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.
Deep End Fitness, with a $3 million valuation cap, is raising funds on Wefunder. The company provides training for water events and aquatic team sports. The training program is created by former US Special Operations Marines, currently training Olympians, NFL players, and UFC fighters. Prime Hall and Don Tran founded Deep End Fitness in March 2020 and have raised over $560,000 since its inception. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum raise of $50,000 and a maximum raise of $1,070,000. The funds will be used towards Underwater Torpedo League (UTL) products, national expansion, hiring, and marketing. Deep End Fitness has trained top athletes across the world and includes 307 athletes and 52 certified instructors.
Me In 3, with a valuation cap of $4 million, is raising crowdfunding on Wefunder. The company has developed an online SaaS platform for job seekers to create a video profile for potential employers. The employers get to know the candidates better through these three minutes videos and thus screen them better. Brett Williams, Tracy Poole, Chris Wright, Bryan Brown, and Markus Engelke founded Me In 3 in 2018. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding campaign, with a minimum goal of $100,000 and a maximum goal of $250,000, will be used for sales and marketing, general and administrative expenses, and direct costs. Me In 3 has users in 45 states and reported a 950% growth in its user base over the past six months.
HereYouGo, with a valuation cap of $5 million, is raising funds on Wefunder. The company is creating a sharing platform for self-driving cars. It partners with colleges and co-working spaces and offers them connected cars on rent for their residents. The model allows the company to buy connected and self-driving cars and share them. Konstantin Maslennikov founded HereYouGo in 2018. The current crowdfunding campaign has a minimum target of $50,000 and a maximum target of $1,070,000. The funds will be used for software development, video marketing, and buying its fleet of cars. HereYouGo is creating a new category with its shared services for self-driving cars. The company is built around customer emotions and will help accelerate the deployment of self-driving technology.
Quincy Street Bistro, an American restaurant in St. Louis, MO, is raising crowdfunding on MainVest. The bistro aims to provide comfort food with a simple, quick, and unpretentious experience. The menu consists of some special dishes and specialty drinks. Franklin Todd Tiefenauer owns Quincy Street Bistro. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum raise of $50,000 and a maximum raise of $100,000, and the funds will be used to purchase new equipment and hire additional staff. Quincy Street Bistro continued to serve the community till 2018 before closing down. It is now being reopened by new owners, but with the same vision and love for comfort food.
Cortex, with a pre-money valuation of $8.42 million, is raising funds on Wefunder. The company has developed a SaaS platform that helps marketers understand what images and videos to make, how to make them, and how to promote them while staying within marketing budgets. The platform uses machine learning to predict the performance of these images and videos. Brennan White and Matt Peters founded Cortex in 2014 and have raised over $1.4 million in previous rounds of financing. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum goal of $250,000 and a maximum goal of $1,069,999. The proceeds will be used towards product and engineering, sales and growth, marketing and advertising, and operations. Cortex has best in class customers, including Marriott, Toyota, Oreo, and L’Oreal.
eZdia, with a valuation cap of $18 million, is raising crowdfunding on Wefunder. It is a content conversion platform that helps retailers and brands to optimize their content to increase online revenue. The platform is easy and effective to enable businesses to use the content for their growth. Deepak Goyal and Rahul Shah founded eZdia in 2008 and have raised over $680,000 since the inception. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum target of $50,000 and a maximum target of $1,070,000, will be used for online advertisements, marketing, and hiring BDA to acquire more brands. eZdia has over 150 customers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Alibaba. The company generated a $3.9 million revenue in 2019 and has lifetime revenues of over $20 million.
AppleSeed Companies, with a pre-money valuation of $3.04 million, is raising funds on Wefunder. It is a digital transition company focused on acquiring companies operating in the areas of digital transformation, decentralized finance, and applied blockchain solutions. AppleSeed will acquire at least a controlling stake in the companies and run them through its management team. Allen Weiss, Max Hooper, and A.J. Ripin founded AppleSeed Companies in September 2019. The current crowdfunding campaign has a minimum raise of $50,000 and a maximum raise of $1,070,000. The funds will be used towards working capital, marketing, website development, product development, and operations. AppleSeed Companies is led by a highly experienced management team with over 200 years of combined experience.
