Wefunder Furthers Crowdfunding While Concurrently Keeping the American Dream Alive!

         On Monday, May 16, 2016 the JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Startup) Act went into effect in our country and the rules of investment and fundraising were altered forever.

         What happened on that day changed everything. Meritocracy stepped into the entrepreneurial funding equation and people -- ordinary people — not just accredited investors, got the lane to invest in early stage companies.

This opportunity extends far beyond donating money to a single product. Instead, it’s investing with a stake and a return if the project does well over time.

           I’m off the charts stoked to be talking about these exciting changes with Dylan Enright of Wefunder, an equity crowdfunding platform that launched on May 16th, just as this new form of crowdfunding was made legal.

           The power of Wefunder and the new opportunity for equity crowdfunding is that they’re keeping alive the American Dream, making it possible for anyone with a great idea to get that idea to market. Banks and big time investors who used to be the gatekeepers of innovation are no longer the only way to fund a new company.

           As Dylan says, “Even if you have the best idea in the world, it costs a little bit of capital to get it off the ground.”  And this is what Wefunder is doing: helping early stage companies get investments from average people taking a risk on your idea because they believe in your story. If your company does well, so do these people who helped fund it. People can invest as little as $100!  

           The first step toward harnessing the power of the crowdfunding platform is to understand it. My hope is that Wefunder’s Dylan Enright can help bring clarity to your decision around gaining traction through securing creative capital.

           If you know anyone with a dream project (or maybe you have one yourself) and are afraid to start, this conversation with Dylan is an incredible, and I hope, inspiring experience you won’t want to miss. Thanks for listening!

 

Bravery in Business Quote

“Before this there were a select few people sitting behind a desk who decided the fate of your business . . . we’re letting the community decide.”- Dylan Enright

(click to tweet)

The Cliff Notes

• Wefunder started in Boston 2012, some friends wanted to invest in each other but were only able to donate (investing was illegal). To change this they got people to sign petition stating their intent to invest in early stage companies. Added up to millions of dollars people would invest if legal, and this got the attention of Senators and eventually people in Washington D.C.
• Dylan got involved with the company after that. He was “Employee #1” at Wefunder
• Dylan believes that giving everyone the ability to invest or raise money for their company is leveling the playing field. Before, only a select number of people got to decide what the next innovation would be.
• Crowdfunding brings meritocracy and makes it easier for anyone everyone to make their own American dream by telling their story online. “Break the Monopoly of the Rich”
• Lead-up to Wefunder launch (May 16th) was crazy. They wanted to come out strong w/more companies than their competitors. Really busy getting all these companies and pages ready.
• Wefunder’s platform aims to make visitors to the site to feel like they are in the room hearing the pitch right from the founders.
• Wefunder is not protecting people from risk. Early stage companies are very risky to invest in. Wefunder is creating an uprising against buying safe.
• Outdoor active lifestyle markets were built on back of inventors who went big with their ideas and took big risks. Crowdfunding makes this possible for companies of all sizes.

“It’s not just a donation. You’re investing your money with founders and understanding that you’ll be earning a return if they do well.” - Dylan Enright

(click to tweet)

Resources

WeFunder.com

Dylan’s email: [e-mail]