Below are the latest equity crowdfunding raises begun this past week. For additional information, we encourage KingsCrowd members 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.
Hercules Electric Vehicles, with a pre-money valuation of $86.9 million, is raising funds on Netcapital. The company makes customized electric mobility vehicles with solar charging. The mobility solutions are offered in the form of SUVs, sports trucks, and recreational vehicles. James Breyer, Julie Tolley, and Greg Weber founded Hercules Electric Vehicles in 2018. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum target of $10,000 and a maximum target of $1,064,960. The funds will be used for marketing, R&D, and compensation. Hercules Electric Vehicles is working on a scalable propulsion technology that can be used across EV pickups and marine mobility segments. The company has entered into a strategic partnership with a large international automotive OEM for co-manufacturing the vehicles.
FirstRoot, with a pre-money valuation of $4.2 million, is raising crowdfunding on NetCapital. The company has developed a software program to teach financial literacy to children. The SaaS company sells its program to schools where it gets integrated into the curriculum and helps kids decide how to invest real money. Verne Harnish and Alexander Osterwalder founded FirstRoot in January 2020. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding campaign, with a minimum raise of $10,000 and a maximum raise of $1,067,220, will be used for operational expenses, marketing and sales, curriculum development, product development, and compensation. FirstRoot guides students through the process of Participatory Budgeting and lets them learn by managing an actual budget.
Rock City ZA, a pizza place in Dallas, TX, is raising crowdfunding on MainVest. The business aims to bring delicious and genuine Detroit-style pizza to Dallas. It is working as a pop-up as of now and plans to open a permanent location soon. Mark Slaughter founded Rock City ZA in May 2021. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum goal of $75,000 and a maximum goal of $107,000. The raise proceeds will target space buildout, equipment purchase, opening inventory, and operating capital. Rock City ZA sold out 45 pop-up nights from August 2020 to December 2020. Currently, the business is taking online orders for pickup and aims to grow further soon.
The Bucket List Studios, with a valuation of $30 million, is raising crowdfunding on Republic. It is a studio being created by The Bucket List Family, a top travel influencer of 2019. The family is starting off the studio with a cartoon about their real-life travel adventures. Garrett Gee founded The Bucket List Studios in December 2020 and has raised more than $5 million in previous rounds of financing. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum goal of $25,000 and a maximum goal of $2,999,996.11, will be used to build a team and start production. The Bucket List Studios has already developed brand partnerships with Disney, Netflix, Google, and Target.
Hardscoop, with a pre-money valuation of $13.07 million, is raising funds on StartEngine. The federally-permitted distillery makes hard desserts for adults using ultra-premium ingredients and its wine blend. The desserts of Hardscoop are unique and contain about 8%-to-10% alcohol. Jason A. Kirby, David Kirby, Chris Ledbetter, and Lynn R. Kirby founded Hardscoop in July 2013. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum target of $10,000 and a maximum target of $1,070,000, will be used for growth and expansion. Hardscoop has reported doubling of its revenue growth year-over-year for the past three years. The desserts, with more than 11 exciting flavors, are sold at more than 100 retail stores.
The SMART Tire Company, with a $50 million valuation cap, is raising crowdfunding on Wefunder. The company is revolutionizing the tire industry with its airless tires made from space-age material and coated with a special rubber-like material. Earl Cole and Brian Yennie founded The SMART Tire Company in August 2020. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum raise of $50,000 and a maximum raise of $5,000,000, will be used for research and development with NASA, salaries, marketing, prototypes, and other minor expenses. The SMART Tire Company tires are backed by more than twelve years of research. The company has strategic partnerships and collaborations with Spin Mobility and Felt Bicycles.
