SEC Issues Three-Year Research Study on Title III, Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) Fundraising Campaigns

Leading Crowdfunding Industry Analyst Firm, Crowdfund Capital Advisors, States Now is the Time to Update the Regulation to Further Enable Capital Formation

Washington, DC – Recently the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published a staff report on Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF), also known as Title III Crowdfunding. The Commission, in the adopting rules, stated that the “staff will undertake to study and submit a research report to the Commission no later than three years following the effective date of Regulation Crowdfunding on the impact of the regulation on capital formation and investor protection.” The report finds the size of market, while modest in comparison to the broader financial markets, is evolving and doing so without any material risk to investors. Crowdfund Capital Advisors (CCA) data and analysis were cited in 7 references throughout the report.

“The industry is evolving systematically and responsibly,” says CCA Principal Sherwood Neiss. “With the appropriate adjustments to the regulation we can further enable capital formation without risk to investors. The time is now for the SEC to act.”

Sherwood Neiss, Crowdfunding Capital Advisors, testifies at the SEC The CCA data and references used by the SEC were attributed to analysis by CCA and published in VentureBeat as well as Crowdfund Insider. The data comes from CCA’s CCLEAR Database. CCLEAR is the leading Regulation Crowdfunding database that collects, cleans, aggregates and reports on all companies seeking funds via Regulation Crowdfunding as well as those doing parallel 506(c) offerings. A 506(c) offering is an online accredited investor offering. A parallel offering allows an issuer to run two offerings side-by-side and group the accredited investors in one pool and the Reg CF investors in another. This type of offering is popular for issuers that seek to raise in excess of the $1.07M cap in Regulation Crowdfunding. Issuers that seek to raise funds via Reg CF must file a Form C (a form filed by a company (issuer) with the SEC before starting to raise capital and discloses financial information for its current and prior fiscal years) as well as a Form C-U (a progress report that an issuer files that discloses total capital raised). Data that the SEC does not collect in either of these disclosures includes information like industry, a breakdown on the cost of the offering, daily change in capital commitments, daily changes in investors and information on a company’s valuation. CCLEAR collects all this missing data which allows for more detailed analysis of the market including which industries are most popular with the crowd, which regions of the country have the lowest/highest overall valuations, what industries the crowd is most interested in supporting, etc. An entire section of the report titled “Cost to issuers of undertaking a crowdfunding offering” came directly from research CCA did with issuers successful with Regulation Crowdfunding. A key finding from our research, which was highlighted in the report, was that “the total cost of creating a campaign page, issuer disclosures, film, and video, and hiring a marketing firm, a lawyer, and an accountant amounts to approximately 5.3% of the amount raised.” This average was based on feedback from 81 issuers. “This amount is substantially less than what a typical issuer would incur in a Regulation D offering,” says CCA principal Sherwood Neiss “and is a key reason why more companies should be looking at Reg CF as an attractive pathway to raising funds.” The report provides a detailed look at how Regulation Crowdfunding has performed through December, 2018. (For people interested in data through today’s date, you can find it on CCLEAR’s Daily Dashboard – see below for the latest data).

“Unlike opponents who said regulated crowdfunding would open the floodgates to fraud, we have yet to see fraud materialize,” says Neiss. “This is because there are easier ways to defraud investors than to come up with an idea for a business, incorporate it under federal laws, convince a funding portal to list you, spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars trying to bring your friends, family and followers to the campaign page, and then hitting 100% of your funding target or the commitments get returned. Add on top of this the hundreds of discerning eyes picking apart a campaign in the comments section. These types of ‘built-in investor protections don’t exist in other parts of the private capital markets.” Multiple recommendations were included in the report on how to improve Regulation Crowdfunding. The SEC cited a US treasury Report entitled “A Financial System That Creates Economic Opportunities.” The Report recommends: Allowing single-purpose crowdfunding vehicles advised by a registered investment adviser; Waiving certain crowdfunding offering limits for accredited investors; Amending certain crowdfunding investment limits by other investors; Modifying the Exchange Act’s Section 12(g) exemption; And increasing the limit on how much can be raised through crowdfunding from $1M to $5M. CCA’s principals were interviewed and cited in the Treasury report. The Fed’s recommendations were a summary of CCA’s more detailed recommendations as requested. “The industry is evolving systematically and responsibly,” ended Neiss. “With the appropriate adjustments to the regulation we can further enable capital formation without risk to investors. The time is now for the SEC to act.” # # #

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 PR” 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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Top 10 Equity Crowdfunding New Investment Opportunities for Investors and VCs in 2018

Top 10 Investing Opportunities for Investors and Venture Capitalists in 2018

By Robert Hoskins

Top 10 Equity Crowdfunding Investment Opportunities for Investors and VCs in 2018

What technologies will represent the best equity investment opportunities for investors and venture capitalists in 2018?

