 Reg A offerings are not only too small, but are almost a non-starter due to the fact that Tier 1 offers don’t preempt the state Blue Sky Laws,” Durrant says. “This may pigeonhole us somewhat, but it helps define where we’ll play and where we won’t.”

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To Celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of the 2012 JOBS Act, Front Page PR Offers Low-Cost License Fee to Start Crowdfunding Training Classes throughout the United States

License Agreement offers Chambers of Commerce, SBA Offices, Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), SCORE & Startup Incubators and Business Accelerators the Opportunity to Offer Front Page PR’s Content to Launch Their Own Crowdfunding Training Programs

 By Robert Hoskins

AUSTIN, TX – Front Page PR announced a new low-cost licensed crowdfunding training class that will provide non-profits, economic development, Meetup groups and government agencies such as the Small Business Administration (SBA) with the basic training materials needed to begin educating entrepreneurs, veterans, startups, small businesses, high schools, junior colleges, universities and employment agencies on how to use crowdfunding to eradicate unemployment by facilitating new businesses and creating new jobs throughout the United States.

Front Page PR is the #1 Crowdfunding PR firm in America

For only $300 per year, licensees will receive the training materials needed to launch a crowdfunding advocacy training program in their community. The low price point should allow crowdfunding educators and experienced public speakers to break even on the very first class by charging attendees $25 or more to attend the seminar. Click here to buy a one-year license.

“Most Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) charge an average of $49 per class to attend classes on how to write a business plan, how to get a bank loan, how to seek venture capital, or how to seek alternative financing to start up a small business,” said Robert Hoskins, Front Page PR’s Director of Crowdfunding Campaigns. “At this price tag, our Crowdfunding Training Program will only take six paying customers to fund a full year’s subscription. After the initial cost, training 20 people per month at $49 would generate approximately $11,460 per year in revenue.”

Front Page PR will provide free Crowdfunding Training Class Workshops for instructors who want to provide the Crowdfunding Training Class, but have no knowledge of the crowdfunding industry or experience in teaching their communities how to launch successful crowdfunding campaigns. In addition, the workshops will include free press release templates and teach instructors how to utilize cost-effective PR/media relations programs to raise awareness for the classes within the local community.

Front Page PR’s Crowdfunding Seminar materials include:

• How to Plan a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign
• How to Conduct a Crowdfunding Competitive Analysis
• How to Shoot a Crowdfunding Pitch Video
• How to Write a Persuasive Crowdfunding Profile
• How to Offer Effective Perks & Rewards
• How to Set Up a Realistic Fundraising Goal

Even Fortune 500 corporations can get involved. Many large companies such as IBM have launched intranet crowdfunding programs to incentivize their employees. Crowdfunding campaigns can be used as an excellent research and development tool. Internal crowdfunding campaigns can be used to fast track great business ideas upward to management based on employee support, which completely bypasses the typical roadblocks that thwart innovation.

Front Page PR’s crowdfunding training class rollout will target Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, D/FW, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Memphis, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Washington, DC and Wichita. Additional markets will be added based on market demand.

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