Concept Funding Archives

Crowdfunding is not a new concept, but in 2015, the SEC finalized the rules and regulations to allow companies to offer and sell its securities through the use of crowdfunding. Now, everyday citizens and non-accredited investors can invest in early-stage companies.

Definitioner

HTTPS

Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure

SEC

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission charged with regulating all sales of corporate securities.⁷

Funding

This term is used synonymously with the words “financing” and “capital.” It refers to the amount of money that is needed for a business endeavor. For example, a new business owner may seek a certain amount of funding for their startup company. This “raised” capital can be used to launch their endeavor as well as to sustain their company until monetary profit can be generated.⁴

Startup

A startup is a new business venture / enterprise in its initial or early stages of development. These stages include the concept, seed, early, growth and mezzanine stages.⁶

Securities

Includes all types of equity and debt instruments and rights in and to them.³

Crowdfunding

“Crowdfunding” is the process of raising financial support for a venture via smaller amounts from many investors (“the crowd”), rather than the alternative pattern of larger amounts from a smaller number of supporters. Charities and philanthropies have traditionally employed both fundraising strategies (soliciting both the general populace, or crowd, as well as fewer wealthier donors), while businesses have usually taken the route involving fewer and larger supporters. Today’s internet has vastly increased the ability of fundraisers to communicate information, solicit and receive financial support from anyone on-line. Crowdfunding without the expectation of financial return, or with the promise of a specific good or service, are termed “donation-based” or “reward-based” crowdfunding, are in the nature of charitable solicitation or business marketing, and have never been illegal in the U.S. In contrast, soliciting funds in return for a ownership interest or expectation of repayment, are termed “equity-based” or “debt-based” crowdfunding (together grouped as “securities-based” crowdfunding), and have been until now governed (and effectively prevented) by federal and state securities law. One of the most significant parts (Title III) of the federal “Jumpstart Our Business Startups”, or JOBS Act of 2012 specifically enabled and legalized “security-based crowdfunding”, subject to a variety of regulations and restrictions.¹

Related Articles

Crowdfunding – The Most Usual Source of Startup Funding [Infographic]

5 Lessons on Startup Capital: Marathon Investments vs. Sprint Funding

Moving Series A Startup Funding from “Anguish” to “Accelerate”

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