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Jon Medved Ourcrowed
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There is no need to preach further about the obvious benefits of the internet to connect people, but the past 3 years have particularly been flourishing for the online fund raising phenomenon. Crowdfunding has made raising capital online from many different investors mainstream, and now OurCrowd has introduced a new model that gives private individuals, access to invest in start ups that were previously unavailable unless you were a venture firm or in the small circle or FFF (friends, families or fools).
Founded by veteran entrepreneur Jonathan Medved, who previously IPO’d Vringo and was the founding partner for Israel See partners (with many notable exits including shopping.com and answers.com), OurCrowd has a new approach to crowdfunding. The ‘brand names’ in crowdfunding today are Kickstarter ( who focus on North America) and IndiGogo (with a more European reach), and now OurCrowd has ntroduced their own approach, an approach that can be the crème de la crème of the startups.
Usually with crowdfunding, anyone with an idea and a video can start raising money. In exchange they usually offer the product they are sourcing funds for and extras since of the risk involved, but with OurCrowd investors actually receiving equity in the company, like a traditional investor.
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To get started investing investing, OurCrowd goes through a screening process to make sure all investors are credible and can afford the $10, 000 minimum investment. If you’re a US citizen for example, law requires you to have an annual income of at least $200, 000, so yes this not for the average Joe like KickStarter where $10 can get you a piece of the action. The same goes for the companies raising capital on the platform, though there is an added benefit of having guidance with a team of mentors also specially selected by OurCrowd.
Over 30 start ups have already raised money through the platform, many having raised over $1 million dollars. And its also not limited to any specific type of company, with many different sectors being funded. LucidEnergy specialized in ‘harvesting renewable electricity from water pipes, Surgical theater developing 3d imaging for surgeries, Muv bringing the touch screen to any surface and Argo helping paraplegics move beyond wheelchairs. So if your start up is blossoming and your look for a credible source to raise your next round turn to the experienced team at OurCrowd to help take you to the next level.
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