16Jul

JOBS Act Giving Crowdfunding a Boost

The JOBS Act (Jumpstart Our Business Startup Act), a law that encourages the funding of U.S. small businesses and startups by easing various securities regulations, had the Reg A+ exemption go live on June 19th of this year. The exemption will further facilitate access to capital for smaller companies and provide investors with more investment options.

Smaller companies now have the opportunity to offer and sell up to $50 million in securities in an annual period, subject to eligibility, disclosure and reporting requirements. This is great news for startups and small businesses, of which 86 of the fasting growing startups in the U.S. call Utah home. Regarded as the next “Silicon Valley”, the state leads the Forbes 2014 list of top states to do business, and ranks third on CNBC’s list of the best states to do business.

Because of this, crowdfunding platforms, such as Seed Equity Ventures, are now closing the gap for entrepreneurs working to raise capital in the early stages of their business. Giving them a direct lifeline to make it out alive past their seed stage. All the while, they are providing investors worldwide the option to get involved with compelling new opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t normally find.

The introduction of crowdfunding into the financial landscape of today has created an easy exchange of capital between businesses and their investors through its efficiency in getting key information out to the masses. And the numbers don’t lie.

Last year saw a 167 percent increase in money raised for companies and individuals via crowdfunding; that’s a $15.1 billion jump from 2013. Over $250 million of that came directly from venture capitalists and strategic investors.

Startups with even the greatest potential who choose to not go the crowdfunding route often find themselves struggling to stay afloat in their early stages, namely the seed stage. This is because most venture capitals and institutions are more inclined to make an investment in a smaller business once it’s already been established in the marketplace and seeking to expand.

30Dec

Xiaomi: The Fastest Growing Startup in the World

Todd Crosland Xiaomi StartupThe Chinese smartphone startup, Xiaomi, has raised $1.1 billion from venture capitalists in the last four years. The company has been valued at $45 billion. The company’s co-founder, Bin Lin, made the news public on Facebook. Xiaomi has surpassed Uber for the fastest growing startup in the world, and is currently ranked 3rd among global smartphone producers. Xiaomi attributes its continued success to their lower-cost products.

In an industry where many of Xiaomi’s competitors are taking huge hits, the Chinese smartphone startup was able to take advantage of the opportunity in the market. Their current valuation is more than four times their valuation in 2013. The startup company has surpassed other smartphone makers, such as Samsung Motorola, and HTC.

Although the company has endured a vast amount of success in the early stages, there are still some foreseeable challenges. As Xiaomi continues to expand, they face intellectual property issues when entering developed markets. A smartphone producer based out of Sweden, Ericsson, has sued Xiaomi for copyright infringement, banning the sale of their product in India for a short-while. Apple’s design chief, Jony Ive, accused Xiaomi of being lazy and stealing the Apple design.

Xiaomi differs from Apple in their business plan. Whereas Apple makes their profit from selling high-cost products with exceptional margins, Xiaomi’s business goals cater to making small profits on each product shipment. Their margins, therefore, are much smaller, but the demand is greater due to the products low cost. Xiaomi’s goal is to have their phones in as many people’s hands as possible. After this, they can sell their software and apps to generate a greater opportunity for profit.

The startup company focuses their business mantra on creating the best user experience. Xiaomi’s most notable investors include DST Global, Yunfeng Capital, All-Stars Investments, and Hopu Investment Management.