Mobilizing Retail Investors for Climate and SMB Access to Capital: Breakthroughs and Challenges

Since the JOBS Act went into effect in 2016, it has become possible for US unaccredited investors to participate in debt and equity investments in private companies through Regulation Crowdfunding. This landmark change allowed underinvested enterprises the opportunity to source capital from their customers, community, and a growing network of impact crowd-investors. This fireside chat will feature two investment crowdfunding industry CEOs as they discuss how their platforms have fared in connecting retail investors to climate and small business debt investment opportunities, respectively. Topics of conversation include the benefits and challenges of leveraging unaccredited retail investors to fund impact investments, catalyzing foundations and impact funds to invest alongside retail investors, and a critical view at investment crowdfunding’s potential to build a more equitable capital market for social impact investments.