Private Packs, with a $5 million valuation cap, is raising funds on Wefunder. It is a female wellness company that makes modern genital pain solutions for females. The product offerings of Private Packs include ergonomic hot & cold therapy packs and topical ointments. Suzanne Roberts founded Private Packs in February 2020. The current crowdfunding campaign has a minimum raise of $30,000 and a maximum raise of $250,000. The funds will be used for marketing, retail-related expenses, and retaining Claire. Private Packs has already received the design patent and won “Most VC-Backable Startup’ at the Venture Capital Investment Competition.
wOS, with a valuation cap of $12 million, is raising crowdfunding on Wefunder. The company has developed a social fitness app offering live and on-demand classes in LATAM. The app is available for both B2C and B2B clients with form correction API, personalized coaching, and a digital fitness app suite. Eduardo Mussali, Iddar Olivares Morales, and Andrea Illanes founded wOS in April 2020. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding campaign, with a minimum goal of $50,000 and a maximum goal of $250,000, will be used towards salaries, customer acquisition, and streaming and infrastructure. wOS reported an MRR of $4,000 in the first 45 days. The growth is completely organic, and the app has 400 paying users and 6,000 downloads since its launch in February 2021.
Frank App, with a valuation cap of $10 million, is raising funds on Wefunder. The company has developed an app for contractors, by contractors, to generate remodeling estimates automatically. The remodeling software of Frank App supercharges the estimating process on-site and in minutes. Zachary Schlossberg founded Frank App in September 2020. The current crowdfunding round of the company has a minimum goal of $50,000 and a maximum goal of $1,070,000. The raise proceeds will target engineering, marketing, and key senior hires. Frank App already has hundreds of contractors signed up as the first to get Frank, and pre-sales have already begun.
Dokkaebier, with a $5 million valuation cap, is raising funds on Wefunder. The company is bringing Asian flavor to the craft beer industry with its Asian-influenced brews. The business has launched many exquisite flavors and has new recipes being tested. Youngwon Lee founded Dokkaebier in June 2019. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum target of $75,000 and a maximum target of $300,000, will be used for inventory, operating capital, and marketing. Dokkaebier was the finalist in the 2020 Brewpound Pitch Slam Competition. It also opened a popup in San Francisco and generated $185,000 in the middle of COVID-19.
Emerald Coast Brewing, an upcoming brewery in Panama City, FL, is raising funds on MainVest. The brewery will implement proven brewing techniques to produce four legacy brews and two specialty brews in small batches. The business aims to sell most of its beer on its premises and sell the remaining through outside distribution. Shannon Huddleston founded Emerald Coast Brewing in March 2021. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum raise of $75,000 and a maximum raise of $107,000, will be used towards real estate and operating capital. Emerald Coast Brewing will also partner with local food trucks to offer new dining options every night. The business will also host charitable events and business partnerships.
Oneva, with a pre-money valuation of $14.4 million, is raising funds on Netcapital. The company provides in-home care services to the employees as an employer voluntary wellness benefit. The services include child care, adult care, elder care, special needs care, housekeeping, and pet care and are offered by 100% background-verified providers. Anita Darden Gardyne and Bob Gardyne founded Oneva in 2014. The current crowdfunding raise has a minimum target of $10,000 and a maximum target of $534,999. The raise proceeds will be used towards platform enhancements, recruiting, sports marketing, security, video equipment, enterprise sales, and repayment of debt. Oneva is used by business operator caregivers to market themselves and by enterprises to attract and retain employees, especially women.
Coquette, a bakery in Santa Fe, NM, is raising crowdfunding on MainVest. The bakery makes high-quality baked goods, including wedding cakes, mason jar layer cakes, rosettes, and a wide variety of other pastries. It has a loyal customer base in Santa Fe and fills a niche in the area. Caitlin Olsen founded Coquette in September 2020. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding campaign, with a minimum target of $30,000 and a maximum target of $50,000, will be used for equipment, labels and packaging material, and ingredients. Coquette is led by an experienced founder and has a competitive advantage in the area. The bakery plans to pursue a multi-pronged distribution strategy through Whole Foods, Chomp Food Hall, and online distribution.