1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Go Mainstream
2. Seeing Is Believing: VR and AR Become Critical Business Tools
   
3. Obey the Sound of My Voice: Voice-Driven Apps Filter Out the Noise
   
4. Apples and Oranges: Ag-Tech Disrupts the World’s Oldest Industry
   
5. Industrial and Agricultural Drones Set to Take Off
   
6. Is That a Doctor in Your Pocket? Digital Revolutionizes Healthcare
   
7. Here, There, Everywhere: Blockchain Applications Finally Take Hold
   
8. Boldly Going Where No Company Has Gone Before: Space-Tech
9. Cyber Security for Critical Infrastructure Becomes Vital
   
10. Autonomous Driving Picks Up Speed

1. Artificial Intel/Machine Learning Go Mainstream

Driven by exponentially faster computing power and cloud computing, “teaching machines” is becoming easier and more scalable, enabling AI to go mainstream across a wide range of industries: including consumer marketing and retail, entertainment, digital health, and newer areas like autonomous driving and advanced robotics.

More and more startups are building applications which will solve real world problems by applying AI in areas that can truly have an impact on the quality of our lives.

2. Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Business Tools

Did you know that in operating rooms across the US, brain surgeons are already using Virtual Reality (VR) to rehearse and simulate surgery in order to be more effective?  VR and Augmented Reality (AR) is not just about show business, entertainment, and 3D gaming, but also about saving lives, industrial solutions, and infrastructure.

VR and AR are about to go mainstream and will be used across a wide range of sectors from sports analytics to building airplane wings. These are definitely interesting technologies to keep an eye on!

3. Voice-Driven Apps Filter Out Background Noise

Have you ever tried using Siri in a car going over 50 Mph?  Or talking to Alexa with the kids making noise in the background? Good Luck! As we all know it does not work.

However, the era of voice driven computing is coming. In the last 10 years, the world has moved from primarily using keyboards to swiping and using touch-screens. In the next five years users will move to talking to our devices as the primary mode of man to machine communication.

Core voice recognition software has become almost perfect at understanding the human voice and getting our words correct. The missing ingredient is its ability to enable our machines to get a clear signal and cancel background noise so that Siri really can HEAR what we are saying.

4. Ag-Tech Disrupts the World’s Oldest Industry – Farming

The world’s oldest industry of growing crops has not been known for its technological flexibility. However, these days Agriculture-related technologies are blooming for different reasons.

Traditionally farming is a family owned business and we now see how second generation of farmers are much more techie and open to adopt advanced farming technologies. In addition, the last two years have seen mass consolidation between leading players in AgTech creating deep pockets and a big appetite for acquisitions.

5. Industrial and Agricultural Drones Take Off

Over the past couple of years, more and more buzz is hitting the airwaves about Amazon and others using drones to deliver packages to your doorstep or bring you fast food on demand.

While this sounds pretty cool, more interesting and profitable uses of drone technologies probably lie within industrial and agricultural markets.

Drones are already playing critical roles in facility security, mining, oil and gas exploration, crop protection and surveying landmass. Building industrial scale drones with light-weight, long-lasting batteries, which are robust and reliable seems to be a temporary roadblock, but companies that can advance these technologies are worth watching closely.

6. Digital Healthcare Puts a Doctor in Your Pocket

As much as we try not to overuse this term, artificial intelligence is actually a powerful factor in the rapidly growing digital health sector. Enable regular people as well as healthcare personnel crunch historic data sets from electronic medical records from way back when — to the latest data that is now being collected from wearables in order to increase our quality of life and perhaps even prevent deaths.

The same will be true for computer vision and machine learning technologies that enable the bio-tech and life sciences industries to begin extracting new insights and diagnostics from images.

7. Blockchain Applications Finally Take Hold

Timing is everything! In the buzzword competition of 2017, blockchain was the hands-down winner.   Since then, there have been missteps and pivots for this important financial technology. Many Venture Capitalists (VCs) have been disappointed with their investments in this sector; however, now is the time to begin taking a fresh look as this technology matures and evolves beyond Bitcoin across multiple applications such as: sharing economy, data security, logistics, and of course, banking and finance.

8. SpaceTech Goes Where No One has Gone Before

The Space Tech sector is usually dominated by governments and states , but is rapidly opening up to private ventures and prestigious VC funds are seeking to begin building space portfolios that will enable these ventures to take off.

In terms of funding needs, what used to be super-expensive is becoming much more affordable, with standardization of hardware protocols as well as general cost reductions of consumer electronics. Satellites can now be built and launched for less than half a million dollars, creating exciting opportunities to commercialize the technology.