Octane Coffee, with a valuation cap of $2.5 million, is raising crowdfunding on Wefunder. The company is building a fully-automated drive-through for premium coffee, tea, and juices. The drinks are ordered, prepared, and delivered with the help of software and hardware automation developed in house by Octane Coffee. Adrian Deasy founded Octane Coffee in 2018 and has raised over $260,000 since its inception. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum target of $55,000 and a maximum target of $100,000, will be used for hardware scale-up needs, marketing, and expanded features for MVP. Octane Coffee will be fully automated and will require only 30 minutes of labor per day to generate a daily profit of over $1,000.
Tuck-N-Red’s Spirits & Wine, an upcoming micro-distillery and winery, is raising funds on MainVest. The distillery products will include spirits, moonshine, and mountain wine and will be made in small batches to show respect for the traditional methods. The customers will get to taste both traditional spirits and modern ones. Charlie Harrell, John Mick, and Tucker Thompson founded Tuck-N-Red’s Spirits & Wine in 2019. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum goal of $10,000 and a maximum goal of $60,000, and the funds will be used for finishing goods, bottles, and white oak barrels. Tuck-N-Red’s Spirits & Wine plans to open a tasting room and distillery in the same location and allow customers to learn how the products are made.
Monkey Wrench Brewing Company, a production microbrewery in Georgia, is raising funds on Honeycomb. The brewery offers a taproom and beer garden and excels in craft beer. The brewers at Monkey Wrench Brewing Company combine award-winning homebrew recipes with their professional experience to create premium quality beers. Monkey Wrench Brewing Company was founded by Wayne Baxter and Joe Dreher, with years of home brewing experience. The proceeds of the current round of crowdfunding, with a minimum goal of $25,000 and a maximum goal of $150,000, will be used to expand the brewery system and buy warehouse drains, a keg washer, and canning line. Monkey Wrench Brewing Company has identified a loyal customer base in Suwanee and is one of the city’s only two breweries.
Metropolitan Variety Store and Metropolitan Bar & Kitchen
Metropolitan Variety Store and Metropolitan Bar & Kitchen are raising funds on Honeycomb. The two distinct businesses are owned and managed by the same team. While the Variety Store will sell craft beer, wine, and spirits, the Bar & Kitchen will offer a seasonal food and beverage menu. Metropolitan Variety Store and Metropolitan Bar & Kitchen are owned by Detroit Shipping Company and run by Brendon Edwards. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum raise of $60,000 and a maximum raise of $225,000, will be used to purchase inventory, pay rent and utilities, expand the business’ website, manage social media, and pay for other expenses. Metropolitan Variety Store and Metropolitan Bar & Kitchen are developing a novel concept of bringing a variety of retail points under the same roof.
Kemper Snowboards, with a pre-money valuation of $5 million, is raising funds on StartEngine. The company makes iconic snowboards, with retro designs on top-quality board constructions. The brand has been resurrected and comes in a wide range of graphics, shapes, and colors. Kemper Snowboards was founded by Steven Hall. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum raise of $10,000 and a maximum raise of $1,070,000, and the funds will be used for reviving the brand and launching new products. Kemper Snowboards reported $79,000 in board sales in the winter season of 2019-20, while the sales increased to $135,000 in the 2020-2021 winter season. The company has a high average profit margin of 71%.
Pizza N Brew, a restaurant and bar in Sarasota, FL, is raising crowdfunding on MainVest. The restaurant had been operating since 2012 with a seating capacity of 50. It is now expanding to 150 seats and will also qualify for a liquor license. Frank Segreti founded Pizza N Brew in March 2020. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum goal of $100,000 and a maximum goal of $250,000, will be used to open a new location and finish the renovation. Pizza N Brew is located at an excellent location and will serve locals and tourists alike. The further 2,600 square foot expansion will help the restaurant and bar serve more people.
The Debauchery, an upcoming modern European restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio, is raising funds on MainVest. The restaurant will focus on a dining experience inspired by the medieval feast and traditional European dishes. It will not only offer dinner and cocktails but will also cater to private events with its mobile hearse bar. Leanne Kubiez founded The Debauchery in December 2020. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum target of $150,000 and a maximum target of $240,000, and the funds will be used for leasehold improvements, equipment, furniture & fixtures, licensing, and operating capital. The Debauchery has the vision to serve authentic and traditional cuisine and beverages through its original and uncommon approach.
