Austin, TX, March 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EquityNet (www.equitynet.com) founder and CEO Judd Hollas will join other crowdfunding industry leaders on a panel to discuss the new era of investor relations at the 27th annual South by Southwest Interactive conference in Austin, Texas. Panelists will provide attendees with guidance on investor relations and clear explanations of how to stay compliant in this post-JOBS Act era that has seen the largest change to securities laws in decades.
"SXSW Interactive showcases some of the leading innovations that are driving our economy, and I am thrilled to be part of a distinguished panel that will address the audience on several key topics for equity crowdfunding. It is my expectation that those who attend this presentation will walk away with a wealth of information on how to become a part of this revolutionary movement," says Judd Hollas.
In 2013, the ban on general solicitation of accredited investors was lifted, causing the largest change to securities laws in decades. While everyone from startups to hedge funds will enjoy new liberties in investor marketing and outreach campaigns, it's critical that the new rules are followed to the letter, eliminating the chance for exemption rescission.
Panel speakers include veteran securities attorney Doug Ellenoff, who has actively engaged with policymakers since the beginning of Title II and III JOBS Act crowdfunding; Joy Schoffler, the founder of communications firm Leverage PR who serves on the boards of several crowdfunding organizations, including CF50, a global industry think tank; Judd Hollas, CEO of EquityNet, a leading U.S. equity crowdfunding platform; and Judy Robinett, author and consultant to promising early-stage startups.
"The passage of the JOBS Act, while increasing access to capital, has led to widespread confusion amongst many entrepreneurs. The "New Era of Investor Relations" panel at SXSW will provide education to companies looking to raise capital," says Joy Schoffler. "We organized this panel to bring actionable advice from leading industry experts on how to successfully conduct an equity crowdfunding raise and communicate effectively with investors in order to stay within the bounds of the law."
EquityNet operates the industry's leading equity crowdfunding platform and is designed to make the funding process more efficient for entrepreneurs and the investment decision process more effective for investors. EquityNet combines its patented analytics, largest business benchmarking database in North America, and market-leading standardization to achieve a superior experience for investors and a higher funding success rate for entrepreneurs.
According to industry research by Massolution, crowdfunding generated $2.7 billion in funding transactions in 2012 and is expected to reach $5.1 billion for 2013. Within the next year, Title III of the U.S. JOBS Act is expected to go into effect, allowing non-accredited investors to invest in companies in exchange for equity. Experts have estimated that crowdfunding could expand the population of potential investors from two million to more than 50 million investors.
For more information about this SXSW event visit Crowdfunding - The New Era of Investor Relations
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About EquityNet
EquityNet was launched in 2005 and is the only multi-patented crowdfunding platform in the world. It is used by over 30,000 individual entrepreneurs and investors, angel groups, government entities, business supporters, and other members of the entrepreneurial community to plan, analyze, and capitalize privately-held businesses. EquityNet provides access to thousands of investors and has helped entrepreneurs across North America raise over $220 million in capital. For more information, visit www.equitynet.com.