9. Cyber Security for Infrastructure Becomes Critical

Are you worried about your car getting hacked? How about cyber criminals sneaking in through your air conditioner or refrigerator?  Cybersecurity is not new; and in fact, the investing landscape is quite crowded, and the playing field is highly competitive.

The key shift in Cyber Security for investing in the next few years will be a move from protecting IT infrastructure to protecting all infrastructure. Companies are now designing full-proof solutions to protect everything such as automobiles, electric grids and everything in between.

10. Autonomous Driving Picks Up Speed

Everyone knows that autonomous driving is coming. The question is when?  Thanks to the development of core technology and expertise of leading Autonomous Driving companies such as Waze and Mobileye, the world is sure to become a global hub of automotive innovation.

(Source: Jon Medved, OurCrowd’s CEO)

# # #

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.

Bluesmart Luggage Portfolio Raises More Than $1 Million via Ongoing Indiegogo Crowdfunding Campaign

 The world’s first smart luggage system helps travelers avoid baggage fees for overweight luggage, breeze through airport security and keeps bags protected

By Robert Hoskins, Crowdfunding PR

New York City, New York – Bluesmart has successfully launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to fund the 2nd generation of one of the world’s first smart suitcases. The new Bluesmart travel product line includes: a carry-on luggage, a checked bag, a laptop bag, and a passport pouch. Powered by its second-generation technology, all products connect to Bluesmart’s new app, to work as a system assisting travelers along their journey. The line brings upgraded materials, expanded capacity, colors and a new sleek, iconic look.

The world’s first smart luggage system helps travelers avoid baggage fees for overweight luggage, breeze through airport security and keeps bags protected against theft and can locate them if stolen

“The travel experience is in desperate need of an upgrade. We started a revolution three years ago with the creation of the world’s first smart suitcase, now being used in more than 100 countries,” said Tomi Pierucci, co-founder and CEO of Bluesmart. “Our ultimate goal is to make the traveler’s journey as enjoyable as the destination. Series 2 is a further step in that direction, incorporating the feedback and ideas from thousands of users and harnessing the latest technologies.”

With the Series 2 Luggage System travelers will know the location of all their belongings at all times and never again have to deal with lost luggage, forgotten passports and bags left behind. It helps travelers avoid baggage fees for overweight luggage, breeze through airport security and keeps bags protected against theft. Additionally, Series 2 travelers can keep all devices, including laptops, powered up along the way. A detailed listing of all Series 2 products’ features and specifications can be found on the Bluesmart website: http://bluesmart.com/indiegogo.

Bluesmart’s second-generation technology upgrades the location tracking system making it compatible with every country’s cellular networks and improving accuracy to unprecedented levels. The new battery system allows for faster charging and longer duration of charge. The new weight sensors system increases accuracy and usability. The Series 2 line is compliant with all major aviation and transportation regulators (FAA, DOT & TSA).

Bluesmart’s Second-generation Technology Options:

• Bluesmart Luggage Cabin – The Series 2 Cabin has been thoughtfully redesigned increasing packing capacity by 25%, improving the fabrics and materials and refining its silhouette. The product features GPS+3G location tracking, remote auto-locking and supercharging capabilities.
• Bluesmart Luggage Check – The Series 2 Check is a 29 inches robust suitcase that expands the Cabin’s technology and design for longer trips. In addition to the GPS+3G location tracking and remote auto-locking, it features a new smart weight sensing system that alerts for potential overweight baggage fees via the app.
• Bluesmart Luggage Laptop Bag – The Series 2 Laptop Bag is an elegant business briefcase that attaches seamlessly to the Series 2 suitcases. This bag features Bluetooth location tracking, distance alerts and a removable supercharger that powers up smartphones and laptops.
• Bluesmart Luggage Passport Pouch – The Series 2 Passport Pouch helps travelers never again leave their passports and travel documents behind. It protects travelers’ essentials with Bluetooth tracking capabilities, RFID blocker and water-resistant materials.
• Bluesmart Luggage Mobile App – The new app provides a more intuitive travel experience, identifying and anticipating travelers needs through all stages of the journey – from flight schedules, gates, destination, currency exchange, weather and more. With the app travelers are able to manage all Bluesmart products in one central hub.

Bluesmart Series 2 is available for pre-order through Indiegogo. The pre-order campaign will last 30 days and the products will ship approximately 90 days after the pre-order campaign ends.

Pierucci continued, “We came back to Indiegogo for this launch because we care deeply for our original community, who supported us on our first product launch. We want to thank them by giving them first access to the limited units of Series 2 that are available at big discounts and will ship in just weeks.”

“We are very proud to have enabled Bluesmart to emerge thanks to our platform,” said Slava Rubin, Founder of Indiegogo. “It’s amazing to see it return to Indiegogo for their second generation product. Bluesmart was one of the most successful campaigns on Indiegogo and it delivered a great, quality product on time. We’re confident that Bluesmart will continue its amazing success with their Series 2.”

