Which Platforms Let Founders Raise Money Online Like Kickstarter, But for Equity?

Equity crowdfunding platforms let founders raise capital online like Kickstarter, but backers get shares instead of swag. Platforms like Wefunder, StartEngine, Republic, and Launch Deck enable founders to raise $250K-$5M+ from hundreds of investors through public Regulation CF campaigns or private accredited networks. If you're a startup founder tired of pitching VCs who ghost you after the third meeting, burning weeks on decks that go nowhere while your runway shrinks, these platforms open the door to community-backed funding without giving up board seats.

The Democratization of Startup Investing

Imagine a world where everyday people don't just pre-order your gadget, they own a piece of your company. That's the revolution of equity crowdfunding: democratized, online fundraising that turns Kickstarter's reward model into real ownership stakes.

In 2012, Pebble Watch shattered records by raising over $10 million on Kickstarter from 68,000 backers who got watches, not equity. Fast-forward to today, and founders are raising millions more with backers becoming shareholders instead, on platforms that feel just as accessible but operate under SEC rules.

This revolution has opened the doors to many more people looking to dip their toes into angel investing, while giving founders alternatives to the traditional venture capital path.

This guide breaks down the top equity crowdfunding platforms in 2026, how they differ from Kickstarter, and which one fits your startup's stage. We'll cover public marketplaces open to anyone (Regulation CF) and private networks for accredited investors, including innovative options like Launch Deck, a platform designed for targeted, efficient raises without public campaigns.

Methodology: How We Evaluated These Platforms

This analysis is based on SEC filing data, interviews with 50+ founders who have raised capital on these platforms, review of platform terms and conditions, and conversations with angel investors and fund managers who participate in these marketplaces. We evaluated each platform on transparency, founder experience, investor quality, cost structure, and success rates for companies at different stages.

How is Kickstarter Different from Equity Crowdfunding?

At its core, Kickstarter is a pre-sale platform. Backers fund your vision in exchange for perks: t-shirts, early access, or the product itself. But if you miss your goal? No money changes hands (all-or-nothing model). This prevents people from setting unrealistic expectations while allowing founders to set a minimum they're comfortable with.

Equity crowdfunding flips the script: backers become investors with actual ownership. You're not selling a product, you're selling a future, betting on the company's valuation growth down the road.

Understanding Investor Types: Accredited vs Non-Accredited

Before diving into platforms, understand who can invest and under what rules, as this shapes which platform makes sense for your raise.

Accredited Investors: The Experienced Pool

Accredited investors meet basic financial thresholds: net worth over $1 million (excluding primary home) or income above $200,000 annually ($300,000 if married) for two years. Think doctors, engineers, successful entrepreneurs, or retirees with substantial savings, not just billionaires.

Under Regulation D, founders can raise unlimited amounts from this group with minimal paperwork: pitch deck, subscription agreement, and basic KYC. No cap on investment amounts, no mandatory audits, and you can close in weeks. Ideal if you know angel investors or want efficient, private raises.

Non-Accredited Investors: The Community Pool

Non-accredited investors are everyone else: customers, friends, fans, or anyone excited about your idea. Thanks to Regulation CF, they can invest starting at $100 through platforms like Wefunder, StartEngine, or Republic.

The trade-off? You can raise up to $5 million annually, but need full transparency with financials, risk warnings, often audits. Each investor is capped at the greater of $2,200 or 5% of their income/net worth annually. More work for founders (legal fees, compliance), but you gain thousands of brand evangelists who promote you for years.

The Best Equity Crowdfunding Platforms in 2026

1. Wefunder - The People's Platform

Best for: Consumer brands and bootstrapped founders with strong communities (newsletters, social media followers, Discord servers)

Wefunder pioneered the "invest $100" model that made startup investing accessible to everyone. Since 2019, it's helped over 2,000 companies raise more than $700 million from everyday investors, according to the company's publicly reported metrics. Think of it as Kickstarter with shares: backers become actual co-owners, not just customers.

