Method and system for venture capital raising for startup via award and reality television show

• US 9,875,513 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2016
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dylan T.X. Zhou
• Original Assignee: Dylan T.X. Zhou
• Inventors: Zhou, Dylan T X
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin, Jean B
• Application Number:
  US15/132,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20160232620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 707748, 707758, 709217, 709219, 725 9, 725 14, 725 93, 725 18, 705329, 705 725, 705 723, 705 32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0279 Fundraising management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

Provided are equity crowdfunding platform for startup projects and methods of using thereof. An exemplary equity crowdfunding platform comprises an online service, a processor, and a database in communication with the online service and the processor. The online service is configured to receive information associated with a crowdfunding request from an owner of a startup project. The processor checks the information using a set of pre-defined rules to determine whether the startup project complies with the pre-defined rules. If the startup project related to the information complies with the pre-defined rules, the processor generates a crowdfunding request page for startup project using the information. The crowdfunding request page is provided to investors via the online service. The database is configured to store at least the information, the pre-defined rules, and the crowdfunding request page.

Claims

1. A method for equity crowdfunding for startup projects, the method comprising:

receiving, by an online service, information associated with a startup project from an owner of the startup project, the information being received based on uploading of the information by the owner to a web portal associated with the online service;

checking, by a processor, the information using a set of predefined rules to determine whether the startup project complies with the set of predefined rules, wherein the set of predefined rules defines criteria for the startup projects to be accepted by the online service for equity crowdfunding;

based on the determining that the startup project complies with the set of predefined rules, generating, by the processor, on the web portal, a crowdfunding request page associated with the startup project using the information;

providing, via the online service, the crowdfunding request page to investors, wherein the providing includes sending, to the investors, a notification that the crowdfunding request page associated with the startup project is generated on the web portal;

keeping records, by the processor, associated with the startup project, wherein the records include data from open sources and data provided by the owner of the startup project;

based on the records, generating analytics for the startup project, wherein the analytics includes one or more of the following;

statistical data, one or more progress reports, and one or more ratings; and

providing the analytics for the startup project on the crowdfunding request page.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the crowdfunding request page includes an offering on at least one security associated with the startup project in return for an amount of investment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of predefined rules include financial requirements, industry limitations, and a minimum investment amount.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the crowdfunding request page is generated for the startup project that complies with the set of predefined rules.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein access to the online service is provided on a subscription basis.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the online service, a filtering command from an investor, wherein the filtering command includes one or more of the following;

a key word, a target industry, and a minimum investment amount; and

based on the filtering command, providing a list of filtered crowdfunding request page.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the online service, an investment transfer request associated with the crowdfunding request page from at least one of the investors; and

based on the investment transfer request, transmitting an investment transfer request to a financial facility.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the investment transfer request includes an investment amount.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a notification that the investment transfer request is executed successfully; and

based on the notification, modifying the crowdfunding request page to show one or more investments raised by the startup project.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

based on the investment transfer request, providing at least one security to the at least one of the investors.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the online service, at least one expert opinion associated with the startup project; and

providing the at least one expert opinion on the crowdfunding request page associated with the startup project.

12. A system for equity crowdfunding for startup projects, the system comprising:

an online service configured to;

receive information associated with a startup project from an owner of the startup project, the information being received based on uploading of the information by the owner to a web portal associated with the online service; and

provide a crowdfunding request page to investors, wherein the providing includes sending, to the investors, a notification that the crowdfunding request page associated with the startup project is generated on the web portal;

a processor in communication with the online service and configured to;

check the information using a set of predefined rules to determine whether the startup project complies with the set of predefined rules, wherein the set of predefined rules defines criteria for the startup projects to be accepted by the online service for equity crowdfunding;

based on the determining that the startup project complies with the set of predefined rules, generate, on the web portal, the crowdfunding request page associated with the startup project using the information;

keep records associated with the startup project, wherein the records include data from open sources and data provided by the owner of the startup project;

based on the records, generate analytics for the startup project, wherein the analytics includes one or more of the following;

statistical data, one or more progress reports, and one or more ratings; and

provide the analytics for the startup project on the crowdfunding request page; and

a database in communication with the online service and the processor, the database being configured to store at least the information, the set of predefined rules, and the crowdfunding request page.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the crowdfunding request page includes an offering on at least one security associated with the startup project in return for an amount of investment.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of predefined rules include financial requirements, industry limitations, and a minimum investment amount.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the crowdfunding request page is generated for the startup project that complies with the set of predefined rules.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein access to the online service is provided on a subscription basis.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the online service provides a filtering capability based on one or more of the following:

a key word, a target industry, and a minimum investment amount.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the online service is further configured to receive an investment transfer request associated with the crowdfunding request page from at least one of the investors, wherein the investment transfer request is transmitted to a financial facility.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the investment transfer request includes an investment amount.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein a notification of successful execution of the investment transfer request is received.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein at least one security is provided to the at least one of the investors based on the investment transfer request.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the online service is further configured to:

receive at least one expert opinion associated with the startup project; and

provide the at least one expert opinion on the crowdfunding request page associated with the startup project.

