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MenuIs equity crowdfunding a good choice?
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I don't think there's a right—meaning, sane—answer here. How much capital do you think you'll need over the next 4-5 years? Series A? Series B? So on? Some, but not all, institutional investors will take a look at a cap table made longer by crowdfunding the way kids look at a pool that's been peed in. They might politely decline to hop it. I don't say that to scare you, but just so that you'll be aware. Totally agree with Owen's point: it might make sense to raise LESS money with a MORE strategic investor. One dollar with Investor B might have more long-term value, in the form of introductions or domain expertise, than the same dollar from Investor A. Regardless, ask yourself this question: what is the absolute minimum we need to raise right now? Now multiply that times 1.5. Then, figure out a Plan A, B, C, and D for getting there. Plan A might be a big influx of cash. Plan B might be a mix of cash and some business development from a new advisor. Plan C might include minimal cash, a new channel partner, and a few big contracts. Plan D might be a pivot or hopping into bed with a manufacturer to cut your costs.
Happy to discuss more if you'd like. Get in touch!
Cheers,
Austin
It's a bit tricky to call without understanding better what you mean by consumer electronics business.
If you smashed it out the park because you built the next 'Pebble Time' watch then I think most people (angels/VC) would be sympathetic to you courting the crowd.
However, if this was a more standard, less aggressively B2C electronics/hardware and your costs have runaway on you, you're likely to have a harder time.
I work for the largest angel network in the UK, so we are seeing a lot of people straddle the fence between crowdfunding/angel/VC and there's no doubt in my mind it's worth developing a strategy.
First warning:
Be careful with the VC's - they are a fantastic way to scale, but if you are having cost control issues and you need the cash then that seems like a pretty shaky leg to stand on to me and that will probably be reflected in the terms you're given. Plus shooting £500k+ into a bucket that still has a few holes in it will put a lot of pressure on you as founders. Especially when you are now having to incorporate a whole new reporting structure.
Second warning:
The crowd is excellent source of cash but it sounds like some additional skills/contacts wouldn't hurt. I have a number of our investors who will steer clear of crowdfunding sites, it might be as much to do with the desire to feel they found the deals themselves. Or they have an expectation (again unless very B2C) that the company should mature beyond crowdfunding or at the very least do a blended angel crowd round and this largely means letting the angels in first.
There is no use in me hammering on about Angel Funding - because that is a non-discript term. Angels are people - if you think there is an individual who can add experience and really help you build your vision then to me it seems well worth hunting them down.
If cash is key and the business faces a gloomy future without it then at this point that's got to be your central goal.
So to circle round to your initial question of sanity, my answer yes - but be aware you face over exposure/deal fatigue (if people see you repeatedly raising) and the crowdfunding platforms often expect you to have part of the money already committed to create momentum.
It sounds like you know what a crowdfunding campaign entails - all fundraising is time consuming but preparing and knowing your strategy in advance will really help you.
Do feel free to reach out if you want help devising one.
It's hard to evaluate a tactic (equity crowdfunding) without knowing if your business strategy is sound. That said, the equity crowdfunding platforms I'm familiar with are far different than the typical Kickstarter-type, rewards-based platform you may have used initially. On Indiegogo or Kickstarter, you truly are marketing yourself and your product(s) to a crowd, and most projects make their money from the small donations of many, many individuals. On a site like Fundable.com, you're generally dealing with a handful of accredited investors who are expected to pony up tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars each.
A successful crowdfunding campaign can be as valuable for the publicity it generates and the tribe you build as for the money you raise. Whereas an equity fundraise may be done entirely behind the scenes, so you don't really get any PR benefit until and unless you meet your goals and announce your new partner(s) or owners.
Once you decide what's most important to you (control, independence, cash flow, distribution channels, SEO issues, publicity, etc.), you'll get a better grip on equity crowdfunding as a fundraising tactic and whether or not it's right for you.
If you'd like to brainstorm or reality-check with an independent outsider who has experience in both kinds of crowdsourcing, do consider me a resource.
Investing through equity crowdfunding can give the investor a greater degree of personal satisfaction than investing in a blue-chip or large-cap company. Equity crowdfunding may offer more avenues for such targeted investments than publicly traded companies. Investing through equity crowdfunding carries risks such as the greater risk of failure, fraud, doubtful returns, vulnerability to hacker attacks, and mediocre investments.
You can read more here: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/102015/invest-through-equity-crowdfunding-risks-and-rewards.asp
Besides if you do have any questions give me a call: https://clarity.fm/joy-brotonath
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