The combined technology of KingsCrowd and Newchip will further cement KingsCrowd’s position as the #1 ratings and analytics service in online private markets.
SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB) December 16, 2019
KingsCrowd, a San Francisco-based leading ratings and analytics provider for the online private markets sector has today purchased Newchip’s aggregator app and platform technology. According to sources, the technology was acquired in an agreement for an undisclosed amount. The official acquisition date was December 2nd.
In the deal, KingsCrowd will acquire Newchip’s aggregator technology assets, including its #1 startup investing app in the Apple App store, and all 100,000+ investors in its community. This strategic asset acquisition will 10X the size of the KingsCrowd community and firmly cement the company’s position as the leading ratings and analytics provider in the online private markets industry.
According to company founder and CEO Chris Lustrino, “We have had a relationship since the beginning and have always thought the world of Newchip and what Ryan and his team were doing to bring efficiencies to this new world of online startup investing. To bring their users and capabilities into the fold under the KingsCrowd ratings platform is an incredibly exciting opportunity to transform the level of impact we can have on this market”.
Newchip, launched in 2016, under founders Ryan Rafols and Travis Brodeen, and quickly became the largest equity crowdfunding market aggregator in the United States and the de-facto marketplace to discover startup investments under Regulation Crowdfunding and A+. Due to its partnerships with the majority of the Reg CF market, Newchip investors invested $20M+ into startups via its desktop and mobile app, helping establish the Reg CF market.
“Newchip has become the category leader in providing comparison and portfolio tracking tools for maneuvering this new world of startup investing. With their impressive user base, intriguing technology and commitment to enhancing the online private markets, we saw this technology acquisition partnership as a clear strategic fit to amplify the reach of KingsCrowd,” said Chris Lustrino, Founder and CEO of KingsCrowd.
“As Newchip has grown over the years, its mission has expanded, and we found a significant opportunity in launching an accelerator to mentor founders. We believe that working together with KingsCrowd will allow us to accomplish our original mission of connecting everyday Americans to the best main street and pre-IPO investments while also allowing us to expand our vision of helping founders build investable and successful startups.” said Ryan Rafols, Co-Founder and CEO of Newchip.
The combined technology of KingsCrowd and Newchip will further cement KingsCrowd’s position as the #1 ratings and analytics service in online private markets, which is quickly becoming a multi-billion dollar investment market thanks to marketplaces such as SeedInvest, Netcapital, Republic, Funders Club, AngelList, Forge, and SharesPost. KingsCrowd is currently raising capital on one of the leading online private marketplaces, Netcapital, of which the KingsCrowd’s offering page can be found here.
Industry expert Amy Wan added, “Small business capital formation continues to be challenging within the United States. This acquisition will continue to accelerate solutions to this long standing issue. I’m optimistic about the opportunity this will give to great entrepreneurs.”
Newchip will continue to operate under its brand for its accelerator and investment fund, however its aggregator and retail investment community will shift to the KingsCrowd brand. The organization structure, says the CEO of Newchip, will stay the same in both entities, however we will be working closely to ensure a smooth technology transition and strong partnership moving forward, and we look forward to updating the app branding to KingsCrowd and offering its services to our investors.
Officials at KingsCrowd believe this move will enhance shareholder value by expanding the reach of the organization through both an expanded user base and the distribution channel of the Newchip app. KingsCrowd previously acquired Crowditz in 2018, and looks forward to continuing to add to its suite of products and services to retail investors in private markets under Reg CF.
About KingsCrowd
KingsCrowd is the leading independent ratings and analytics service for the online private markets. Through deal aggregation across the 50+ online private market investment platforms and in-depth due diligence, KingsCrowd combines cutting edge analytics capabilities with world class private market due diligence expertise to help both individuals and institutions to invest in the newly emerging private markets with confidence. KingsCrowd was founded by Chris Lustrino, an esteemed Fintech blogger and former management consultant at LEK Consulting in 2018 and is advised by John Fanning, the Founding Chairman and CEO of Napster.
About Newchip
Newchip built one of the largest retail investment communities in America and has since expanded from educating and connecting retail investors to the mainstreet private equity markets to also educating and teaching entrepreneurs how to scale successfully. In 2019 it launched an immersive, equity-free, online accelerator program and venture capital fund for Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A startups. Participants engage in a comprehensive curriculum of training, 1-1 mentor sessions, Masterminds, and live lectures over six months to prepare them to raise investment capital from Angels, VC’s, and the Crowd. Startups apply and are accepted into Accelerator programs based on the stage, traction, and trajectory of their business.
Contacts:
KingsCrowd
Chris Lustrino 914-826-4520
chris@kingscrowd.com