Pulse Protocol, with a pre-money valuation of $6.15 million, is raising funds on StartEngine. The company has developed a software and marketing platform for doctors and healthcare professionals to manage their medical travel businesses. The medical travel SaaS platform connects patients and providers across borders, improves the patient experience, and increases productivity. Robert Page founded Pulse Protocol in April 2015. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum target of $10,000 and a maximum target of $1,069,999.75. The funds will be used for the implementation of the software beyond the original niche of the medical travel business. Pulse Protocol works on an efficient business model, earning revenue through licensing the software, providing marketing services, and charging transaction fees.
Mount, with a $6 million valuation cap, is raising crowdfunding on Wefunder. The company has launched electric scooters on Airbnb properties and combined the micro-mobility industry with the short-term rental industry. The business brings scooters to Airbnbs in a package of scooters, helmets, locks, insurance, and an app to control the system. Madi Rifkin, Matt Langham, and Rishab Nayak founded Mount in August 2020. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum raise of $75,000 and a maximum raise of $200,000, will be used for marketing, hiring, and scooter purchases and growth. Mount has more than $1.5 million in potential revenue from pre-orders and purchase requests. The business is already live in Phoenix, Miami, Denver, and Scottsdale and has a waitlist of 120 properties and 500 scooters.
Popoca, a Salvadoran restaurant in Oakland, CA, is raising funds on SMBX. The restaurant brings the traditional cooking and recipes of El Salvador to California with its progressive food like pupusas and tamales. The food is made using fresh and high-quality ingredients and cooked over a wood fire. Anthony Salguero founded Popoca in January 2020. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum target of $25,000 and a maximum target of $250,000. The funds will be used towards a hearth for wood-fire cooking, hoods, molino, kitchen equipment, furniture, and lighting fixtures. Popoca will offer an upscale dining experience with an option for guests to choose between a tasting menu and a family-style meal.
Pops, with a $25 million valuation cap, is raising crowdfunding on SeedInvest. The company has developed a self-care med-tech platform that helps people to manage their own diabetes. The AI-based virtual assistant, Mina, supports the users and offers diabetes management along with the Rebel meter to measure blood sugar. Lonny Stormo founded Pops in 2015. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding campaign, with a minimum raise of $25,000 and a maximum raise of $1,070,000, will be used for marketing, customer success, R&D, product support, clinical expenses, and operations. Pops has an FDA-approved product and achieved a 90% month-over-month user growth for the four months of 2021.
The Dropout, an independent feature film, is raising crowdfunding on Wefunder. It is a sex-positive comedy inspired by The Graduate and told from the perspective of a character inspired by Mrs. Robinson. The Dropout is written, directed, and produced by Tyrrell Shaffner, produced by Cassandra Jones, and written and produced by Meryl Branch-McTiernan. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum goal of $110,000 and a maximum goal of $322,500, will be used towards the cast, production, post-production, and insurance. The Dropout is led by an award-winning team with a proven track record. The script of the film has been placed in the top 5% entries of Academy Nicholl Screenplay entries in 2019 and 2020.
Eventcombo, with a pre-money valuation of $27.3 million, is raising funds on StartEngine. The company is leading event technology and enables virtual, in-person, and hybrid events. The technology increases user engagement and conversion. Saroosh Gull founded Eventcombo in 2015. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum goal of $9,998.94 and a maximum goal of $484,412.13, and the proceeds will be used to grow and become a dominant force in the events industry. Eventcombo is working effectively during COVID-19 as a complete organization solution for integrations, CRM, donations, ticketing, memberships, and communications. The company has serviced more than 40,000 events with more than 7,500 organizations. It has partnered with strong brands to ensure full coverage of the events.
Restflix, with a valuation cap of $5 million, is raising crowdfunding on Republic. The company has developed a scientific-backed streaming service that helps people get rest and sleep through proven sound therapy. The service uses binaural beats that naturally trigger a slowdown in brain activity. Kevin Hillman founded Restflix in July 2019. The current crowdfunding campaign has a minimum raise of $25,000 and a maximum raise of $1,070,000, and the funds will be used for expansion and continued growth. Restflix works on a scalable subscription-based business model with average subscription profit margins of 30-40%. The app has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, and Entrepreneur and was named Best Sleep App to Drift Off To by Livestrong.