23. A system for equity crowdfunding for startup projects, the system comprising:

an online service configured to;

receive information associated with a startup project from an owner of the startup project, the information being received based on uploading of the information by the owner to a web portal associated with the online service; and

provide a crowdfunding request page to investors, wherein the providing includes sending, to the investors, a notification that the crowdfunding request page associated with the startup project is generated on the web portal;

receive an investment transfer request associated with the crowdfunding request page from at least one of the investors, wherein the investment transfer request is transmitted to a financial facility, and wherein at least one security is provided to the at least one of the investors based on the investment transfer request;

a processor in communication with the online service and configured to;

check the information using a set of predefined rules to determine whether the startup project complies with the set of predefined rules, wherein the set of predefined rules defines criteria for the startup projects to be accepted by the online service for equity crowdfunding;

based on the determining that the startup project complies with the set of predefined rules, generate, on the web portal, the crowdfunding request page associated with the startup project using the information;

keep records associated with the startup project, wherein the records include data from open sources and data provided by the owner of the startup project;

based on the records, generate analytics for the startup project, wherein the analytics includes one or more of the following;

statistical data, one or more progress reports, and one or more ratings; and

provide the analytics for the startup project on the crowdfunding request page; and

a database in communication with the online service and the processor, the database configured to store at least the information, the predefined rules, and the crowdfunding request page.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the crowdfunding request includes an offering on at least one security associated with the startup project in return for an amount of investment.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the investment transfer request includes an investment amount.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein a number of securities provided to the at least one of the investors is calculated based on the investment amount,

wherein the online service is associated with an equity crowdfunding stock exchange, wherein the equity crowdfunding stock exchange includes one or more of the following:

an electronic stock market, an automated trading system, a quotation system, an online trading system, an alternative trading system, an electronic communication network or a trade,

wherein the online service is associated with one or more of the following;

a reality show, a reality television show, and an online live video show,

wherein the equity crowdfunding stock exchange is configured to provide services for one or more of the following;

buying securities, selling the securities, issuing the securities, redeeming the securities, paying an income, and paying dividends,

wherein the securities include one or more of the following;

stocks issued by crowdfunding companies, unit trusts, derivatives, pooled investment products, and bonds,

wherein the securities are listed in the equity crowdfunding stock exchange,

wherein the equity crowdfunding stock exchange includes an equity crowdfunding stock exchange over-the-counter, wherein the equity crowdfunding stock exchange over-the-counter is associated with trading between two parties,

wherein the equity crowdfunding stock exchange over-the-counter is associated with commodities, financial instruments, and derivatives,

wherein the equity crowdfunding platform is associated with raising monetary contributions performed via internet-mediated registries, mail-order subscriptions, and benefit events,

wherein the equity crowdfunding platform serves as a moderating organization between a project initiator proposing a crowdfunding project to be funded and one or more individuals supporting the crowdfunding project.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein the investors register with the online service and pay a subscription fee for access to the online service.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein the online service is associated with one or more of the following:

rewards crowdfunding, equity crowdfunding, debt-based crowdfunding, and crowdsourcing, wherein each of the rewards crowdfunding, the equity crowdfunding, the debt-based crowdfunding, and the crowdsourcing is associated with one or more of the following;

a reality show, a reality television show, and an online live video show,

wherein the rewards crowdfunding is associated with pre-selling a product or a service to launch a crowdfunding project using one or more of the following;

motion picture promotion, free software development, invention development, scientific research, and civic projects,

wherein the equity crowdfunding is associated with providing finances in a form of equity by a plurality of individuals, wherein the equity crowdfunding is further associated with offering the securities associated with a private company to a group of people for investment, funding startup companies and small businesses in return for equity by providing money to a project and receiving an ownership of a piece of the object,

wherein the debt-based crowdfunding is associated with peer-to-peer crowdfunding, marketplace lending, and crowdlending integrated into each other, wherein the debt-based crowdfunding is further associated with buying the securities by a project inventor to make loans to a borrower, wherein the project inventor receives money from an interest on unsecured loans,

wherein the crowdsourcing is associated with soliciting contributions from an online community, wherein each of a plurality of contributors adds a contribution being combined with contributions of the plurality of contributors.