The platform's 1 million+ user base means you can turn fans into micro-owners with checks as small as $100. The interface mirrors Kickstarter's familiar design, making video pitches and live campaign updates intuitive for founders and easy for investors to follow.

Success story: Knightscope (autonomous security robots) raised $18M+ across multiple rounds on Wefunder, demonstrating that hardware companies can successfully use the platform for serial fundraising.

Key Features:

• "Keep-what-you-raise" model removes all-or-nothing stress

• Built-in investor community actively browsing for deals

• Mobile-friendly interface optimized for sharing on social media

• Rolling closes allow you to access capital as it comes in

Pros

Wefunder's massive user base gives your campaign immediate visibility. Unlike platforms where you must bring 100% of your own traffic, Wefunder's active investors browse deals and discover companies organically.

The "keep-what-you-raise" model removes all-or-nothing stress. Upload your video pitch, add updates, and watch your raise grow, though setting internal deadlines creates urgency.

Transparent pricing with no hidden fees creates a founder-friendly, collaborative atmosphere.

Cons

SEC filings and audits cost $15,000-$50,000 and take months, especially for pre-revenue companies without clean financials.

Many companies go silent post-raise, eroding investor trust. The platform encourages regular updates but can't enforce them.

A cap table with 1,000+ tiny shareholders becomes a governance nightmare for future fundraising and exits. Consider using an SPV structure to consolidate small investors.

Wefunder Pricing: 7-8% of funds raised (includes platform fees and payment processing)

2. StartEngine - The Volume Leader

Best for: Hardware, consumer packaged goods, or any product that can generate viral marketing momentum

StartEngine has facilitated over $650 million in raises and runs both Reg CF and Reg A+ offerings. It's the go-to for consumer products that need volume and buzz, think the equity version of going viral on Kickstarter.

Unique edge: Secondary market where investors can trade shares post-campaign, providing liquidity that most equity crowdfunding platforms lack.

Notable raise: Elio Motors raised $17M via Reg A+ on StartEngine, demonstrating the platform's capacity for large consumer hardware campaigns.

Key Features:

• Reg A+ support for raises up to $75M annually

• Secondary trading marketplace (StartEngine Secondary)

• Built-in marketing tools and campaign guidance

• Investor perks programs to incentivize early backers

Pros

StartEngine is the volume king with $650M+ raised. If you have a consumer product with visual appeal, the investor base responds well to hardware, apps, and physical products.

Secondary trading is genuinely innovative. Investors can trade shares post-campaign, improving sentiment and making your offering more attractive than locked-in equity.

Reg A+ opens the door to $75M raises, far beyond Reg CF's $5M cap, making StartEngine viable for growth rounds, not just seed.

Cons

Success hinges on your own marketing muscle. Weak campaigns flop without founder-driven traffic, unlike Wefunder's browser community.

Inflated valuations are common. Campaign excitement can lead to valuations that create down-round pain later. Price discipline matters.

Reg A+ timelines stretch 6+ months with six-figure legal bills ($150,000+). The upside is larger capacity; the downside is significant investment before launch.

StartEngine Pricing: 7-10% of funds raised plus additional costs for Reg A+ legal compliance

3. Republic - Global & Web3-Ready

Best for: SaaS, fintech, blockchain, gaming, or global brands targeting international investors

With 3 million+ users across 180 countries, Republic blends equity, crypto, and community in a sleek, mobile-first platform. It supports both traditional equity offerings and token-based fundraising, making it the natural home for Web3 startups.

Standout: Avalanche raised $42M pre-launch via Republic's crypto division, demonstrating the platform's appeal to blockchain projects.

Bonus: Investors can participate using crypto or traditional fiat currency, opening the door to global capital.

Key Features:

• Global investor base spanning 180 countries

• Support for both equity and token offerings

• Curated deal selection (improves investor signal quality)

• Strong brand activation and community building tools

Pros

A global 3M+ community means your campaign reaches beyond U.S. borders, ideal for SaaS with international customers or blockchain projects with global communities.

