Equity crowdfunding is a process used by entrepreneurs and early-stage unlisted companies to raise capital from the general public. Although similar to a Kickstarter campaign, crowdfunding enables any investor to purchase securities in these private companies, as opposed to a product, and stand to profit as a shareholder if the company performs well.

As an investor, investing through equity crowdfunding can be much more rewarding than investing in a large-cap company. It offers innumerable opportunities to not only discover new businesses and ideas, but also support the growth of companies that align with your values whether it be ethics, innovation, sustainability, or other causes you believe in — across a wide range of industries.