Equity Crowdfunding for Purposeful Startups

Equity Crowdfunding for Purposeful Startups: Wefunder is simply the best way to raise capital from people who share your intent to change the world for the better, and with whom you want to build a community of interest. Wefunder is the best way to raise equity capital by entrepreneurs on a mission.Your values align when you are aiming to build your new venture’s capital base. At the same time you are extending you community to like minded founders and investors.

Why Wefunder?

It makes sense for your financial partners’ style and way in the world match your own. So, whichever route you chose to finance your business, avoid clashes of intention with any of your outside advisers. Look closely at their motivation to partner with you.

Wefunder is a Benefit Corporation, for starters. A Benefit Corporation is a type of for-profit corporate entity, authorized by 35 US states and the DC that includes positive impact on society, workers, the community and the environment in addition to profit as its legally defined goals, in that the definition of “best interest of the corporation” is specified to include those impacts.

A survey of 200 academic studies found that “88% of reviewed sources find that companies with robust sustainability practices demonstrate better operational performance, which ultimately translates into cash flows” (From the Stockholder to the Stakeholder). “Millennials will grow to 75% of the workforce by 2025, 77% say their “company’s purpose was part of the reason they chose to work there.” (Deloitte Millennial Survey). These are but two examples of the way it makes sense for companies like Wefunder to care for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.

Wefunder is a B Corporation

Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit. They are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. Wefunder achieved B Corp Certification in late 2016, after they completed the B Impact Assessment. This is one good reason why Wefunder is Equity Crowdfunding for Purposeful Startups.

The B Economy is built by everyone who works for, buys from, invests in, learns or teaches about, or supports businesses striving to create a shared and durable prosperity for all.

According to the Deloite Survey, Millennials think business can do much more to address society’s challenges in the areas of most concern: resource scarcity (56 percent), climate change (55 percent) and income equality (49 percent). Additionally, 50 percent of Millennials surveyed want to work for a business with ethical practices. Among others, those are all the kind of issue on which B Corp has to be satisfied to certify a company*.

What’s Special About Wefunder?

Nick Tommarello, founder and CEO of Wefunder said, “I started Wefunder because I wanted to invest in my friends – to help them dream bigger, be the best versions of themselves, and reach their ambition. Seven years later, we do that for the rest of America. So much raw talent is being wasted. The purpose of my life is to fix that, to help tens of thousands ‘take their shot’.”

One of Wefunder’s Commitments is “To encourage founders to transparently share information.” It may seem a small thing, but without even knowing Nick personally, I believe the statement from one tiny thing—his email address is published on the site. You may laugh, but that tells me that he is ‘available’ to be transparent!

Wefunder was the first equity crowdfunding portal. Indeed, they helped change the law in 2012 and launched the first day that Regulation Crowdfunding was legal. What’s more they helped Congress pass the JOBS Act in 2012 that made equity crowdfunding available to all, rather than just rich accredited investors. The Wefunder team even watched President Obama sign it into law.

Wefunder Works with Purposeful Startups

Their client list is full of startups, most of whom dedicate themselves not only to a profitable future, but also are highly committed to making a contribution to a better world. Take a look at the entrepreneurs they have helped to crowdfund their startup equity. Wefunder helps the companies they believe in.

At the time of writing, Wefunder has attracted 569,912 investors who have funded 348 startups with over $122.5 million. If you are visiting Venture Founders, it is probably because you are building a purposeful venture and may be seeking to attract equity capital. Is it any wonder why I would recommend you would work with Wefunder? To my mind, there should be no hesitation in you making contact now, even if you don’t have all your ducks in a row yet.

If you are not convinced by me, have a look at their Charter to further build your confidence to see why I say Wefunder is Equity Crowdfunding for Purposeful Startups. Then make contact and ask about their ability to help you build a successful equity crowdfund campaign. It will involve you working with you own community and reaching out to communities of both cultural and economic interest to you and your business. Creating a group of investors will result in your having a very special new community of allies and promoters.

Wefunder Helps Your Capital Raise in Many Ways

Wefunder offers all kinds of help with regulatory and legal issues, as well as handling all transactions. They also offer:

• personalized pitch advising to help draft a compelling and beautiful profile page;

• everything to do with gathering investors including: promoting your campaign to their community of over 200,000 investors;

• software that allows you to easily engage with investors even after your campaign closes.

Their support continues after you have got your new capital, by arranging supportive services, including mentoring events. To give you a better idea of how the service works, this page might help. The cost of the whole package is 7.5% of the raise, but if your campaign does not reach it’s total, there is no cost to you.

As a bonus, if you are ready to start fundraising,

you can get 10% off Wefunder fees,

if you visit Wefunder with this link.

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For a list of other equity crowdfunding platforms visit the Directory of Equity Crowdfunding—USA. Or, if you are not ready for raising external equity, you will find help at the page on Early Stage Funding, and other Finance pages of Venture Founders.

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* Disclaimers: 1. Venture Founders was a Founder B Corp in 2012. 2. If you do a successful raise with Wefunder, then Venture Founders would receive a small commission.