Republic's selective curation creates quality signal. If you make it onto Republic, investors take you seriously.

The platform excels at turning investors into brand evangelists through strong community-building tools.

Cons

The $5M Reg CF cap is too small for growth-stage companies. While Republic supports Reg A+, most campaigns top out at the CF limit.

Less than 10% of applicants get accepted. The application process can take weeks, and rejection is common.

Mixing equity with token holders creates cap-table complexity and potential regulatory headaches. Carefully structure the relationship between token and equity holders.

Republic Pricing: 6-8% of funds raised

4. Launch Deck - The Flexible Pitch Marketplace You Control

Best for: Pre-seed and seed founders raising $250K-$2M who want complete control over visibility, timing, and investor access, whether that means going public or staying private

Launch Deck takes a fundamentally different approach by giving founders complete control over how they raise. Unlike platforms that force you into a public campaign, Launch Deck lets you choose: make your pitch site public for broad investor discovery in the marketplace, or keep it private for targeted outreach to specific angels and investor groups. Your raise, your rules.

Think of Launch Deck as your personal investor homepage, a fully customizable, shareable page that consolidates your pitch deck, company highlights, team bios, data room, and investment terms in one polished destination. You decide what information to show, who can see it, and when to launch. No mandatory deadlines. No pressure to hit a funding goal by Friday. No requirement to run paid ads to drive campaign traffic.

The Platform Difference: Launch Deck is built by Hyperspace Ventures, a software development and investment firm that uses the platform for its own deal flow. This means it's designed by investors, for investors, with features that angel networks and fund managers actually want, not just features that look good in marketing.

Key Features:

Full Customization: Build a branded pitch site with drag-and-drop simplicity. Upload your pitch deck (PDF), add an optional pitch video, showcase team members with bios and photos, highlight featured investors already in your round, and organize your data room with financials, legal docs, and supporting materials. Set your investment vehicle (SAFE, convertible note, equity), minimum raise amount, and raise goal. Add a countdown clock if you want urgency, or skip it if you're raising on a rolling basis.

Public or Private—Your Choice: Toggle your pitch site between public (discoverable in Launch Deck's investor marketplace) or private (accessible only via your shareable link). Go public to tap into Launch Deck's growing investor network who actively browse deals. Go private for stealth-mode raises, targeted outreach to specific angels, or when you're only raising from your existing network. Unlike Wefunder or Republic where every campaign is public by default, Launch Deck puts control in your hands.

Investor Marketplace: When your pitch is public, accredited investors can discover you through the marketplace. They can filter by industry (SaaS, fintech, healthcare, etc.), stage (pre-seed, seed), and investment criteria. Your pitch displays key metrics: percentage raised, amount raised, investor count, and minimum check size, giving investors instant context before they click in.

Direct Connections: Investors message you directly through the platform and submit investment interest. No campaign intermediary, no waiting for the platform to "approve" your conversations. You respond when you want, share additional materials as needed, and move at your own pace.

Flexible Launch Options: Choose instant launch (go live immediately) or set a custom launch date. Add a countdown clock to create urgency for your close date, or leave it off for rolling closes. Set your minimum raise and overall goal, but unlike all-or-nothing campaigns, you're not locked into hitting a specific number by a deadline.

Built for Angel Networks: Launch Deck is positioning itself as infrastructure for investor groups. Angel networks use the platform to showcase their deal flow to members, track who's interested in each deal, and coordinate syndicate participation, replacing scattered email threads and Dropbox links with one centralized system.

How It Works: Create your founder account, build your company profile (logo, industry, traction, fundraising history), then build your pitch site with all the customizations above. Toggle public or private. Share your unique link with your network, investor groups, or let investors discover you in the marketplace. Interested investors reach out directly. You have conversations, share additional materials through the data room, and close deals off-platform using your own legal documents and subscription agreements.