Bluesmart is an award-winning travel goods company known for pioneering the smart luggage category. Founded by a group of entrepreneurial friends in New York, it launched the world’s first smart connected luggage, with a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $2 million in 2014. The BBC called the product “the iPhone of Luggage” and the FT “the biggest thing since wheels.”

Since then the company went on to scale production and ship to over 110 countries, entering 200 stores in prestigious retailers such as MoMA Stores and Neiman Marcus. The company has raised $18M in venture capital from prestigious investors in Silicon Valley and Asia. The products have received several awards including the “RedDot Design Award” and have been endorsed by celebrities such as Usain Bolt and Tony Hawk.

# # #

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 PR” to see why Mr. Hoskins runs one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding PR, social media and marketing agencies that has amassed a huge social media following and is dedicated to supporting a wide variety of donation, rewards and equity crowdfunding campaigns.

 

GoSun Exhibits Fuel-Free Solar Stove at Consumer Electronics (CE) 2017 to Support Equity Crowdfunding Campaign

GoSun is introducing the world’s first fuel-free solar powered grill, utilizing energy from the sun to bake, boil, fry or steam a meal for six in less than one hour, at the Metropolitan Pavilion during CE Week 2017, July 12 and 13 in New York City

By Robert Hoskins, Crowdfunding PR

New York City, New York – In order to expand its clean-tech business, the GoSun outdoor solar grill is undertaking an equity crowdfunding raise with the assistance of SeedInvest that for as little as $500, anyone can own a piece of GoSun and its solar powered future. GoSun will be tapping is growing crowd of customers to support its crowdfunding campaign with more 11,000+ stoves sold in +60 countries, and major distribution agreements signed with major retailers such as ACE Hardware, Brookstone, Cabela’s, REI, Home Depot and in third world countries where there is no electricity, propane or natural gas to cook with.

GoSun is introducing the world’s first fuel-free solar powered grill, utilizing free, green solar energy from the sun to bake, boil, fry or steam a meal for a family of people six in less than one hour

GoSun’s line of innovative solar cookstoves can bake, boil, or fry almost anything, just by using the power of the Sun’s solar energy. It’s clean and safe: there are no fossil fuels or wood, no smoke or emissions, no hot coals, no open flames, no explosive gas, and no grease or soot, which are major detriments in many undeveloped countries.

“According to the UN, over 3 billion people, are still cooking on fuels, such as Kerosene or wood, that are harmful to their health, contributing to deforested landscapes and a cycle of poverty,” explained Patrick Sherwin, GoSun Founder and CEO. “GoSun is committed to making game-changing clean cooking devices to power the good life in both developed and developing markets. The newly released GoSun Grill is designed to provide a convenient and accessible way to cook with free, clean, green solar energy while promoting sustainability and healthy cooking.”

How GoSun Solar Stove Works
The GoSun solar stoves incorporate a proprietary vacuum tube technology that allows for fast cooking, portability, simple operation, and safe and clean cooking, without propane or charcoal. Sunlight is focused by parabolic reflectors onto the vacuum tube that converts up to 80% of solar radiation into heat that builds up to temperatures of 550°F or 288°C. Despite the high cooking temperatures, the exterior of the grill remains cool. In addition, the vacuum tube also doubles as an insulator, keeping the food hot even with clouds, or in the freezing cold conditions.

How Much Does the GoSun Solar Stove Cost?
GoSun’s cookers are available online at REI, Home Depot, Brookstone or via GoSun’s website, at prices ranging from $279 to $799.

Solar Electric Hybrid Grill
“While we are excited about everything the grill can do, we realized it was lacking one capability – cooking at night,” stated Sherwin. “So we are also developing a solar electric hybrid grill that stores the sun’s energy enabling cooking at night.”

The storage solution includes a Photovoltaic (PV) panel to capture the energy during the day and an option electrical heating element to enable cooking at night. By placing the electrical heating element on the grill and leveraging the vacuum tube’s insulation capability, the hybrid grill cooks using only a fraction of the energy of an electric stove. The hybrid version of the grill will be available in 2018.

GoSun is an innovative manufacturer of solar cookers that can heat up to 550°F and cook a meal in as little as 20 minutes with no fuel other than the sun’s  free, green solar energy. What started as a simple inspiration has grown into the leading name in fuel-free cooking, delivering thousands of stoves in more than 60 countries. Visit www.GoSunStove.com for more information.

# # #

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 runs one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding PR, social media and marketing agencies that has amassed a huge social media following and is dedicated to supporting a wide variety of donation, rewards and equity crowdfunding campaigns.

