StartEngine has officially acquired assets of fellow equity crowdfunding platform, SeedInvest, from Pluto Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Circle Internet Financial. The announcement comes on the heels of clearance from FINRA, the regulatory authority for broker-dealers.
Under the terms of the agreement, StartEngine will take control of the email lists for SeedInvest’s users, investors and founders seeking to raise funds. StartEngine will also inherit SeedInvest’s website and other IP.
According to StartEngine’s executive team, the purchase comes at an opportune time for the firm, which is already one of the largest equity crowdfunding sites in the U.S. The acquisition could further its leadership position and allow StartEngine to fill an emerging gap, as many founders seek alternate sources of financing in the wake of recent multi-billion-dollar drawdowns in venture capital.
“SeedInvest has been a pioneer in equity crowdfunding since the passage of the JOBS Act in 2012. This is a great opportunity and acquiring assets from a fellow industry leader will allow us to reach a larger group of investors to help even more entrepreneurs achieve their dreams, at a time when VCs are pulling back” – StartEngine CEO Howard Marks.
Said Kevin O’Leary, StartEngine’s Strategic Advisor and Spokesperson, “By this acquisition, StartEngine will be able to reach even more founders in what may well be a defining moment for their businesses and the crowdfunding industry.”
In its 10-year run, SeedInvest supported over 300 startups, helping them to raise more than $470 million from 700,000 users. That high-quality customer and investor profile made SeedInvest’s user base and other IP an attractive fit for StartEngine, which itself has raised over $700 million1 from more than 1 million users. StartEngine believes the two firms’ joint experience and combined investor community of as many as 1.7 million users will help secure its role at the forefront of equity crowdfunding, in what may be a pivotal chance to redefine the venture ecosystem.