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EquityNet Featured in Upstart Business Journal
Below is an article by Upstart Business Journal entitled "Crowdfunding takes the rug out from under VCs, angels".

Crowdfunding takes the rug out from under VCs, angels
By: Kent Bernhard Jr., Upstart Business Journal Money & Finance Editor
May 2, 2013

Some have said equity crowdfunding could put pressure on the venture capital industry. But data compiled by crowdfunder EquityNet suggests it will open whole different categories of upstarts for funding instead.

"Crowdfunding is serving the area of capitalism that was previously underserved," Judd Hollas, chief executive of the platform launched in 2005 told me. EquityNet, based in Arkansas, connects companies with accredited investors but will expand to offer equity crowdfunding open to all once the SEC issues rules allowing the practice.

Companies have raised more than $200 million on the platform since its inception.

A broader range of companies have raised money on EquityNet than the strictly tech focus of many venture capitalists and angel investors. And investments in those companies have come from a more geographically diverse group than is the case for venture capital.

"It's not focused on California or New York or Boston as venture capital has been," Hollas said.

According to the company, a completely different type of startup raises money through equity crowdfunding than is in vogue among venture capitalists.

About half of the companies using equity crowdfunding are consumer and business product or service companies, a category that attracts less than 10 percent of VC activity. About 75 percent of the companies raising money on crowdfunding sites are startups, with no revenue, and 75 percent aren't tech startups.

"There's a whole business domain out there that was not attractive to venture capital and angel capital," said Hollas.

Further, the companies that have raised money on EquityNet don't need that much money. At least, they don't need as much money as venture capitalists typically invest.

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What People Are Saying

“Where to find funding for your business”
“EquityNet is addressing 90% of the business community that was previously starved for capital”
“Choosing a crowdfunding platform like EquityNet gives the tone of a serious business venture”
“EquityNet's business planning tool is solid and can help speed startups toward getting funded”
“Long before Kickstarter, Indiegogo or Rockethub came around, there was EquityNet”
“EquityNet has positioned itself as a leading business crowdfunding platform”
“EquityNet is the only patented crowdfunding platform in the world”