How You Too Can Become a Venture Capitalist
It can be as simple as buying shares in a business through a crowdfunding portal.
Thanks to a slew of crowdfunding portals that let individuals buy shares in budding businesses, now you can be a venture capitalist. At least 11 sites are up and running, with 25 more in the works pending approval from regulators. Here’s a look at some of the opportunities—all of which are highly speculative.
-- At StartEngine.com, find Web-based start-ups such as GameTree, a social-networking platform for video-game players, and Gigmor, which connects musicians with performance opportunities.
Wefunder.com offers stakes in services such as QMedic, a medical alert outfit, and Kibin, which helps students with writing essays.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
-- At SeedInvest.com you can explore MF Fire, maker of a clean-burning woodstove that you can operate with an app, and StartMart, which leases shared work space in downtown Cleveland.
-- To channel your inner Steven Spielberg, check IndieCrowdFunder.com. Not much is under way yet, but operators hope to help fund Hollywood talent for movies and TV projects, and they’re reaching out to women in particular through the site’s Five 4 Entertainment Equality program.
For a list of registered portals, visit Finra.org.
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
-
Stock Market Today: Dow Climbs 288 Points After Amazon, Intel Earnings
Post-earnings strength from Amazon and Intel helped cushion the blow of a disappointing October jobs report.
By David Dittman Published
-
Nvidia Stock Is Joining the Dow. Is It Time to Buy?
Nvidia will replace Intel in the Dow Jones Industrial Average this Friday. What does it mean for the stock?
By Dan Burrows Published
-
Best Banks for High-Net-Worth Clients 2024
wealth management These banks welcome customers who keep high balances in deposit and investment accounts, showering them with fee breaks and access to financial-planning services.
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
-
Stock Market Holidays in 2024: NYSE, NASDAQ and Wall Street Holidays
Markets When are the stock market holidays? Here, we look at which days the NYSE, Nasdaq and bond markets are off in 2024.
By Kyle Woodley Last updated
-
Stock Market Trading Hours: What Time Is the Stock Market Open Today?
Markets When does the market open? While the stock market does have regular hours, trading doesn't necessarily stop when the major exchanges close.
By Michael DeSenne Last updated
-
Bogleheads Stay the Course
Bears and market volatility don’t scare these die-hard Vanguard investors.
By Kim Clark Published
-
The Current I-Bond Rate Until May Is Mildly Attractive. Here's Why.
Investing for Income The current I-bond rate is active until November 2024 and presents an attractive value, if not as attractive as in the recent past.
By David Muhlbaum Last updated
-
What Are I-Bonds? Inflation Made Them Popular. What Now?
savings bonds Inflation has made Series I savings bonds, known as I-bonds, enormously popular with risk-averse investors. So how do they work?
By Lisa Gerstner Last updated
-
This New Sustainable ETF’s Pitch? Give Back Profits.
investing Newday’s ETF partners with UNICEF and other groups.
By Ellen Kennedy Published
-
As the Market Falls, New Retirees Need a Plan
retirement If you’re in the early stages of your retirement, you’re likely in a rough spot watching your portfolio shrink. We have some strategies to make the best of things.
By David Rodeck Published