Charlotte Angel Connection Episode 109: Will McGuire and Anya Johnson of CrowdfundNC

Anya Johnson and Will McGuire with CrowdfundNC join us for the podcast today. Will joined us a few years ago to talk about crowdfunding and his own company, CrowdfundNC. I wanted to circle back around and talk with Will and Anya about the crowdfunding initiatives in North Carolina as well as what the industry in general looks like.  I have long been a believer that local entrepreneurs are good investment opportunities as potentially investment opportunities for people willing AND able to take the risk. Companies like CrowdfundNC make it easier for local people to invest in local businesses.  As Charlotte in particular – and North Carolina/South Carolina – continue to grow more entrepreneurs will start businesses looking to capitalize on that growth.  There are some new regulations coming out which impacts accredited and non-accredited investors too. We discuss the opportunities in Raleigh and with Crowdfunding.  Anya encourages people to utilize the  website, NC Grind (https://ncgrind.com/) where people can go to find investment opportunities connected to North Carolina; get first access to NC business and investment news; and it provides education by luncheons, Networking events, etc. An emerging trend in early stage capital are syndicates – which are essentially groups of similar people/organizations coming together to build businesses in their community.  Examples could be investors in IoT, Med Tech, Fin Tech, real estate, etc.  Crowdfunding platforms are making it easier for people to form syndicates and organize capital around communities/industries.  Will and Anya dive into this during our call and I believe this is an area to watch in the coming years. Will and Anya discuss their connection to a large partner network with resources within North Carolina and outside the state to support community awareness , help raise funding, and connect people to other groups for support. Hear what CrowdfundNC has to offer – you will definitely understand their mission - to grow North Carolina's entrepreneurial ecosystem by democratizing access to capital for all businesses providing new economic opportunities for all.  Ultimately as we’ve said before on the podcast there are avenues developing that will allow investors to better invest locally just like avenues have developed in the food world for us to buy locally.  I’m excited to watch this trend and invite you to follow Will and Anya to stay in the loop.   William Bissett is the owner of and an Investment Advisor Representative of Portus Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Opinions expressed on this program do not necessarily reflect those of Portus Wealth Advisors. The topics discussed and opinions given are not intended to address the specific needs of any listener.   Portus Wealth Advisors does not offer legal or tax advice, listeners are encouraged to discuss their financial needs with the appropriate professional regarding your individual circumstance.  Investments described herein may be speculative and may involve a substantial risk of loss. Interests may be offered only to persons who qualify as accredited investors under applicable state and federal regulation or an eligible employee of the management company. There generally is no public market for the Interests. Prospective investors should particularly note that many factors affect performance, including changes in market conditions and interest rates, and other economic, political or financial developments. Past performance is not, and should not be construed as, indicative of future results.