Mindblower.com Disrupts the Crowdfunding World with Zero-Risk Crowdfunding Platform

Now anyone can crowdfund their business ideas and make money with no risk while crowdfunding backers get the perk they paid for — or their money back

By Robert Hoskins, Crowdfunding PR

London, UK – Since the dawn of crowdfunding there has been a struggle for inventors and dreamers to come up with the right crowdfunding success formula to hit their funding goal and turn their vision into a delivered product. Risking their money on developing a prototype, shooting the project video, marketing and public relations and all of the other expenses and effort necessary to launch a crowdfunding campaign — if they even get that far – comes with no assurances of success.

MindBlower.com Disrupts the Crowdfunding World with New Zero-Risk Crowdfunding Platform

Crowdfunding backers have their own risks to worry about. Projects like the Coolest Cooler, the Laser Razor, the Zano drone, Dragonfly Futurefon and so many other campaigns that promised incredible things failed to deliver on time — if at all — leaving backers high and dry. Years on, thousands of people have yet to receive the product they paid for or their money back.

There’s no question that crowdfunding has been a risky business for all concerned… until now.

That’s because MindBlower.com takes all of the risk out of crowdfunding for the backer and the would-be business person by assuming all of the responsibility in handling all of the details of production and fulfillment.

Ideas submitted to MindBlower by inventors undergo a double screening process and the best ideas are selected based on feasibility to produce, market viability and other key factors.

Ideas accepted by MindBlower are turned into crowdfunding campaigns on the MindBlower platform. Once the product reaches its crowdfunding goal, the MindBlower team is in charge of production and fulfillment, the single biggest point of failure for crowdfunding campaigns after they reach their goal.

The inventor receives a royalty on every product sold and the backer enjoys the peace of mind of a money back guarantee if they don’t receive the perk they purchased.

At the end of the day, inventors and backers have ZERO financial risk and inventors don’t have to exhaust their own resources in developing their ideas.

As they are fond of saying “It’s how crowdfunding was meant to be: A seamless, transparent and extremely efficient process that enables dreamers to bring great ideas to life with the help of the community.”

Two campaigns are underway and are wildly successful in exceeding their crowdfunding goals with new campaigns lined up to launch within the next 30-45 days.

# # #

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 runs one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding PR, social media and marketing agencies that has amassed a huge social media following and is dedicated to supporting a wide variety of donation, rewards and equity crowdfunding campaigns.

Macy’s 12th Annual “Shop For A Cause” Program, a Nationwide Charity Shopping Event that Benefits Local and National Organizations, Kicks Off the Summer with a New Charity Challenge

New partnership with CrowdRise allows organizations to raise funds by rallying their networks, with multiple prizes given away to top-performing groups

By Robert Hoskins, Crowdfunding PR

New York City, New York – Macy’s 12^th annual Shop For A Cause program, a nationwide charity shopping event that benefits local and national organizations, kicks off this summer with a new Charity Challenge hosted by CrowdRise, which recently merged with GoFundMe, the #1 crowdfunding platform in the world, offers people and organizations the best fundraising tools in the crowdfunding industry to raise money and donations for any cause they care passionately about.

To participate in this fundraising challenge, charities can sign up now through July 18 and will have the opportunity to win up to $300,000 in cash prizes, along with funds raised through the Challenge itself.

 

 

 

How It Works:

• 501(c)3 charities and accredited schools in the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico can complete their application to participate through Tuesday, July 18.
• Beginning Tuesday, July 11, participating charities can use their individual fundraising page on CrowdRise to rally and raise money online; prizes will be awarded to the top five charities.*
• As a “thank you” for donating, each donor will receive an exclusive savings pass to shop at Macy’s during the annual Shop For A Cause event, Thursday, Aug. 10 through Sunday, Aug. 13.

As in previous years, Macy’s has designated the March of Dimes, the leading nonprofit organization in support of pregnancy and baby health, as the exclusive national beneficiary for Macy’s Shop For A Cause event. From Aug. 10 through Aug. 13, customers who give $5 to the March of Dimes at any Macy’s store or online at macys.com will receive the Shop For A Cause savings pass.

“Since 2006, we’ve helped raise tens of millions of dollars for accredited schools and nonprofits nationwide through Macy’s Shop For A Cause,” said Lauren Anania, Macy’s Director of Cause Marketing. “By adding this new online challenge through CrowdRise, we aim to make it even easier for charities to get involved and raise funds for their ongoing efforts.”

*Charity Challenge prizes include $100,000 for the charity that raises the most online, $50,000 for second place, $25,000 for third place, $15,000 for fourth place and $10,000 for fifth place. There also will be weekly Bonus Challenges for organizations to win an additional $100,000 in total.

Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s, Inc. (NYSE:M), delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at approximately 670 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, as well as to customers in the U.S. and more than 100 international destinations through its leading online store at macys.com.