Moxi on the Rocks, an upcoming Libation Library in East Hartford, Connecticut, is raising crowdfunding on MainVest. It will rehabilitate a former engine-room to create an all-inclusive library of locally-made beverages, including wines, beers, meads, ciders, and soda pop. Tomas Nenortas and L. Jayne Dyer founded Moxi on the Rocks in November 2020. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum raise of $20,000 and a maximum raise of $107,000, will be used towards engineering, design, and start-up costs. Moxi on the Rocks is community-focused, supports small businesses, and follows a minimal waste philosophy.
Magic Valley Brewing, a brewery in Buhl, ID, is raising funds on MainVest. It is the oldest operating craft brewery in Twin Falls County and serves food and drinks made with local ingredients. It is a public house where friends and families get together to enjoy each other’s company. Richard White Sr. and Judy White founded Magic Valley Brewing in 2016. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding raise, with a minimum goal of $25,000 and a maximum goal of $100,000, will be used to expand the brewery by opening the taproom Pub on Main. The funds will also be used to complete the Brewery Beer Garden buildout, purchase new fermenters and a bright tank, and increase the distribution. Magic Valley Brewing makes exotic spirits and has established itself well in the community.
Nickelytics, with a valuation cap of $6.5 million, is raising funds on Republic. The company deals in outdoor advertising and makes simple out-of-home advertising solutions for the modern world. The technology of Nickelytics makes outdoor advertising trackable, easy, and at-scale. Judah Longgrear and Sven Hermann founded Nickelytics in September 2018 and raised $1.2 million in previous rounds of financing. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum target of $25,000 and a maximum target of $1,070,000, and the funds will be used to complete the Marketplace build and increase sales and diversification. Nickelytics reported a 300% Q4 growth in 2020 and is on track to reach $1.5 million ARR in 2021.
OmniValley, with a post-money valuation of $3.4 million, is raising crowdfunding on NetCapital. It is an exclusive and online venture network that showcases and connects startup ecosystems at the investor level. The platform functions as a social community and allows investors to enter under-ventured and unfamiliar markets. Grady Buchanan and Zack Genthe founded OmniValley in 2017. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding raise, with a minimum target of $10,000 and a maximum target of $250,000, will be used for sales and marketing, product development, compensation for managers, and overhead expenses. The OmniValley platform houses over 400 active investment organizations and accredited investors across six continents. The network is made up of angels, angel groups, venture capital firms, and corporate venture groups.
Dare, with a valuation cap of $5 million, is raising crowdfunding on MicroVentures. It is a social media platform that revolves around the idea of dares. The users get to interact with their friends and strangers, give them dares to complete, and complete dares given to them. Dare has also introduced dynamic AR avatars. Edvard Erken Hoili and Maria Erken Hoili founded Dare in June 2020. The current crowdfunding campaign has a minimum target of $50,000 and a maximum target of $250,000. The proceeds will be used for general marketing, future wages, research and development, and general working capital. Dare plans to launch the new version of its mobile app in the third quarter of 2020. The previous version of Dare achieved over 12,000 downloads.
Cleveland Whiskey Bond, a technology and innovation company disguised as a whiskey company, is raising funds on Wefunder. The company is issuing whiskey bonds paying at a fixed rate of 5% interest per annum. At maturity, the bondholders can either receive a cash payment or convert their interest into bottled premium Bourbon or Rye whiskey. Tom Lix founded Cleveland Whiskey Bond and has raised over $5 million since its inception. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding raise, with a minimum goal of $250,000 and a maximum goal of $1,070,000, will be used for additional distillation, fermentation, and processing equipment, expanded rack storage, database implementation, marketing, and other expenses. Cleveland Whiskey Bond has earned 80 medals globally and is expected to yield a 170% overall return.
