Below are some useful links to help you get started.
Would you like to be included on this resource list? If you provide services such as legal, accounting, marketing, web design, or investment crowdfunding services for startups or investors and you are ready to take on compliant investment crowdfunding projects, please email your information to hello@crowdfundnc.com.
Crowdfunding Marketing and Video Sites
These resources aid campaign marketing & investment crowdfunding video production for your crowdfunding campaign.
Regulation Crowdfunding (Reg CF) Do's and Don'ts (Webinar)
Chartreuse Moose ( Marketing Services, Raleigh, contact Jesse Hall)
Christi Lowe Productions (Video) (Fayetteville, contact Christi Lowe)
Front Runner Productions (Video) (Raleigh, contact Bryan Miller)
storyboardmedia.co (Durham)
enventyspartners.com (Charlotte, contact Roy Morejon)
growafanbase.com (Raleigh, contact Will Hardison)
www.dashstudio.net (Raleigh, contact Mack Garrison)
www.threepost.com (Raleigh, contact Michael Fortson)
www.centerline.net (Raleigh)
www.swagchimp.com (Raleigh)
Crowdfunding and Business Development Strategies Sites
A good investment crowdfunding strategies consultant and business development partner can help you get up to speed quickly on which crowdfunding approach is right for you, and how to grow your business. Small business training and services sites can help you organize and manage your new and growing business.
CrowdfundNC Services (Raleigh/Durham)
Entredot (Durham)
Lochside Consulting (Cary)
ActionCOACH - Team Hauser (Winston-Salem)
Kauffman FastTrac Small Business Training (online)
Bunker Labs - Support for Veteran owned startups (video at a Bunker Labs event)
Startup Secrets - Practical lessons and community to guide you from idea to success - for entrepreneurs, by entrepreneurs - Free for everyone
Startups.com - Startup education and services
Costarters.co - Get help building a startup ecosystem in your community
Technology Development and Services Sites
Technology Development and Services partners can help you get your product to market fast.
Intrepid Media (Durham)
Rocket Hanger (Raleigh)
HyperspaceVentures (Durham)
Spectrum Business (Raleigh/Durham)
HR and Payroll Services Sites
These partners take care of staffing, payroll and/or HR so you can concentrate on building your business.
Lucas Select Services
PAYCHEX (Raleigh/Durham)
TriNet (Raleigh/Durham)
Accounting and Bookkeeping Services
The Accountkeepers
The Sledge Organization LLC, Jerry M. Sledge CPA
Software Tools Useful for Startups and Small Businesses
Malartu (Raleigh) Data analytics and reporting for investors
LivePlan.com Business planning software
Mailchimp Email Marketing software
Shopify Lite Accept payements on your website, or build an e-commerce site
VideoMakerFX Video making software
Viddyoze Animated video software
FreeConferenceCall.com Free conference calls and online meetings
RoboForm Password Manager Highly secure password management
Giphy.com Download or create animated gifs for your campaign
Software Tools Useful for Startup and Small Business Investors
Seraf Due Diligence Report Template
DealRoom Due Diligence Checklist
North Carolina Startup Books, Blogs and Newsletters
Everything You Should Know About Startup - a great startup e-book by successful Triangle entrepreneur Joe Procopio covering 121 foundational principals for every entrepreneur.
The Startup Hats - Top Triangle investor David Gardner has written an excellent book on how to manage and grow a successful startup.
The Red Rocket Blog - Every entrepreneur needs to read these excellent startup lessons written by George Deeb of Red Rocket VC in Cary.
Malartu Newsletter - Triangle entrepreneur Sean Steigerwald writes a very entertaining blog on a variety of subjects of interest to the North Carolina startup community.
Fireproof Software Newsletter - Experienced engineer Scott Barstow publishes this excellent newsletter for the sole purpose of helping founders, product managers, and anyone else who's mystified by the software development process to get a grip on their product and stop burning valuable time and cash.
Crowdfunding Opportunities and Challenges - Triangle attorney Jim Verdonik was part of the team that helped get the NC PACES Act passed.
Other Useful Startup and Small Business Support Links
The significance of the 83(b) election for anyone with vested shares
NC Small Business and Technology Development Center (Raleigh)
A list of North Carolina Angel Funds
A list of North Carolina early stage capital resources and organizations
Raleigh/Durham Angel Groups and Venture Capital firms
An excellent example investor pitch deck
7 Insanely Creative Business Plan Templates
Startup X Perfect Pitch Deck (PowerPoint Template)
Creating an effective pitch deck (Geekwire post)
Our local NC Triangle Crowdfunders Meetup
JobHero small business resource guide
Advertising your Reg CF Offering - What Issuers Need to Know
Example Startup Documents and Templates
SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) Templates by Y-Combinator
SEC Form of Converible Note
UpCounsel Free Financial Legal Doc Templates
These information and media sites cover crowdfunding from many different perspectives, and will help keep you up to date on the latest developments in the crowdfunding industry. If you launch an investment crowdfunding campaign, you can do some PR on these sites.