Building on a more than 150-year tradition, and with the collective support of customers and employees, Macy’s helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities giving more than $54 million each year to help make a difference in the lives of our customers.

Used by millions of individuals, tens of thousands of charities, hundreds of companies and many of the most famous artists and athletes in the world, CrowdRise enables people to creatively leverage their resources and networks to unlock the power of the crowd to support positive social missions and create massive impact.

Before merging with GoFundMe.com, the CrowdRise’s donation crowdfunding site was founded by actor Edward Norton, film producer Shauna Robertson and Robert and Jeffrey Wolfe, which powered donation-based crowdfunding campaigns that have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for special causes.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than 75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs.

# # #

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 runs one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding PR, social media and marketing agencies that has amassed a huge social media following and is dedicated to supporting a wide variety of donation, rewards and equity crowdfunding campaigns.

X SUIT Zips Past $100,000 on Kickstarter Crowdfunding Campaign as Demand Quickly Grows for the Suit of the Future

XYZ Groups’ Fashion-Tech Stretch Suit is liquid and stain repellent, wrinkle resistant, odor proof, has 12 travel pockets and is made of 100% stretch material

By Robert Hoskins, Crowdfunding PR

Shanghai, China – The X SUIT, made for young professionals, the corporate manager and all men in between who want to look sharp and modern while they dress in comfort, has more than doubled its $50,000 crowdfunding during the first week of it Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.

XYZ Group’s modern and stylish X SUIT is transforming functional fashion technology. It’s the world’s first full stretch suit; liquid & stain repellent, wrinkle resistant and odor proof

According to X SUIT’s designer Max Perez, “X SUITS accommodate a high level of activity and movement for the young modern business professional, and can be worn for days without showing signs of wear or odor.”

The X Shell Fabric is equipped with four-way stretch capabilities and an elasticized lining, allowing the wearer to experience a full range of motion which is unattainable in a traditional suit. The added Tensile Thread allows the seams to move with the garment, adding durability.

Perez says, “The suit’s durability over several days also makes it the ultimate in travel accessories.”

The X SUITS’ X Shield® has both liquid- and stain-repellency and can adapt to any weather situation or unfortunate spill. The technology repels liquids and stains alike, keeping the X SUIT looking sharp and clean. Simply pouring water over any stain will cause it to roll off the fabric.

The X Shield further equips the X SUIT with Wrinkle Defense technology making it the perfect travel suit. The X SUIT can be packed in any suitcase and come out without wrinkles.

X SUITS’ inner lining has been specially paneled with X Membrane® to Neutralize Odors and keep it smelling fresh all day and night. Each fiber in the lining attracts, isolates, and neutralizes odors immediately, and with quick dry capabilities, keeps sweat stains to a minimal.

The X SUIT is offered in 14 custom sizes and will sell at the fraction of the cost of a similar product. Kickstarter backers will receive their suits approximately three months after funding.

X SUIT Features include:

• 12 discrete pockets for specific functionality
• Wrinkle-free and easily packable – perfect for corporate travel
• Phone compartment holds any size phone
• Modern yet classic design
• Four-way stretch fabric with shape retention
• Elasticized, flexible waistband construction
• Odor Neutralizing and Quick Dry Lining
• Liquid and Stain Repellent
• Metal anodized buttons and zippers
• Minimized maintenance and dry-cleaning

Perez says X SUIT is an ideal choice for the young professional who wants to look sharp and modern, and for the corporate manager who is looking for comfort in his work apparel.

“This is the suit for the stylish man on the go, and it’s the only suit he will ever need,” Perez added. “Our stretch fabric and lining makes the suit fit like its tailor-made. We reduce fabric in areas such as the arms and waist to give the suit a true fitted appearance without feeling stiff or binding.”

X SUIT was created by XYZ Group, which is based in Shanghai and run by Canadian brothers Max, Reouven and Nathaniel Perez. The Perez brothers are veteran apparel manufacturers with more than 30 years combined garment manufacturing experience.

Their manufacturing partners have contributed to some of the world’s most prestigious brands, including suits in the Hugo Boss, Calvin Klein and Zara lines and is highly skilled with technology applications and tailoring.

XYZ Group and their manufacturing partners have spent more than two years creating and testing dozens of prototypes to arrive at the X SUIT design. They intend to continue to create smart, stylish and comfortable fashion for people on the go.

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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 runs one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding PR, social media and marketing agencies that has amassed a huge social media following and is dedicated to supporting a wide variety of donation, rewards and equity crowdfunding campaigns.

ArborCrowd Offers Investors Estimated 13%-17% IRR with 4-7 Year Hold Period on $69.7 Million Crowdfunding Real Estate Investment Opportunity

The business plan is to cultivate tremendous value upon sale of this property, while maintaining strong annual returns for new investors that want to invest alongside seasoned, experienced ArborCrowd institutional investors

By Robert Hoskins

Miami, Florida – ArborCrowd, one of the top commercial real estate equity crowdfunding sites, announced today a new real estate investment opportunity – known as the Lago Paradiso. A profitable and stabilized multifamily complex, this property is located in Miami, Fla., one of the most international and desirable marketplaces to live in the United States.

