If you’re a frequent startup investor, you’ve probably noticed that some industries are more active than others when it comes to online deals. Access to investment opportunities across a wide range of sectors is key to building a diversified portfolio that aligns with your investment thesis.To help visualize the landscape of online startup deals in 2024, we created an interactive chart. It highlights the number of equity deals available per industry and shows which platforms featured the most activity in each sector. Simply hover over the chart to explore the data in more detail.
Key Insights from 2024
1. Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Dominate It’s clear that the Healthcare & Pharmaceutical sector led the way in 2024. Many startups in this space seek funding while their drugs or medical devices are still in development or awaiting FDA approval. These early-stage, high-risk opportunities often deter traditional institutional investors—creating a window for retail investors to step in.
2. Consumer-Focused Physical Products Industries like Food & Beverage, Consumer Goods, Alcohol & Drugs, and Beauty & Care also saw strong representation. Startups in these categories often turn to equity crowdfunding not only for capital but also to attract passionate consumers who become brand ambassadors. Conversely, established consumer brands have used crowdfunding to open up their cap table to loyal customers.
3. Climate Tech and Emerging Transportation The Energy & Resources and Transportation industries, which together comprise the bulk of climate tech deals, made up a significant portion of the 2024 offerings. While most Energy & Resources deals are climate-related, about half of Transportation deals were too. Even those not explicitly labeled as “climate”—like drone or eVolt-focused companies—often touch on clean mobility themes.
4. Digital and Intangible Offerings Industries built around intangible products—such as Business Software, Media & Entertainment, and Finance & Insurance—also had a notable presence. Though less prominent than in traditional VC, many of these offerings gave investors the chance to back scalable, high-growth companies offering dematerialized solutions.
Platform Leaders
Across most industries, Wefunder and StartEngine emerged as the dominant platforms. That’s no surprise, given they hosted the largest number of equity crowdfunding deals throughout the year.
In summary, 2024 was a dynamic and diverse year for equity crowdfunding, with opportunities spanning across sectors and investment theses. But when it comes to picking winners from the crowd, that’s where Kingscrowd brings clarity and insight.
