Do you need funding for your small business? Have you been turned down by other sources of financing? If so, it could be that you are ineligible for those sources or that your application was rejected.
One option to consider might be crowd equity funding. This can help potential investors get involved and make a return on their investment, but it is not the same as traditional angel investing or venture capital investments.
Crowd Equity Funding can help entrepreneurs raise money from the general public, who invest in return for partial ownership in a company and a portion of future profits. The interest rates charged can range from 8% to 18%.
On September 28, 2018, the parliament passed and signed amendments extending (small) proprietary enterprises’ access to equity crowdfunding.
What Is Equity Crowdfunding
Crowd Equity Crowdfunding is a new way to raise money from the general public by investing in companies online. While other types of traditional financing sources are limited, equity crowdfunding platforms offer an opportunity for individual investors to invest in private, emerging and early-stage companies.
The process is simple. Business owners create a profile, explain their business and goals and upload documents such as financial statements and business plans. Potential investors then decide if they want to invest and send their payments online through credit cards, bank transfers or PayPal. Investors get an ownership stake in their company based on how much they contribute.
The number of investors, who are able to participate in crowd equity funding, is limited by the funding stage a business is in. The types of businesses and industry sectors that can benefit from this type of financing are many.
Crowd equity funding can help entrepreneurs get a small investment for the early stages of their business; this helps them pay for product development and marketing expenses. Entrepreneurs also get the opportunity to spend time with investors, which helps with their credibility as they complete the next steps of their business plan.
You can start your own Crowd Equity Crowdfunding company through Fundable. In May 2019, the Polish Financial Supervision Authority specified the activity of equity crowdfunding platforms on the Polish market.
The Three Types of Crowd Equity Funding
The process for crowd equity funding is different from what you may be used to with traditional financing sources. Potential investors must go through a due diligence process that gives them the opportunity to review your business plan, financial status and other aspects of your business before making an investment decision.
Reward funding: Investors can become a part of your business, but they do not get a share of your income.
Equity funding: Business owners can offer partial ownership of their companies to investors in order to get the necessary funding to complete their businesses and begin operations.
Debt funding: Business owners can borrow money from investors at higher interest rates than banks, but less than personal credit cards and lines of credit.
How Does Equity Crowdfunding Work for Investors

Investors who are looking to crowd equity fund might be surprised by the fact that they will not be able to get rich off their investment. While this is true, these investors may see a good return on their investment, if they invest in a company that succeeds.
Accredited investors interested in becoming venture capitalists or raising funds for private equity firms can do so by raising capital. There are many ways to raise capital, but the most common method is to seek out accredited investors.
These investors must meet certain criteria set forth by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), but they typically have a high net worth and/or income. Once you have found accredited investors, you can then approach them about investing in your venture.
Reward crowdfunding sites, such as Kickstarter, SmallChange and RocketHub, allow investors to choose from one of three types of agreements:
Reward Funding: Investors receive a special badge or credit in their name and have the option to purchase additional perks such assigned products, music or an opportunity for the founders to meet.
Equity Funding: Donors get a percentage of ownership in the company that they are funding. If a company is able to raise higher amounts from individual investors on platforms such as Crowdcube and Fundable, then equity funding can result in more ownership for each donor.
Debt Funding: Investors use this funding source to pay for products or services directly from the entrepreneurs’ businesses.
Not every type of business can benefit from using crowd equity funding. For example, businesses in industries like travel, media, education and technology are a good fit for equity crowdfunding, while companies in industries such as food and cosmetics may not do so well with this kind of funding.
How Can Crowd Equity Funding Help You

For entrepreneurs who are looking to get their companies off the ground quickly, crowd equity funding might be one of their best options. As the business grows and becomes more successful, it should be able to return the money that was put into it. This is how equity crowdfunding can help investors.
Having the opportunity to share in the success of your business has positive benefits for financial well-being. Joyful entrepreneurship may lead to more fulfilling jobs and a better quality of life.
For entrepreneurs, this can be a chance to change their lives in a way that they have not been able before. In March 2015, Invivo Wines became the first New Zealand company to raise the maximum amount permitted by New Zealand legislation, $2 million.
When making an investment decision with crowd equity funding, investors need to look at the company they are considering, not just its offering on a crowdfunding platform.
Venture capital and angel investors are two different types of equity crowdfunding investment. Both have their pros and cons, so it’s important to understand the difference before deciding which one is right for you.
