Below are the latest equity crowdfunding raises begun this past week. For additional information, we encourage KingsCrowders to click on the link provided for more details. If interested, be sure and follow how each startup’s respective raise is progressing, and the concepts they are bringing to the marketplace.
Please note, these are not recommendations but are meant only to inform our readers of new investment opportunities.
Be sure and check back with KingsCrowd in the future. We will continue providing updates on each raise as it progresses. Particularly if we feel they meet our criteria of being worthwhile as potential investments.
Axle.ai, with a $7 million valuation cap, is raising funds on Republic. It is a video software company that helps media teams manage, transcribe, and search their video content remotely. The platform uses machine learning technology and software development tools for the purpose and has been used by teams across sports, political, church, corporate, and educational markets. Axle.ai was founded by Patrice Gouttebel, Sam Bogoch, and Katy Scott in July 2018. The current crowdfunding round of the company has a minimum goal of $25,000 and a maximum goal of $107,000. Axle.ai has more than 600 paid customers, including Paramount, Patagonia, and PWC, and reported revenues of $854,000 in 2019, up from $792,000 in 2018.
Politiscope, with a valuation cap of $8 million, is raising funds on SeedInvest. The application provides raw media and information on election officials to the voters and removes the unnecessary complexity of politics. Politiscope assist voters in casting informed votes by eliminating fake news, confusion, and emotionally-tinged partisanship. Politiscope was founded by Nimish Desai in 2016 and acquired Political Junkie in 2019. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum target of $25,000 and a maximum target of $1,070,000, will be used towards marketing and sales, salary and hires, paid user acquisition, product and data management, and product development. Politiscope has more than 30,000 users, with daily active users to monthly active users ratio of 29%. The company has entered into a co-marketing partnership with The Young Turks and has received media coverage from TechCrunch, Fox Business, and Entrepreneur.
Bruno Albouze, with a pre-money valuation of $6.41 million, is raising funds on StartEngine. It is a new French-style bistro bakery in California that is bringing cafe, bistro, and bakery experiences together as one concept. The bistro-bakery offers delicious French dishes, beverages, and baked goods in a relaxed modern setting. Bruno Albouze, Inc. was founded by Chef Bruno Albouze in 2019. The proceeds of the crowdfunding round, with a minimum raise of $9,958.08 and a maximum raise of $106,973.92, will be used to open the first location and further expand the franchise. Bruno Albouze has a massive following with more than 712,000 YouTube subscribers to its YouTube channel ‘The Real Deal Cooking Channel’.
Tuffy Packs, Inc., with a pre-money valuation of $4.5 million, is raising funds on StartEngine. The company makes bullet-proof backpack inserts to protect against active shooter incidents in schools and public spaces. The inserts of Tuffy Packs are made from lightweight, police-grade materials and can fit 95% of backpacks and laptop cases. Tuffy Packs, Inc. was founded by Steve Naremore and Zach Nemanich in 2016. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum goal of $10,000 and a maximum goal of $107,000, and the funds will be used for marketing and expansion of product lines. Tuffy Packs sells across the US and the EU, with the direct-to-consumer sales margin of 300% and reseller sales margin of 100%.
FIREPIE, with a valuation cap of $4.5 million, is raising funds on WeFunder. The company, doing business as Fast Fresh, Inc., makes artisan wood-fired pizzas and delivers them in 15 minutes. The logistics of FIREPIE work through portable kitchen facilities, equipped with large Italian wood-burning ovens and deployed close to densely populated high demand areas. FIREPIE was founded by Rick Richman in 2015 and has raised over $450,000 since its inception. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum target of $50,000 and a maximum target of $107,000, will be used towards marketing spend, street teams, technology upgrades, and operating capital. FIREPIE has 50% faster average delivery time compared to the third-party platforms and reached $1.1 million in revenues for 2019.
Slash Haircare, with a valuation of $4 million, is raising funds on Fundopolis. It is a new haircare line for women, making on-the-go haircare easy. The products of Slash Haircare are TSA-friendly, sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, organic, and easy to carry. The Slash Haircare product line includes an active detox shampoo, a waterless shampoo mousse, and hairsprays. Slash Haircare was founded by Francois Viargues, Adrien Flammier, and Kerry Dacas Johnson in 2018. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum raise of $25,000 and a maximum raise of $100,000, and the funds will be used to expand the product line and towards retail distribution. Slash Haircare is led by a team of experts in hair styling and product development and is surpassing beauty industry KPIs related to its online sales performance.
Brambler Boutique, owned by Poppet LLC, is raising funds on Honeycomb Credit. The company offers a wide selection of indie-brand apparel, contemporary books, and battery-free toys for children. The product line of Brambler Boutique includes whimsical designs, modern silhouettes, gender-neutral options, and responsibly-made products. The book section contains non-fiction picture books on themes of empowerment and inclusivity. Brambler Boutique by Andrea Doyle-Calcagno and Kathryn E Fishbein in 2015. The funds from the current round of crowdfunding, with a minimum goal of $41,000 and a maximum goal of $107,000, will be used to consolidate and refinance debt, support large seasonal inventory purchases, and pay a Dollar Bank business loan. Brambler Boutique has been recognized as Best of Pittsburgh in the Pittsburgh Magazine 2017 and Best of the Burgh in the City Paper 2019.
