CircleUp

CircleUp is an equity crowdfunding site based in San Francisco. Founded in 2011 by ex-private equity professionals Ryan Caldbeck and Rory Eakin, CircleUp helps connect high-growth consumer companies with investors.^[1] Unlike traditional crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter, CircleUp allows investors to receive equity in return for their investment. On the site, investors are able to find investment opportunities as well as diligence materials such as investor presentations, financials, product details, industry information and third-party data.^[2]

Prior to launch, CircleUp raised $1.5 million from investors such as Clayton Christensen, David Topper (ex-head of Equity Capital Markets at JP Morgan) and Maveron (a venture capital firm founded by Howard Schultz).^[3] CircleUp is able to operate in advance of the changing legislation because it focuses on accredited investors only. Since coming out of Beta mode in April 2012, CircleUp has helped several consumer companies raise equity including 18 Rabbits,^[4] Episencial,^[5] Little Duck Organics, Melt,^[6] and others.

CircleUp has been featured on CNBC's Squawk Box.^[7]

On November 11, 2015, the company announced its Series C funding round of $30 million backed by Collaborative Fund.^[8]

References

1. "$1,000 and a Click".
2. "Crowdfunding for Accredited Investors".
3. "Backed with $1.5M, CircleUp Aims High".
4. Ravindranath, Mohana (2012-10-15). "For some consumer products businesses, crowdfunding is the best route". The Washington Post.
5. "Episencial Raises Money on CircleUp".
6. "Melt Raises Equity Through Crowdfunding".
7. "The Disruptors: How CircleUp is Disrupting Finance".
8. Kolodny, Lora (2015-11-11). "CircleUp Banks $30 Million to Help Investors Find Top Food Startups". Retrieved 2015-11-11.