A new commercial real estate investment offering, Lago Paradiso is a value-add, multifamily lakefront apartment complex located in Miami

ArborCrowd investors have the opportunity to own a piece of a $4 million equity stake in Lago Paradiso. The Property has a targeted 13 percent to 17 percent Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and a projected hold period of four to seven years.

The goal of the business plan is to cultivate tremendous value upon sale of the Property, while maintaining strong annual returns for investors. This will be executed through a value-add repositioning, experienced property management and operational efficiency.

“ArborCrowd is the engine that brings successful real estate investments with the industry’s best sponsors and crowd investors,” said Ivan Kaufman, Co-founder and CEO, ArborCrowd. “The long-standing relationships that ArborCrowd has developed with institutional real estate investors has enabled us to attract a network of successful leaders who know how to source, manage and execute some of the best multifamily deals in the country.”

ArborCrowd’s investment model is unlike other crowdfunding platforms – the quality of the real estate is at the core of the business. Other models pool investors’ money into funds that are blindly allocated to different assets. ArborCrowd created a better way to invest by providing investors the transparency and knowledge to choose what deals their money goes into.

“Looking at just the returns of a property are not enough. ArborCrowd will only post what we believe is a strong investment offering. In order to be confident in the deal, we hone in on the depth and breadth of the sponsor’s experience,” said Adam Kaufman, Co-founder and Managing Director, ArborCrowd. “This commitment to only presenting high caliber deals is proving to be successful as all our previous deals funded quickly – with ArborCrowd’s last equity raise oversubscribed in just three business days.”

Lago Paradiso Deal Highlights
The Property was acquired in May 2017 for $69.7 million. Lago Paradiso is a lakefront apartment complex that consists of 27 buildings with 424 one and two bedroom units – currently 97 percent occupied.

Lago Paradiso, a new commercial real estate investment offering, consists of 27 buildings with 424 one and two bedroom units

The business plan is to create value by increasing rents through renovations, and by implementing new property management and operational expertise. Robbins Electra and its affiliates own and operate more than 22,000 units. This extensive management experience, particularly in Florida, means the Sponsor is well equipped to manage rent escalations while leveraging proprietary systems to improve operational costs.

Key benefits for ArborCrowd investors, include:

• Basis: As an off-market transaction, this property was acquired at a favorable purchase price.
• Proven Plan: Prior to the acquisition, 14 units were renovated and re-leased at higher rents. The current plan is to significantly expand this proven approach and accelerate renovations to generate even more cash flow and increase overall property value.
• Cash-on-Cash: The projected cash-on-cash return remains strong during the renovation period, approaching 10 percent in the second year. Once renovations are complete, the new units are expected to enable an even stronger cash-on-cash return throughout the holding period.
• Experienced Management: The deal sponsor is an affiliate of Robbins Electra, one of the fastest growing operators in the country. The key principal of the Property, Joseph Lubeck, is CEO and Co-Manager of Robbins Electra and has executed similar business plans with aggregate deal capitalization in excess of $3 billion since 1991.

Lago Paradiso is located 20 miles southwest of Miami’s Central Business District and South Beach. This helps to strengthen the demand for the Property.

Key stats of the Miami/South Beach area:

• Miami and South Florida is base to more than 1,100 multinational corporations, including American Airlines, Cisco, Exxon, FedEx, Microsoft, Sony, Visa and Wal-Mart.
• The metro area has high demand as occupancy rates are 97 percent with rents increasing in the past 5 years.
• The Property’s rent price point appeals to the middle and working class – one of the most stable tenant bases in multifamily. This base also achieves the highest rate of lease renewals. Overall, Miami ranked in the top 10 nationally for 2016 renewal rates.

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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 runs one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding PR, social media and marketing agencies that has amassed a huge social media following and is dedicated to supporting a wide variety of donation, rewards and equity crowdfunding campaigns.

New Equity Crowdfunding Site, Global Sports, Offers Fans Investment Opportunity to Buy Equity Shares in the Favorite Sports Teams and Clubs

Site provides sports startups, products and charities in the sports sector with a dedicated place to raise money quickly for their campaigns, but also delivers access to one of the largest, most profitable and fastest growing industries

By Robert Hoskins

New York, NY – Global Sports Inc. is a sports crowdfunding platform founded in 2016, that is dedicated specifically to sports-related campaigns. Co-founders Ben and Tom Smith were aware that the sports industry has traditionally been privately owned, making it difficult for fans to invest in the sports they love and presenting hurdles for sports startups looking to raise capital. They decided that it was time for a change.

