Ask HN: Could you build a startup around this "crowdfunding" model?

crowdfunding.trampolinesystems.com

1 point·callmeed··5 comments

OP here. Read about this company on TC and found what they did interesting. Just wondering if you could build a simple startup around this model. I have a friend in finance who has access to accredited investors ... we were thinking we could charge them $1k a year for access to invest in startups who are in our system.

Startups would apply and must be accepted to be in our system. Maybe even charge them $500 to make sure they're serious (possibly refund it if they don't get any investment).

Just not sure what type of regulartory hurdles exist. Is this even possible at all?

i had a similar idea to this a little while ago, but couldn't think of how to execute on it properly.

basically a prosper.com for investing in companies.

i'd love to see it executed upon.

They're only accepting money from Regulation D accredited investors, meaning people with 7-figure bank accounts. This isn't substantially different from seeking angel funding.

Right, but many startups don't know where to find angels. And perhaps angels would pay for organized access to good ideas like this.

Accredited investors can be others besides those with 7-figure bank accounts: http://www.sec.gov/answers/accred.htm

There are also cases where you're not allowed to solicit investments publicly under Regulation D, which could hurt the "crowd" part of this "sourcing".

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