OurCrowd
OurCrowd is an equity crowdfunding platform, built for accredited investors to provide venture capital funding for early-stage startups.[1] OurCrowd was founded by serial entrepreneur, venture capitalist and angel investor Jonathan Medved with Steven Blumgart, previously of Glencore International. The company officially launched in February 2013. The company is based in Jerusalem, Israel with overseas branches in San Diego, CA; New York, NY; and Sydney, Australia.
History
OurCrowd officially launched in February 2013. Jonathan Medved, OurCrowd's CEO and founder, began pursuing the idea of an online equity crowdfunding platform early in 2012.
The birth of OurCrowd
In the summer of 2012, Medved assembled a team of entrepreneurs and industry experts to begin creating the website which eventually became the OurCrowd platform. Beginning in Medved's home in Jerusalem, OurCrowd eventually moved to their offices located in central Jerusalem in November 2012.
Milestones
- Official launch in February 2013 in Jerusalem, Israel.[2]
- In March 2013, OurCrowd opened its US office in San Diego, California.
- As of September 2013, OurCrowd invested $20 million through the funding of 26 portfolio companies.[3] Contributions were raised from accredited investors in over 19 different countries.
- November 4, 2013: OurCrowd partnered with GE Ventures, the venture capital branch of General Electric. This partnership allows for GE to invest alongside OurCrowd in the equity crowdfunder's investments.[4]
- As of November 2013, OurCrowd successfully raised over $25M for its 30 portfolio companies.[5]
- In February 2014, OurCrowd opened its Australian office in Sydney.
- In January, 2016, OurCrowd is scheduled to bring together 3,000 investors and entrepreneurs for their annual summit in Jerusalem, Israel.[6]
- In March, 2016, OurCrowd raised $10 million from Singapore's United Overseas Bank, with the stated goal of expanding into Asian markets.[7]
Model
Equity crowdfunding
Unlike Kickstarter and Indiegogo, which crowdfund donations to projects typically in return for some type of reward or gift, OurCrowd uses equity crowdfunding as its model. In equity crowdfunding, investments into a company’s shares are pooled together (in OurCrowd's case, $10,000 minimum investments) from the crowd. Although recent regulatory changes make crowdfunding available to all investors, at this point, OurCrowd is only available to accredited investors.[8]
How OurCrowd works with companies post-funding
OurCrowd has organized a mentor network of professionals.[9] These mentors act as OurCrowd's representatives for the companies for which OurCrowd has a seat on the board of directors.
Social responsibility
OurCrowd requires its Israeli portfolio companies to donate a portion of their equity as part of the closing of any funding round.[10] These requirements are integrated right into the term sheets and investment contracts.
See also
References
- ↑ https://www.ourcrowd.com/
- ↑ http://www.geektime.co.il/meet-our-crowd-the-first-equity-crowdfunding-platform-dedicated-to-israeli-startups/
- ↑ http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-1000878517
- ↑ http://venturebeat.com/2013/11/04/ge-enters-the-crowdfunding-arena-with-ourcrowd-partnership/
- ↑ http://www.geektime.com/2014/04/28/ourcrowd-gets-25m-for-its-own-funding-which-it-will-pass-on-to-its-portfolio/
- ↑ "OurCrowd Global Investor Summit 2016 - Bizzabo". summit.ourcrowd.com. Retrieved 2016-01-24.
- ↑ "Via Singapore, OurCrowd brings crowdfunding platform to Asia". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
- ↑ https://www.ourcrowd.com/how_it_works/an_introduction
- ↑ https://www.ourcrowd.com/Mentors
- ↑ https://www.ourcrowd.com/how_it_works/social_responsibility