“We’re setting out to connect sports fans with sports startups, products and athletes seeking to raise capital,” explained Ben Smith. “The crowdfunding industry has matured and evolved over the past few years and we see sports fans, who are analytical in nature, as a natural fit for the practice of crowdfunding.”

New Equity Crowdfunding Site, Global Sports, Offers Accredited and Non-Accredited Fans Investment Opportunities to Buy Equity Shares in Their Favorite Sports Teams and Clubs

The Global Sports platform gives all fans, who are passionate about sports, the power to choose and directly fund campaigns in the sports industry. As a sports fan, you will have the ability to invest in cutting edge sports products, companies, athletes and teams.

The team is excited to announce that they have created a two-sided financial market. Their service not only provides sports startups, products and charities in the sports sector with a dedicated place to raise money quickly for their campaigns, but also delivers access to one of the largest, most profitable and fastest growing industries in the world to both accredited and non-accredited investors and sports fans.

By bringing these two groups together, Global Sports aims to redefine the landscape (and requirements) for crowdfunding in the sports industry. By leveraging technology, their goal is to ensure the most rewarding experience for their users.

In the near future, the Global Sports Inc. team plans to offer equity campaigns which will allow athletes, sports startups, and clubs a sports crowdfunding site to raise money in return for equity ownership.

“At Global Sports, we believe an industry as large as the sports sector deserves a dedicated crowdfunding platform. From football to eSports the opportunities are endless!” said Tom Smith, “If you have any suggestions that would help us improve your experience we would love to hear from you, please contact us.”

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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 runs one of the industry’s foremost crowdfunding PR, social media and marketing agencies that has amassed a huge social media following and is dedicated to supporting a wide variety of donation, rewards and equity crowdfunding campaigns.

 

Front Page PR Rolls Out Turnkey PR/Media Relations Service Portfolio for Franchises, Construction, Home Services (Solar & Energy Efficiency), Industrial, Manufacturing, and High-Tech Companies

For less than $5k per month, this leading public relations, social media and marketing firm will help startups, existing companies and corporations generate more website traffic and increase monthly sales

By Robert Hoskins

Maryville, Tennessee – Seeking a leading edge PR firm? Whether your company needs help generating publicity for a franchise’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not event or would benefit from generating positive PR publicity for a business-to-business (B2B) home service company that installs solar, saves money with home energy audits or offers HVAC tuneup services to help homeowners save money on monthly energy bills, Front Page PR can provide a cost-effective, turnkey growth-hacking marketing program for around $5,000+tax per month.

Front Page PR Rolls Out Turnkey PR/Media Relations Service Portfolio for Franchises, Construction, Home Services (Solar & Energy Efficiency), Industrial, Manufacturing, and High-Tech Companies

Front Page PR’s team of marketing experts can help growing companies write press releases, develop online press rooms, build social media networks, plan a digital advertising program, write search engine optimized blog pages for content marketing, generate precise databases of vertical B2B media contacts, write effective media pitches, build media relationships with the management team, find trade show panels discussion for subject matter experts to speak at and harvest email addresses for carefully-tailored email marketing programs. An excellent price for a full portfolio marketing services that is hard to beat and represents one of the most cost-effective deals in the B2B marketing industry.

“One of the most challenging decisions that most small companies face is hiring their first marketing consulting firm,” said Robert Hoskins, Front Page PR’s Director of PR and Media Relations. “Regardless of whether it’s a small startup seeking to gain market traction, a small business that wants to expand their existing business operations or a large corporation that is seeking merger and acquisition partners, our team of seasoned media relations experts can help any business move mountains with words and sway public persuasion with positive trade publication and business media interviews.”

“The average rate that most PR firms charge clients is $10,000 to $20,000 per month or $60,000 to $240,000 per year. The metric or question that all firms need to measure when evaluating their PR/media relations budget is, ‘Is my PR firm capable of generating at least $1 of media publicity for every $1 I spend on their PR consulting fees?’ ” Hoskins continued. “With that said, if a company can find a PR firm that can generate a 300% return-on-investment (ROI) for a budget of $60,000 per year, that’s equivalent to hiring three professional, seasoned marketing professionals, and/or receiving a minimum of $300,000 in positive, credible media exposure. Not many firms can deliver on this expectation, but our team can.”

Have an interest in learning more? Please give Front Page PR a call at (512) 627-6622 to learn more and to receive a free 30-minute review of your website, your social media credentials and an off-the-cuff review of what first steps might be taken to generate more website traffic, produce more business leads and how to help your sales team close deals on more new business. Front Page PR wants your business and is willing to work hard to earn your business, complete with a great ROI.

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Contact:
Robert Hoskins
Front Page PR
(512) 627-6622