Venture capital is typically provided by institutional investors, such as banks or venture firms, to startup companies with high growth potential. The downside of this type of funding is that it can be difficult to obtain and may come with strict conditions, such as giving up a portion of ownership in your
This means looking at what kind of business it is, how it plans to make money and how much money it will need in order to get off the ground.
7 Benefits of Equity Crowdfunding

1. Investors are Motivated by Social Responsibility
Investors who choose to contribute money to crowdfunding projects feel positive emotional states when they make their contributions.
They are more likely to have a positive emotional feeling similar to that of investing in charity or philanthropy. They often experience higher levels of satisfaction than those who invest in non-crowd funded companies.
2. Crowdfunding Provides Access for Everyone
Crowdfunding is accessible for entrepreneurs and quality startups alike. It eliminates the need for a large network of investors and a solid relationship with them. It is also a great way to build up that network of investors if you don’t already have one.
3. Equity Crowdfunding Offers Growing Opportunities for Success
Crowdfunding gives you access to a wide range of potential customers, or patrons, who are willing to invest in your business idea or product. It opens the door to venture capital funding at some point in the future, which is known for its high risk and high reward potential for entrepreneurs. You can use this type of crowdfunding as a stepping stone, an opportunity to prove that your idea has potential before taking it to venture capitalists.
4. It Allows Entrepreneurs to Take Risks
While crowdfunding can be risky, it allows entrepreneurs to take risks that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to take without outside support. Crowdfunded projects are more likely to succeed since the community is invested in the idea and its success.
5. Equity Crowdfunding Ensures a Better Connection Between Investor and Entrepreneur
When you use equity-based crowdfunding, you will have the chance to work directly with those who are investing in your idea. This means that you can create a stronger connection with your investors and a stronger relationship between them and your company, which helps with marketing down the road. It also helps you better understand what kind of marketing will engage potential customers who are already invested in your business.
6. The Power of Community is Stronger Than Ever
When you choose to use crowdfunding for your business, you can create a community of investors who are supportive and friendly to your idea. Entrepreneurial communities have the power to succeed because of their strong ties with each other and their willingness to help each other out. They also have the ability to be very vocal in the media and online when they see that a company is doing something wrong.
7. It Is a Safe Way To Get The Funding that You Need
For many entrepreneurs, equity crowdfunding is the perfect way to get the money they need in order to start or expand their business. It’s a safe approach because it allows investors to know exactly how much they are investing as well as protecting them from risk. Many of these crowdfunding platforms are also registered with SEC and Finra, so their investors are protected by reporting rules in place for crowdfunding.
How Do I Get Started Using Crowdfunding
You can get started using equity crowdfunding with these steps:
Step 1: Decide the Equity Crowdfunding website that you would like to use (example: GoToMySeat, WeFunder, Seedrs)
Step 2: Create an account and verify it
Step 3: Fill out your project and add as much information about yourself as possible.
Step 4: Update your campaign. Make sure all your information is current, especially your profile photo. The more candidates for investors for crowdfunding, the better!
Step 5: Start creating articles on how to use social media to spread the word about your business idea. Highlight how you are using the power of community to build a loyal customer base that will want to contribute to you in the future.
Step 6: Get involved in the community, ask questions and be responsive to your investors.
Step 7: Have patience and work hard!
Why Should I Use Crowdfunding
It helps you get your business started quickly. Equity crowdfunding is about making connections and building relationships. You will have a chance to understand who your potential customers are, what they like and what is important to them.
These connections will be valuable to you as you start to try new methods of marketing or do promotions for your business in later stages. The contacts that you build through crowdfunding can help you become a leader in your industry, so it is important that you stay connected with them long term.
It allows you to test your business idea. Most crowdfunded companies need money to get started, so you will have a chance to see if you can use the money that is committed to your project for something else. This means that you may be able to take your business idea elsewhere and raise the capital from there.
It gives investors a chance to participate in investing in young, up-and-coming companies with great ideas as opposed to traditional venture capital firms. Investors will be protecting themselves from risk by being able to track the amount of money they are putting into a company and how it is being used.
What Are The Risks of Equity Crowdfunding
It is a high-risk, high-reward investment.
Crowdfunding can have certain risks. You could have the chance to lose your money or that the project you are working on may not work out. However, these risks are very different from those that you would face if you were to try and raise money from venture capitalists.
The first level of risk is that your investors do not feel as though they are getting their money’s worth. If one or two investors decide to withdraw their money it could seriously affect how much revenue you generate when it comes time for them to start paying back the rest of your investors.
