Happy 10th Anniversary to the 2012 JOBS Act. What bipartisan work was able to achieve! #crowdfunding #10thAnniversary crowdfundinsider.com/2022/04/189382…

Here in #NWArkansas thanks to the @WaltonFoundation and @NWArkansasCouncil to explain how regional startups and small businesses can raise up to $5M online from local investors. nwahomepage.com/news/entrepren…

Some nice summary thoughts by us and other advocates for entrepreneurship, American innovation, and job creation! crowdfundinsider.com/2022/04/189382…

"As investors, you're creating jobs in these communities as you invest in startups. These dollars are doing good." ~Sherwood Neiss - Investment Crowdfunding

"The averages have grown in the last 13 months because the cap on crowdfunding raises went from $1M to $5M. If you look at the last few months, the average raise is $470,000." ~Sherwood Neiss - Investment Crowdfunding

Provo-Orem, UT, has increased its base of crowdfunding investors from 943 in 2016 to 12,691 in 2021.

Before the launch of wefunder.com/community/nwat…, there was limited debt & equity crowdfunding activity in Arkansas - some campaigns in LR and Mountain View. Currently there are 6 active campaigns driven by NWA and Tulsa founding teams.

Debt and equity crowdfunding is being embraced by local economies because of the commercial jobs, innovation, and entrepreneurship creation. Every dollar is circulating six times over in the local economy.

Experienced angel investors typically invest in 30, 40, or 50 companies to have enough diversification over time.

Debt and equity crowdfunding, with standardized disclosures and processes, was a fraud-free industry for the first 5 years. So far, $1.5B invested and a single fraud case, which happened last September.

"Companies fail all the time. Public companies fail too. Arguably, it wasn't everyone's savings since the average investment is $422." ~Sherwood Neiss - Investment Crowdfunding

"For non-accredited investors, two rules to remember. If you make <$100K, you can invest up to 5% of your liquid net worth or income, whichever is higher. If you make >$100K, you can invest up to $10%." ~Jason Best - Vectr Fintech

Next Bolt, out of San Fran, develops sodium batteries to address the lithium shortage.

While Sherwood Neiss - Investment Crowdfunding battled with seasonal allergies while here in #NWArk, he has been wowed by the deliciously impressive food scene here and the passionate engagement of our regional #entrepreneurs. Thanks, @MarkhamandFitz, for the samples, smells, and general feast for the senses!

"'Due diligence' means investigation. Review the diligence, the materials. Understand what you're doing. Because you may not see that money again. Who's the team? What experience do they have? Do they have a unique solution? What's the competitive landscape?" ~Jason Best - Vectr Fintech

"So valuation is always one of the key issues. Before regulation, crowdfunding it was really a black box. We capture all the data from all the platforms, including that valuation data. We're able to provide comps." ~Jason Best - Vectr Fintech

"How do you measure your success of failure across these 30, 40, 50 investments over time? You can create your own spreadsheet, use software products like Quicken, or use investment platforms to follow progress." ~Jason Best - Vectr Fintech

"Right now, you can look at 1,300 offerings live on the platforms. Having a thesis helps as you evaluate opportunities. Writing more small checks is better than writing fewer big checks." ~Jason Best - Vectr Fintech

"On SPV's, or Special Purpose Vehicles put all crowdfunding investors in one LLC, or one investment vehicle. Clean capitalization table. Not messy at all. So it is no problem for VC's to follow onto that kind of structure. They're very well understood." ~Jason Best - Vectr Fintech

Victor Dover, #FutureIsNow Speaker Series by NWA Workforce Housing Center Northwest Arkansas Council asks, “What will you do with your new era of great prosperity?” Slide shows bicycles in a stairwell with the title “The New Executive Lot” - he challenges #NWArk to become car-optional region.