Pros

Launch Deck's public/private toggle is genuinely unique among fundraising platforms. Want to tap into investor discovery? Go public and let accredited angels browse your deal in the marketplace. Need to stay under the radar? Make it private and share only with your target list. This flexibility means you can test different approaches, start private with your warm network, then flip to public if you need more reach. No other platform offers this level of control.

The customization is extensive without being overwhelming. From pitch highlights to team bios to featured investors already in your round, you can build a professional pitch site that matches your brand. The data room feature means investors access all your documents in one organized place, no more "let me find that file and email it to you" scrambling.

Because Launch Deck is Regulation D-focused (accredited investors), there are no SEC filings, no mandatory audits, no $30,000 in compliance costs. You can launch a raise in days, not months. The platform itself is free, you only pay your own legal fees for investment documents.

You build an investor network for the long term. Whether you go public or private, the investors you connect with on Launch Deck aren't just writing one check, they're contacts for future rounds, introductions to other angels, and potential advisors as you scale. The platform tracks who's interested, making follow-up and relationship building straightforward.

Cons

Launch Deck doesn't process payments directly. You close deals through your own legal documents, wire transfers, and bank accounts. This gives founders complete control over terms and investor relationships, but requires more manual coordination than all-in-one platforms like Wefunder where investors can click "Invest $500" and it's done. You'll need a lawyer to draft subscription agreements and manage the closing process.

The investor network is still growing compared to Wefunder's 1M+ users or Republic's 3M+ global community. If you go public on Launch Deck, you're tapping into a smaller (but highly qualified) pool of accredited investors. This makes Launch Deck best suited for founders who already have some warm investor leads or can drive their own traffic, rather than relying entirely on platform discovery.

Launch Deck is designed for accredited investor raises under Regulation D. If your strategy is to tap into thousands of non-accredited investors (your customers, community, fans), you'll need to use a Reg CF platform like Wefunder or run dual campaigns. Launch Deck's sweet spot is the $250K-$2M seed raise from 10-50 angels, not the $50K community raise from 500 micro-investors.

If your goal is publicity and PR buzz, a public Launch Deck listing won't generate the same media attention as a viral Wefunder campaign. Launch Deck is built for closing capital efficiently, not for creating marketing moments. Choose accordingly based on whether you prioritize speed and control or visibility and community building.

Launch Deck Pricing: Free to create a pitch site. No platform fees or percentage of raise. You pay your own legal fees for investment documents.

Platform Comparison Table

How to Choose the Right Platform for Your Startup

Choose Wefunder if:

• You have an engaged community ready to invest (newsletter subscribers, social followers, Discord members)

• You want a Kickstarter-like campaign experience

• Your product has strong consumer appeal with a compelling story

Choose StartEngine if:

• You have a hardware or consumer product that photographs/videos well

• You can drive your own marketing traffic

• You need to raise more than $5M (Reg A+) and have budget for compliance

Choose Republic if:

• Your startup is in SaaS, fintech, gaming, or blockchain

• You want to reach international investors

• You're considering a token offering alongside equity

Choose Launch Deck if:

• You want flexibility to choose between public investor discovery or private targeted outreach, or switch between them mid-raise

• You're raising from accredited investors and want to avoid SEC filing costs

• You value control over your fundraising narrative, timeline, and investor access

• You're raising $250K-$2M from 10-50 investors, not thousands of micro-backers

The Future of Fundraising: Your Capital, Your Community

Equity crowdfunding isn't just about money, it's about building a tribe of owners who promote, advise, and stick with you through growth and challenges.

The Kickstarter era gave us pre-orders and validation. The equity era gives us co-owners and advocates.

Whether you choose a public campaign on Wefunder to mobilize your community, a targeted raise on Launch Deck to connect with experienced angels, or a curated listing on StartEngine to attract institutional co-investors, the power has shifted from gatekeepers to founders.

Pick your platform. Write your story. And turn your backers into believers with real skin in the game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use multiple equity crowdfunding platforms at once?