The second level of risk is that you lose the trust of your investors. If word gets out that you are not doing what you said you would do, more and more investors may decide to stop investing in your company. The social capital that you gave to your business might be gone forever.
Another risk with crowdfunding is that you will not be able to find enough people who believe in your idea in order for it to be a success. You may have a great product, but if no one takes interest in investing or even taking part in your company, there is nothing to build upon and make it into a successful business.
How to Choose The Right Equity Crowdfunding Platform

Choosing the right equity crowdfunding platform for your business idea is an important first step in making sure that you will have a successful campaign. Here are a few things that you should look for in the best platform.
Volatility is the key to success. Look for platforms with low volatility rates because this means that your investors are much more likely to stay put and contribute to your company. You will also be rewarded with lower fees from this crowdfunder, which makes it a better deal for everyone involved.
Look for platforms with low volatility rates because this means that your investors are much more likely to stay put and contribute to your company. You will also be rewarded with lower fees from this crowdfunder, which makes it a better deal for everyone involved. Transparency is essential, no matter what. You should be able to tell exactly how much money has been invested in your crowdfunding project.
You should be able to tell exactly how much money has been invested in your crowdfunding project. Investigate the platform’s reputation. You can do this by checking out forums or reading reviews on the web.
If there are any problems with the company, you will want to know about them before you try and get funding through them. Beesfund, created in 2012, was one of the first equity crowdfunding platforms in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe.
Best Equity Crowdfunding Sites For Businesses & Entrepreneurs
With equity crowdfunding, you will have a better chance of starting up your business, but it comes with its own risks. There are several different platforms that cater to businesses and entrepreneurs who want to get money for their ideas by getting investors online. Here are some of the best options for you to choose from:
EquityNet
With EquityNet, a business plan is not required because they focus on companies that have already been developed or existing businesses looking to expand. This platform is unique because they do not require both the management and team members to make full profiles in order for you to raise capital. However, you will need your tax returns and financial statements in order to be approved on this platform.
EquityNet does also provide a way for you to connect with potential investors which is a good thing, considering that investors will have the chance to see how much money you are expecting to raise. Overall, this is one of the best platforms if you are looking at starting a business in terms of equity crowdfunding.
Investopedia
This may sound like an unusual place to start looking for funding, but it is a great place to use if you want someone else to make all of the decisions for you and invest in your company. As mentioned in step seven above, this is what makes this platform so great because it helps establish trust with backers and potential investors alike.
Investopedia does not use investments of any kind for your business, but it does offer guidelines on how to grow your business and how to get the funding you need. While the three packages that they offer may seem small to some, this is actually a pretty good deal when it comes to getting investors involved in your company, even if you are starting a new venture.
EquityMeet/Portfolio
If you are looking for a platform that caters more for a professional package than it does to new businesses or individuals, then this is definitely the right place for you to start. At this platform, you have six different options of amounts to raise when trying to start up your business.
Why Is Equity Crowdfunding Special
When you are looking at investing in a company, you want to make sure that they can prove they are financially stable and that they can follow through on the promise of the product or service they are trying to sell. However, with this kind of investment, you also want someone who is very dedicated to the success of your business.
After all, it is their money and their trust that you are looking for. Equity crowdfunding gives your investors some control over your business because it gives them a stake in what you create and how well it does in the market. The European Parliament and the EU Council raised the threshold for no-prospectus issues to EUR 1 million every 12 months on June 14, 2017.
Who Can Invest in Equity Crowdfunding
Some countries do not allow equity crowdfunding because it is considered to be very risky. However, there are many people who are looking to invest and make a great return on the money they put into their business and this is where equity crowdfunding comes into play. You can invest as little as $10,000 and you will get a stock share in the company you invest in.
When looking at an investment like this, there are some people who would rather buy into an established company where they know they will get cashback in a certain time period, or when certain feats have been reached.
Future of Crowd Equity Funding
The equity crowdfunding industry is set to explode in the next few years. This is because more and more people are looking for an alternative way of investing in a business, especially as the equity market becomes less of a viable option.
There are many things that can set off a financial crisis and even a job loss. That is why making sure you have plenty of cash saved up on hand is always a good idea to protect your buffer in case something unexpected happens at work or at home.
The more debt you carry, the less money will sit in your bank account. While it is understandable that once in a while a credit card payment comes due and needs to be paid on time, you want to avoid exceeding your credit limits so that you don’t risk ruining your credit score or even having the chance of losing your job.
Last Updated on October 9, 2023 by Parina Parmar