Crowdfunding Has Never Been This Easy

Weekly newsletter about the latest news, updates, and information about crowdfunding campaigns.

Sool on Wefunder

Sool has successfully sold over 3.3 million cans of their product, Makku, a Korean alcoholic beverage. They have taken a grassroots approach to build their brand, engaging with customers through retail demos, virtual samplings, events, and surveys. This approach has helped them establish a loyal and supportive community base. Sool's founder, Carol Pak, has been recognized as Food & Wine's 2023 Drinks Innovator of the Year.

Key Highlights

1. Market Growth: Sool is the fastest growing import brand and the sixth fastest growing craft beer brand in New York, based on H2 2023 data.

2. Financial Performance: They have achieved gross margins of 40%, with marketing expenses under 10%. Sool is projecting profitability by 2025.

3. Wide Distribution: Their products are distributed in 1,400 accounts across 23 states, including major retail chains like Whole Foods, Total Wine, BevMo, and Wegmans.

4. Experienced Leadership: The team includes professionals from notable companies like AB InBev and Constellation. The CEO, Carol Pak, has a background with ZX Ventures (AB InBev) and led the commercialization of a new alcoholic beverage brand in China.

HACKERverse on Wefunder

HACKERverse® is an innovative company operating in the cybersecurity sector, focusing on creating an esports platform and marketplace. Their approach is unique in the industry, combining elements of gaming, competition, and cybersecurity to create a dynamic and engaging environment.

Key Highlights

1. Market Impact: HACKERverse® is positioned to redefine the $1.5 trillion cybersecurity market. Their approach is not only innovative but also addresses a critical need in the industry.

2. Revenue Growth: The company has shown impressive growth, with a 420% month-over-month revenue increase in Q4 2023.

3. Community Expansion: HACKERverse® is on track to achieve a 3600% increase in community size by the end of 2024, indicating a rapidly growing interest and engagement in their platform.

4. Intellectual Property and Team: The company has protected intellectual property, providing a competitive advantage in the market. Additionally, the founding team is noted for their high-caliber technical and sales skills, which is crucial for the company's success.

Waxelene on Wefunder

Waxelene is an organic sensitive skin care brand that has garnered attention from A-list celebrities and a loyal customer base. The company is currently raising funds through Wefunder, with a minimum investment of $100. Waxelene is valued at a $65 million cap, with an early bird bonus for the first $100k of investments. The company is based in Solana Beach, CA, and operates in the ecommerce, consumer goods, retail, B2C, health, and fitness sectors.

Key Highlights

1. Brand Loyalty and Amazon Ranking: Waxelene ranks in the top 2% of personal care companies on Amazon, demonstrating significant brand loyalty and customer satisfaction.

2. Celebrity Endorsements and Press: The brand has received unpaid endorsements from celebrities like Gigi Hadid, Zooey Deschanel, Lily Aldridge, and Halle Berry, enhancing its visibility and appeal.

3. Retail Success: Waxelene's products are available in over 15,000 retail shelves, including major stores like CVS, Whole Foods, and Walgreens, indicating successful retail distribution.

4. Product Development and Market Demand: The company is developing an organic sensitive skin care range in partnership with Skin Safe and the Mayo Clinic, addressing a significant market gap for sensitive skin care products.

Whooshh on Andes Capital

Whooshh Innovations is a company focused on developing and implementing innovative solutions for fish passage and monitoring. Their proprietary technologies are designed to assist fish in migrating over dams or other barriers, addressing the global issue of fish migration and spawning in dammed rivers. Whooshh's solutions aim to increase hydropower efficiency, remove invasive species, and aid in the rebound of native fish populations, all while being cost-effective and time-efficient compared to traditional methods. The company's approach is not only beneficial for aquatic life but also supports the growth of clean, renewable energy and contributes to environmental sustainability.