GeoToll, with a valuation cap of $33.5 million, is raising crowdfunding on Wefunder. The company has developed a mobile automated payment solution for worldwide tolling. The mobile app allows drivers to pay their tolls using their phone, even when driving their own car, a friend’s car, or a rented car. Wyatt Geist and Jaime Borras founded GeoToll in 2012 and have raised over $6 million in previous rounds of financing. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum target of $50,000 and a maximum target of $250,000, and the proceeds will be used for product development, completion of pilot test projects, sales and marketing, and expanding to toll agencies across the US and abroad. GeoToll is led by an experienced and passionate team and is using state-of-the-art technology to revolutionize tolling.
Driftwood Oven, a mobile sourdough pizza and bread company, is raising funds on Honeycomb. The business makes award-winning pizzas and bread and travels around to sell their produce. It uses locally-sourced and high-quality ingredients to make the products, including its organic flours sourced from Frankferd Farms in Saxonburg, PA. Neil Blazin founded Driftwood Oven in 2012. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum raise of $60,000 and a maximum raise of $150,000, will be used to purchase a new oven, dough sheeter, spiral mixer, point of sale system, and two-door cooler. Driftwood Oven has received local and national acclaim for its pizzas and plans to expand its reach to generate more revenue.
Kazoo, with a $3 million valuation cap, is raising funds on WeFunder. The company has designed the world’s first SOS mobile app that helps to call 911, alert loved ones, live stream video, and pinpoint location with just one tap. Kazoo is using emergency services technology to take emergency services to a whole new level. Peter J Goodman founded Kazoo in April 2019 and has raised over $630,000 since its inception. The proceeds of the current round of crowdfunding, with a minimum goal of $50,000 and a maximum goal of $375,000, will be used towards product development, marketing, new hires, and operations. Kazoo is led by an experienced management team and an award-winning UI team and has already secured marketing partnerships with leading organizations.
EnergyX, with a post-money valuation of $57.18 million, is raising crowdfunding on NetCapital. The company is leading the global transition to renewable energy. It has developed next-generation battery technology and direct lithium extraction technology and built Lithium-ion Transport and Separation (LiTAS). Teague Egan founded EnergyX in 2018. The current crowdfunding campaign has a minimum raise of $10,000 and a maximum raise of $1,069,998. The proceeds of the raise will be used towards intellectual property, battery design, pilot plants, marketing, accounting, and other expenses. EnergyX already has agreements with four of the top ten lithium producers of the world. The company’s technology will improve lithium recovery rates from 30% to 90%.
Leafwire, with a valuation cap of $8 million, is raising funds on SeedInvest. It is an online community for cannabis and hemp businesses to connect with one another, share news, promote events, find employees, and network. It works on a freemium model that allows members to join for free and elect to pay for premium features, including advertising, listings, job posts, and monthly subscriptions. Peter Vogel and Marc Marin founded Leafwire in 2019. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum target of $25,000 and a maximum target of $1,070,000. The proceeds will be used for customer acquisition, technical development, additional sales staff, and general operations. Leafwire has reported a 700% growth in member base since January 2019, to the current member number of more than 36,100.
Acai To-Go, with a $6 million valuation cap, is raising crowdfunding on Republic. The company makes and sells ready-to-eat wild organic acai in recyclable paper tubes. The contents are organically and locally-sourced and can be squeezed into a bowl and eaten right away. Rodrigo Lima and Jayson Fittipaldi founded Acai To-Go in 2017. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum goal of $25,000 and a maximum goal of $1,070,000, will be used to continue expansion to all 50 states and target an international launch. Acai To-Go is sold nationwide across 20 franchises and over 1,000 doors. It reported 140% growth during COVID-19 and has retail partnerships with 7-Eleven, Whole Foods, and more.
Genius Juice, with a valuation cap of $14 million, is raising funds on Republic. The company manufactures, bottles, and sells organic and plant-based whole coconut smoothies. The smoothies of Genius Juice are fresh, healthy, and made with real coconut water and coconut meat. Alex Bayer founded Genius Juice in 2014 and has raised over $1.1 million in previous rounds of financing. The current round of crowdfunding has a minimum raise of $25,000 and a maximum raise of $593,165, and the proceeds will be used to launch new exciting products and expand the retail partnerships. Genius Juice is sold in over 2,800 stores, including Target, Costco, and Whole Foods. The company reported a 242% revenue increase from 2019 to 2020 and expects to reach over $12 million in revenues by 2021.