These local media sites often cover stories related to startups, small business, and crowdfunding in North Carolina:
wraltechwire.com
GrepBeat Triangle Tech News
www.bizjournals.com/triangle
These national media sites cover crowdfunding
www.crowdfundinsider.com
www.crowdcrux.com
www.cfpa.org
www.cnbc.com/id/100807099
Good infographic on stages of a startup
Good post by Amy Wan on Investment Crowdfunding Basics
Crowdfunding Center Map and Stats
The Crowdfunding Center about Donation and Rewards Crowdfunding
Nathan Rose Interview - The Secrets of Equity Crowdfunding
North Carolina Law Firms
You will need to consult a North Carolina business law attorney to help create your investment crowdfunding offering using the JOBS Act or the NC PACES Act. If you need a business law attorney, these North Carolina law firms specialize in startup offerings and can provide advice and guidance about financing your business using investment crowdfunding.
Innovate Capital Law (Contact Benji Jones or Jim Verdonik)
Fallone SV Law (Contact Katelin Kennedy or John Fallone)
Wyrick Robbins Law (Contact Thomas Allen)
Important Rule 147A Update at Smith Anderson
North Carolina Accounting Firms:
You will need to work with your bookkeeper or accountant to help create your investment crowdfunding offering and to generate the required financial reports. If you need a business accountant, these North Carolina accounting firms specialize in startup businesses and can provide advice and guidance about financing your business using investment crowdfunding.
www.hpg.com (contact Adam Buchanan or Brooks Malone)
Crowdfunding Legal Blogs and Information sites
These additional legal sites will give you information about investment crowdfunding from a legal perspective.
For NC PACES Act offerings, you will need to review the North Carolina Secretary of State Securities Division website on crowdfunding. For questions about the PACES Act law or rules you may contact John Maron via email jmaron@sosnc.gov.
Both businesses raising money and potential investors should read this excellent SEC post about private placements to understand how they work, what is required to be reported by companies to investors, and the risks of private placement offerings.
The state of Montana has a very good Securities Disclosure Document template you can use to provide complete information to your potential investors.
The State of Washington has a good post about disclosures.
Several good posts available from upcounsel.com:
Everything You Need to Know about Crowdfunding
Everything You Need to Know about Private Placements
Everything You Need to Know about Regulation D
Everything You Need to Know about Form D
Everything You Need to Know about the JOBS Act
Crowdfunding Legal Issues and Tips
Venture Capital Financing
Other legal sites:
crowdfundinglegalhub.com (Anthony Zeoli, Chicago)
www.startuplawblog.com (Joe Wallin, Seattle)
www.egsllp.com/Resource-Center (Douglas Ellenoff, NY)
www.mofojumpstarter.com
corporatesecuritieslawyerblog.com (Sam Guzik)
crowdfundattny.com (Mark Roderick)
Crowdfunding and Real Estate Podcast by Mark Roderick
crowdfundcapitaladvisors.com (Sherwood Neiss)
www.legalzoom.com
www.upcounsel.com/free-legal-documents (Contact Anna Le)
Investment Crowdfunding Websites
This is a big category. Their are many investment crowdfunding platforms out there specializing in various types of exemptions, regions, debt and equity offering types, target markets, and more. The sites below provide useful educational information and FAQs about investment crowdfunding and how to create a successful crowdfunding campaign.
You can also search these sites to find examples of investment crowdfunding campaigns for products, services, and target markets that are similar to yours. There is lots to learn from these sites and campaigns.
Here is a list of some of the most popular crowdfunding sites that are doing investment crowdfunding.
NC PACES Act Investment Crowdfunding Platform
nc.localstake.com/for_businesses
Federal JOBS Act Title II Regulation D Crowdfunding Sites
localstake.com (crowfunded debt and equity financing)
angel.co (AngelList silicon valley angel investor syndicates)
circleup.com (consumer products)
www.crowdfunder.com (ETF style investment funds)
www.microventures.com (early and late stage secondary market)
agfunder.com (agriculture)
www.seedinvest.com (angels)
www.equitynet.com (searchable listing site)
fundersclub.com (VC style curation)
www.ourcrowd.com (global site located in Israel)
www.nextgencrowdfunding.com (Tim Draper site)
Here is an excellent post by Howard Marks of StartEngine titled "What is Equity Crowdfunding?"
Small Business Loan Sites
Small business loans introduction at US News and World Report
www.fundable.com
www.streetshares.com (loans to veteran owned businesses)
www.lightercapital.com
Real Estate Loan Sites
www.groundfloor.us
www.realtymogul.com
www.fundrise.com
www.crowdstreet.com
www.realcrowd.com
www.earlyshares.com
Donation and Rewards Sites
www.kickstarter.com
www.indiegogo.com
www.gofundme.com
Non-Profit Crowdfunding Sites
www.crowdrise.com
Merchant Maverick review of non-profit crowdfunding sites
Peer-to-Peer Lending Sites
www.lendingclub.com
www.prosper.com