Key Highlights

1. nnovative Fish Passage Solutions: Whooshh Innovations offers a range of products for selective fish passage over dams, invasive species management, commercial aquaculture, and processing plants. Their systems allow fish to pass through barriers quickly and safely, with minimal stress and energy expenditure.

2. Market Potential and Efficiency: The company addresses a significant market, with over 90% of dams currently lacking fish passage solutions. Their technologies promise up to 80% lower costs than traditional methods and offer a more efficient use of water resources.

3. Advanced Technology and Patents: Whooshh is at the forefront of using AI algorithms for fish species recognition and selective passage sorting. They hold over 50 patents or patents pending and have developed several proprietary products like the Salmon Cannon™, Passage Portal™, and FishL Recognition™.

4. Environmental and Economic Impact: By improving fish welfare and passage, Whooshh's products contribute to the health of ecosystems and support the growth of clean energy.

CMN on NetCapital

CMN (Creative Media Network) is a technology company focused on developing digital marketing and data collection platforms for underserved media lifestyle markets. Their initial project is WeedTV, a content streaming platform designed for cannabis enthusiasts.

Key Highlights

1. Innovative Technology and AI Integration: CMN leverages the latest learning tools and artificial intelligence to create better real-world scenarios, focusing on input computation and activations.

2. Targeting Underserved Markets: The company identifies gaps in industry-specific platforms, particularly in media lifestyle markets. WeedTV, as their first platform, is tailored to cater to the needs of cannabis enthusiasts and related businesses, a market they perceive as underserved in the United States.

3. Content Monetization and Transparency: CMN's business model revolves around monetizing social media through a content marketplace where content creates commerce.

4. Expansive Content and Partnerships: WeedTV boasts a range of original content, including over 400 episodes and videos produced by WeedTV, partnerships with over 200 cannabis brands, and proprietary technology.

Breshna.io on Republic

Breshna.io is an innovative platform that empowers individuals to create their own video games without the need for coding skills. It's designed to be accessible to a wide range of users, including those without technical or gaming backgrounds

Key Highlights

1. No-Code Game Creation: Breshna.io offers a no-code platform for creating video games, making it easy and fast for anyone to design and share their own games.

2. Educational and Social Impact: The platform is not just for entertainment; it's also being used for educational purposes and social impact. Teachers, students, and content creators are using Breshna.io to make learning more engaging and to address social issues through interactive gaming experiences.

3. Strong User Engagement: Breshna.io has garnered significant traction with over 170,000 registered game makers who have created more than 150,000 video games.

4. Future Expansion and Monetization: The platform is planning to introduce new features and revenue streams, including a metaverse environment called Breshnaverse, where users can showcase and monetize their games.

Hanahana Beauty on Wefunder

Hanahana Beauty, founded by Abena Boamah-Acheampong, is a dynamic and socially conscious brand that is redefining the shea butter and body care industry. With a strong commitment to clean beauty and ethical sourcing, Hanahana Beauty has established itself as a significant player in the skincare market.

Key Highlights

1. Organic Growth and Sales Achievement: Hanahana Beauty has impressively grown to over $2 million in sales as a digitally native brand. Remarkably, this growth was achieved without the use of paid marketing, highlighting the brand's strong appeal and market presence.

2. High Customer Retention and Gross Margins: The company has a high customer retention rate, with 70% of its e-commerce sales driven by returning customers. Additionally, Hanahana Beauty has achieved an 85% gross margin since its inception, indicating strong financial health and efficient operations.

3. Retail Presence and Industry Recognition: Hanahana Beauty's products are available in over 500 Ulta Beauty stores nationwide. The brand has also been recognized as 'Best in Beauty' by several prestigious publications, including Essence, Cosmopolitan, Byrdie, and Elle Magazine.

4. Ethical Sourcing and Social Impact: The company sources its raw shea butter directly from producers in Ghana, ensuring ethical practices and sustainability. Hanahana Beauty is not just a skincare brand but a movement that challenges conventional beauty norms and empowers women, particularly uplifting black women globally through sustainable and ethical sourcing.