Armaga VR, a virtual reality studio in North Riverside, IL, is raising funds on MainVest. The business maintains a vast library of virtual reality content and provides it with complete immersion. The guests at Armaga VR get to experience motion simulation, car racing, roller-coaster rides, and weightlessness. Archie Thompson founded Armaga VR in August 2018. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum target of $10,000 and a maximum target of $250,000, will be used to acquire new virtual reality hardware. Armaga VR offers immersive entertainment to families and individuals at select retail and culturally significant venues.
Mylance, with a valuation cap of $10 million, is raising crowdfunding on Wefunder. The company is developing a platform for freelancers to market themselves, support the community, and grow. The platform aims to offer lead generation and back-office admin to freelancers and streamline their operations. Bradley Jacobs founded Mylance in January 2020. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum goal of $50,000 and a maximum goal of $250,000, will be used towards development, marketing, non-dev headcount, and legal expenses. Mylance reported a 695% growth in revenue from the first half of 2021 to the second half of 2021.
Two Beagles Distilling, an upcoming cidery, winery, and tasting room in Fredericksburg, VA, is raising funds on MainVest. The business will use its knowledge of manufacturing spirits, mead, and hard cider into creating its products. Craig Ennis founded Two Beagles Distilling in June 2020. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum target of $80,000 and a maximum target of $200,000, will be used for space acquisition, equipment purchase, utilities, operating capital, kitchen buildout, and licensing fees. Two Beagles Distilling is competing with only two other cideries and eleven craft breweries in the area.
Todos Comemos, with a valuation cap of $15 million, is raising funds on Wefunder. The company has created the first LATAM pre-made ingredient marketplace where customers can buy the ingredients for preparing Latin American meals in simple steps. The pre-made ingredients are frozen with no added preservatives. Mateo Cardenas and Santiago Espinosa founded Todos Comemos in June 2020. The proceeds of the current crowdfunding round, with a minimum raise of $50,000 and a maximum raise of $1,070,000, will be used towards payroll, user acquisition, tech development, investments in a warehouse, and product security stock. Todos Comemos has its current users replacing 20% of their groceries with Todos Comemos products and using them 3-to-5 times per week.
Erin Leonard Events, an events company, is raising crowdfunding on SMBX. The business plans and produces engaging events and also functions as a marketing firm offering strategic consulting, social media marketing, website content development, and digital marketing. Erin Leonard founded Erin Leonard Events in 2019. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum goal of $25,000 and a maximum goal of $100,000. The funds will be used towards new office equipment, physical office space transition, marketing, and new staff payroll expenses. Erin Leonard Events is planning to push the boundaries of events with more AR/VR events and asynchronous and synchronous courses.
PlayChannel, with a valuation cap of $17.5 million, is raising funds on Republic. The business is combining the thrill of live TV game shows with social mobile gaming fun. The players become contestants in a live TV game show and stand a chance to win real prizes. James Jones founded PlayChannel in January 2019. The current crowdfunding round has a minimum raise of $25,000 and a maximum raise of $1,070,000. The raise proceeds will target user acquisition and revenue growth. PlayChannel is generating an annual revenue run rate of more than $7 million and growing fast. The business reported $2.2 million in revenue in 2020 and expects to generate $8.6 million in 2021.
Pizza Grace, an upcoming pizza place in Birmingham, AL, is raising crowdfunding on MainVest. The business is bringing an artistic approach to take-out pizza, which is 100% naturally leavened. The fine-dining pastry approach to pizza is expected to make the business scalable, artistic, and methodical. Ryan Westover founded Pizza Grace in June 2020. The current crowdfunding campaign has a minimum goal of $8,000 and a maximum goal of $20,000. The raise proceeds will be used to cover the construction costs. Pizza Grace is aiming to build not just a restaurant but a brand with its strong branding and logo design by Studio Kuyl.
