“Crowdfunding is co-creation”

Looking for a good primer on equity crowdfunding? Blak Box team members Adam Goyer and Mara Schmid have a new post on Medium called Crowdfunding 2.0: Why It Just Might Change the World. One of our favorite quotes: At its heart, crowdfunding is co-creation. Someone with a great idea presents it to the crowd and asks…

A Question of Values: the Brave New World of Investing

According to the old rules of investing, only rich people could invest in the richest deals. The chance to be an early backer (and reap the biggest profits) of a promising young startup like Uber or Airbnb was limited to accredited investors only—people deemed wealthy enough by the SEC/United States government to be able to…

Navigating the Labyrinth: Reg CF

Having navigated safely through Regulation D and Regulation A+, we approach the next ring of the labyrinth of rules and regulations. This one is is known by many names: Regulation CF, Regulation Crowdfunding, or Title III. We’ve already covered how Reg D allows companies to raise literally unlimited money from primarily accredited investors, and Reg…

Navigating the Labyrinth: Regulation A+

Before we wander too far into the next part of the regulation labyrinth, let’s clarify one thing. Regulation A vs. Regulation A+. What’s the difference? Is there one? Regulation A is a set of SEC rules created in 1936. They were updated to Regulation A+, which took effect June 19, 2015. However, the term “Reg A”…

Sharkstopper Launches Crowdbased Investment Campaign For World’s Most Effective Shark Repellent

Blak Box client SharkStopper has just announced they are seeking investment to take their multi-patented technology from prototype to the production line. After years of successful testing, SharkStopper is going to the crowd as part of a strategy to accelerate time to market. SharkStopper is one of the first companies to take advantage of the new…

Navigating the Labyrinth, Side Quest: What is an accredited investor?

We’re partway through the labyrinth of red tape and regulations when we hit a dead end. Confused, we check our wrist coms for coordinates, but we’re out of range of Mission Control. A dusty little creature that looks like a snail made out of rock slithers out from under the hedge. “You forgot about accredited…

The Game Has Changed

Great news! As of May 16, 2016, a change to investment law—Title III or Reg CF, for “Regulation Crowdfunding”—means that the process of investing in new companies has become dramatically more democratic. This transition will likely change the landscape of startups in the United States permanently and for the better. What’s different? Before today, early-stage…

Elio Motors Goes Public Under New Reg A+

Vehicle manufacturing startup Elio Motors recently became the first crowdfunded “mini initial public offering” via the SEC’s new Regulation A+ rules, put in place under the 2012 Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. Regulation A+ is the update to Regulation A, an old rule that allowed private companies to raise funds from accredited investors for…