Intro To Angel Investing | Lecture #5 | Finding New Opportunities - Taught by Garry Johnson III
Dear Students,
In this lecture, we will focus on how to discover new investment opportunities. We will answer the following question: Where can I find investment opportunities?
Every day, small businesses and technology startups in private markets are raising money. On any given day, there are hundreds, if not thousands of businesses actively fundraising.
To allow everyday people to invest in these businesses, there are investment crowdfunding platforms that leverage Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF). This enables individuals who are not wealthy to invest in privately held businesses.
We will discuss the three main platforms: WeFunder, Republic, and StartEngine. This is not an endorsement of any particular platform, but these are the ones I use most often and find to be the most credible, given that they are among the top players in the industry.
Watch Me Teach Lecture #5
I must disclose that I am an equity owner in both WeFunder and StartEngine, and when Republic launches their next public fundraising campaign, I plan to invest in their platform as well. On each of these platforms, you can create a free account to find investment opportunities.
WeFunder is an inclusive platform with a wide variety of traditional small businesses and high-growth technology startups. On WeFunder, you can find deals ranging from debt rounds to equity rounds, or a combination of both through convertible debt. The platform is accessible to small business owners and startups, as anyone can launch a campaign within 30 minutes to an hour and start fundraising from their community.
On WeFunder's website, you can explore different startups in various industries, from brick-and-mortar stores to fintech startups innovating in the banking industry.
To search for new investment opportunities on WeFunder, first, visit their website at www.wefunder.com. On the homepage, you'll find a selection of featured campaigns. To explore a broader range of opportunities, click on the "Explore" tab at the top of the page. Here, you can filter startups by various criteria, such as industry, location, and fundraising status. Additionally, you can sort startups by popularity, valuation, or closing date.
By clicking on a specific startup, you will be taken to their campaign page, where you can find comprehensive information about the company, its team, financials, and the terms of the investment. To stay updated on new opportunities, consider signing up for WeFunder's newsletter, which highlights new and noteworthy campaigns.
Republic features similar types of companies but has a better user experience. The platform has a stronger community aspect, with public profile pages where you can follow other individuals, founders, and investors. On Republic, you will primarily find equity rounds involving consumer packaged goods brands with high-growth components. Republic is also unique for offering an auto-investing feature.
To find new investment opportunities on Republic, go to their website at www.republic.co. On the homepage, you will see a selection of featured campaigns. For a more extensive list, click on the "Explore" tab at the top of the page. Here, you can filter startups by industry, funding stage, and location, or sort them by popularity, newest, or closing soon.
By clicking on a specific startup, you will be directed to their campaign page, where you can find detailed information about the company, its team, financials, and the terms of the investment. Republic also offers a "Discuss" section on each campaign page, where you can ask questions and engage with the company and other investors. To stay informed about new opportunities, sign up for Republic's newsletter, which features updates on new campaigns and investment insights.
StartEngine is an equity-based platform focusing on buying shares in companies with set valuations. They do not cater to traditional small businesses or service-based businesses. Instead, they focus on highly scalable companies. StartEngine is currently the only platform among the three making progress with its secondary trading market, allowing investors to trade their shares after holding them for 12 months.
To search for new investment opportunities on StartEngine, visit their website at www.startengine.com. On the homepage, you will find a selection of featured campaigns. To explore more startups, click on the "Explore" tab at the top of the page. Here, you can filter startups by industry, funding type, and location. Additionally, you can sort startups by the amount raised, closing date, or alphabetically.
By clicking on a specific startup, you will be taken to their campaign page, where you can find in-depth information about the company, its team, financials, and the terms of the investment. StartEngine also features a "Discussion" section on each campaign page, where you can ask questions and interact with the company and other investors. To stay updated on new investment opportunities, consider signing up for StartEngine's newsletter, which highlights new campaigns and provides investment insights.
In conclusion, finding new investment opportunities on WeFunder, Republic, and StartEngine is a straightforward process. By utilizing the "Explore" feature on each platform, you can filter and sort startups based on your preferences and interests. Don't forget to sign up for their newsletters to stay informed about the latest campaigns and investment insights. By keeping an eye on these platforms and regularly exploring new startups, you can identify promising investment opportunities that align with your goals and interests. In the next sections, we will dive deeper into a high-level overview of what you can find on each page and how to discover startups. Afterward, we’ll move on to analyzing various deals.