FLUUX, with a valuation cap of $2 million, is raising funds on SeedInvest. The company has created a smartphone accessory that uses technology, analytics, and medical expertise to empower vape users to quit vaping. The smartphone battery case can store and charge a JUUL and gets paired with the FLUUX mobile app to keep track of users’ vaping usage with detailed analytics. FLUUX was founded by Chadwick Manning, Colin Barceloux, and Himanshu Shah in 2019. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum target of $25,000 and a maximum target of $750,000, and the funds will be used towards marketing and advertising, new product development, operations, and salaries. FLUUX has a paid pilot with Japanese Tobacco International to make a FLUUX case for the corporation’s Logic Vaporizer.
R3 Printing, with a valuation cap of $8 million, is raising funds on StartEngine. The company is bringing a custom 3D printer, R3 Printer, to the market. R3 Printer is a high-performance 3D printer that will help manufacturers in customized 3D-printed products at affordable prices. It also prints faster, bigger, and doesn’t jam. R3 Printing was founded by Petra Wood and Paul Sieradzki in 2018 and has raised over $550,000 since its inception. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum goal of $10,000 and a maximum goal of $635,000, and the proceeds will be used for growth and expansion. R3 Printing is backed by Ocean Accelerator and is a recipient of federal grant funding from the United States Air Force.
Hilltop Coffee, an upcoming coffee shop in Pittsburgh, is raising funds on Honeycomb Credit. The coffee shop will be a space for locals to destress, meet friends, make new ones, read a book, or work on projects. It will also serve as a low-cost, local platform for various artists. Hilltop Coffee is owned by Jami Szalla and Dan Gladis, both with a history of running family businesses. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum target of $20,000 and a maximum target of $60,000, and the proceeds will be used towards the renovation of the location, payment of debts, equipment purchases, decoration, furniture, and staff hiring. Hilltop Coffee will be the only coffee shop in Arlington and will be at a walking distance from 4,000 potential customers.
Our Life Foods, with a $4 million valuation cap, is raising funds on MicroVentures. It is a packaged food company that manufactures and sells authentic Cajun products, including boxed meal kits, rubs, mixes, seasonings, and sodas. Our Life Foods distributes its products through 2,800 store locations, including retailers like Walmart, Kroger, and Publix. Our Life Foods was founded by Chris Fontenot and has raised $380,000 since its inception. The proceeds of the current round of crowdfunding, with a minimum target of $25,000 and a maximum target of $107,000, will be used towards general marketing, new innovation launch, and future wages. Our Life Foods has sold over 357,000 units since 2017 and generated revenues of $489,576 in 2019.
KapitalWise, with a valuation cap of $8 million, is raising funds on MicroVentures. The company aims to improve the relationships of banks with their customers through its artificial intelligence platform. The platform analyses customers’ data and preferences, predicts their future cash flow and detects changes in their financial position. It helps the banks to hyper-personalize their customer engagements. KapitalWise was founded by Sajil Koroth in 2017 and has raised more than $250,000 since its inception. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum goal of $25,000 and a maximum goal of $107,000, and the proceeds will be used towards campaign marketing, campaign fee, general marketing, research and development, cloud infrastructure, and general working capital. KapitalWise is led by an experienced team and generated $79,000 in revenues in 2019, up 156.49% year-over-year.
Penny Luck Shoes, with a pre-money valuation of $7.1 million, is raising funds on StartEngine. The company is a unique men’s shoe brand with a lucky twist. Disabled Vets are hired by the company to place lucky pennies on the soles of the shoes for American Dream Chasers to wear their luck. Penny Luck Shoes also has a charitable mission to donate a portion of the proceeds to connect Veterans struggling with PTSD with available resources. Penny Luck Shoes was founded by Brian Munoz in 2015. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum target of $10,000 and a maximum target of $107,000, and the proceeds will be used to actualize the true potential of Penny Luck. The company has sold over 5,000 pairs of shoes, with 84% gross margin in 2017 and a 74.7% gross margin in 2018.
Goodwolf Feeding Company, with a valuation cap of $1 million, is raising funds on MicroVentures. The company produces bottled water kefir, a fermented drink made of water and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts. The probiotics of water kefir play a significant role in maintaining gut health. Goodwolf Feeding Company was founded by Keenan Smith in 2016. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum raise of $25,000 and a maximum raise of $107,000, and the funds will be used towards increasing brand awareness, purchasing improved bottling equipment, and supporting operations with general working capital. Goodwolf Feeding Company currently sells in 138 locations and has distribution agreements with UNFI and KeHE. The company sold 67,800 units in 2019 and generated revenues of $156,273 in the same year.
Young God Inc., doing business as Ouro Goods, is raising funds on StartEngine. The company, with a pre-money valuation of $5.49 million, is a luxury streetwear brand specializing in bracelets and accessories. Ouro Goods makes simplistic and unisex bracelets and accessories that are affordable, fashionable, and personalized. Young God Inc. was founded by Brandon Ganske in 2019. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum goal of $9,999.12 and a maximum goal of $1,069,999.17, will be used to grow the business and expand the product line. Young God Inc. has already sold more than 23,000 products to over 13,000 customers since January 2019 and generated $450,000 in revenue in 2019.