Technically yes, but it's generally not recommended. Running campaigns on both Wefunder and StartEngine simultaneously fragments your marketing efforts and confuses investors who see you on multiple platforms. However, you can strategically layer platforms, for example, running a private Launch Deck raise with accredited investors while simultaneously running a public Reg CF campaign on Wefunder for non-accredited investors. Launch Deck's public/private toggle also means you can test different approaches on the same platform: start private with your warm network, gauge interest, then flip to public if you need additional reach. Just ensure your legal structure and documentation properly segregate different investor classes if mixing Reg D and Reg CF.

How long does an equity crowdfunding campaign take?

It depends on the platform and regulation. A Regulation CF campaign (Wefunder, Republic, StartEngine) typically requires 2-3 months of preparation (legal docs, financials, campaign assets) plus 30-90 days of active campaigning. Regulation A+ campaigns (StartEngine, others) require 6+ months due to SEC review processes. Private Regulation D raises on Launch Deck can launch in days to weeks since there's no SEC filing requirement, you move at your own pace based on investor conversations.

Do I need a lawyer to raise on these platforms?

Absolutely yes for Reg CF and Reg A+. You'll need legal counsel to draft subscription agreements, determine your offering structure (SAFE, convertible note, priced equity), ensure SEC compliance, and navigate securities law. Budget $10,000-$50,000+ for legal fees. For Regulation D raises on Launch Deck, you still need a lawyer, but the costs are lower ($5,000-$15,000) since there's no SEC filing. Don't attempt equity crowdfunding without legal guidance, the consequences of mistakes are severe.

What happens if I don't hit my fundraising goal?

It depends on your campaign structure. Wefunder offers "keep-what-you-raise" campaigns where you receive funds as they come in, even if you don't hit your target. StartEngine and others may require you to hit a minimum threshold before funds are released (all-or-nothing). Launch Deck lets you set goals for your own planning, but since there's no mandatory campaign deadline or all-or-nothing structure, you simply raise what you raise through direct investor conversations. You can set a countdown clock for urgency if you want, or run a rolling close. Always check the specific platform's rules and set realistic internal targets.

How do I manage hundreds or thousands of shareholders after my campaign?

This is a real operational challenge for Reg CF raises. Consider using a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) structure that consolidates small investors into a single line on your cap table, managed by a lead investor or platform. Carta, Pulley, and AngelList all offer SPV management tools. You'll still owe shareholders annual updates and need their approval for major decisions, but an SPV significantly reduces administrative burden. Launch Deck's smaller, accredited investor base (typically 10-50 investors vs. 1,000+) makes cap table management far more feasible.

What's the success rate for equity crowdfunding campaigns?

Success rates vary dramatically by platform and how you define "success." According to industry data from crowdfunding research firms, roughly 50-60% of Reg CF campaigns that go live successfully reach their minimum funding threshold on platforms like Wefunder and Republic. However, the vast majority of applications never make it to launch, founders drop out during preparation or platforms reject them. For highly curated platforms, the acceptance rate is under 2%, but accepted companies have much higher success rates. The single biggest predictor of success is whether you bring your own investor traffic, not the platform's built-in audience.

Can international founders use these platforms?

Most U.S.-based equity crowdfunding platforms require companies to be incorporated in the United States (typically a Delaware C-corp) due to SEC regulations. International founders can participate by forming a U.S. entity, but must work with legal counsel familiar with cross-border structures. Republic has the strongest international presence and is most accommodating to non-U.S. founders. For purely accredited investor raises, Launch Deck is accessible to international founders raising from U.S.-based accredited investors, though again, proper legal structure matters.

Ready to raise capital and turn your community into co-owners?

• For public campaigns: Visit Wefunder, StartEngine, or Republic to explore their platform requirements

• For flexible public or private raises: Check out Launch Deck to create your customizable pitch site and connect with accredited investors on your terms

• For curated, high-signal deals: Apply to StartEngine if you meet their traction requirements