Company: SeedInvest, New York, NY
Company Description: SeedInvest is an online equity crowdfunding platform connecting accredited investors with entrepreneurs. The platform features a curated list of high-quality vetted investment opportunities, with only 2% of startups passing SeedInvest’s stringent due diligence process. Currently, 9,000 accredited investors are on the SeedInvest platform with a collective investor interest of $433mm.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Tech Startup of the Year

Nomination Title: SeedInvest

Tell the story about what this nominated organization has achieved since January 1 2014 (up to 650 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Begin this section with the date since January 1 2013 on which this organization began operations.

SeedInvest began operations in February of 2013. Since then, SeedInvest has grown into a leading equity crowdfunding platform which connects investors to highly-vetted startup investment opportunities. We have been able to build a thriving marketplace which consists of over 9,000 accredited investors with over $433 million in collective investor interest.

SeedInvest is disrupting the private equity markets by allowing investors to circumnavigate traditional Wall Street gatekeepers to early-stage investment opportunities and invest directly in startups of their choosing. To invest in the early-stage ecosystem, the majority of investors historically had to invest through venture capital firms. In addition to large minimums, investing through a fund can cost 20% in management fees over ten years and then another 20% of the upside to the extent the firm generates positive returns. SeedInvest enables investors to invest in early-stage companies with no fees. This removes dated market barriers between the investor and the entrepreneur, allowing investors to take a more proactive role in a company’s growth.

Any entrepreneur who has been through fundraising knows it can be a strenuous, time consuming process. It can take 6-9 months to search for accredited investors, then another 4-6 months to get them to commit, collect their checks, and sign paperwork. By consolidating meetings, due diligence, and investment execution online in one platform, SeedInvest is helping startups secure funding much quicker and from a much wider investor base.

In 2014, SeedInvest built a reputation of quality over quantity. We only accept 2% of companies which apply to raise capital. This commitment to featuring only highly-vetted investment opportunities distinguishes SeedInvest from its competitors. As a result, Entrepreneur Magazine called SeedInvest “Crowdfunding for the Cream of the Early-Stage Crop.” Our high-quality investors can become high-quality advisors to the companies in which they invest, providing a strong value-add for entrepreneurs.

In 2014, SeedInvest grew from a small team of 7 based in New York to a team of 16 across 4 cities. These new hires included investment and product team members, Regional Directors, a Marketing Director, a Digital Marketing Director, and a Venture Director. SeedInvest announced a major partnership with 500 Startups, the largest and most prominent micro-venture capital fund in the world, and with Gust, an online angel investor portal which is used by over 80% of angel groups worldwide. In April, SeedInvest became the first US crowdfunding platform to publicly crowdfund itself, garnering media coverage on TechCrunch, Re/code, and Entrepreneur. Of the $4.2 million raised for SeedInvest’s series A, 52% was funded via the SeedInvest platform from our investor base in just 3 weeks. In October, SeedInvest won the GREAT Tech Award for innovation and growth, which was presented to SeedInvest by Prince William. The competition was run by United Kingdom Trade and Investment and was designed to help innovative US technology companies expand their businesses into the UK.

In bullet-list form, briefly summarize up to ten (10) of the chief accomplishments of this organization since the beginning of 2014 (up to 150 words).

1. SeedInvest has grown to 9,000 accredited investors with over $433 million in collective investor interest
2. In 2014, SeedInvest’s team grew by over 100%, from 7 to 16
3. In 2014, the average investment on SeedInvest was $37,500 (5-10x other platforms)
4. SeedInvest announced a partnership with Gusts to syndicate investment opportunities through both networks
5. SeedInvest announced a partnership with 500 Startups to use SeedInvest technology to help raise 500 Startups’ third fund
6. SeedInvest has continued to be completely fee-free for investors
7. Only 2% of the companies who apply fundraise on SeedInvest-a testament to our thorough due diligence process
8. SeedInvest became the first equity crowdfunding platform to fundraise on its own platform during our $4.2 million series A, raising over $2.1 million online in just 3 weeks

Of the following measures of success, which ONE do you want the judges to most appreciate about your organization's story of achievement since the beginning of 2014?

Overall Innovation