For backers
What backing means.
Fools.com - Raise your friends, family, and fools round. Fools is where you back people you believe in. Before you do, here is what you are agreeing to, and what the screening room does and does not do.
The screening room is neutral
Pitches are ordered only by what you choose: newest, closing soonest, alphabetical. Ordered only by what you choose. There is no default rank on Fools; federal crowdfunding rules do not allow one, and we agree with them.
Fools does not review, rank or endorse any company, and nothing in the screening room is advice. What you see is the founder's own pitch and the offering documents.
Backing starts with the risks
You'll probably never see this money again. Most startups don't make it, and a Crowd SAFE only pays if the company later raises a priced round or is acquired. Back people because you believe in them.
Before your first commitment you acknowledge five statements, one checkbox each. All five are required.
- I understand I will probably lose all of this money.
- I understand a Crowd SAFE pays only if the company later raises a priced round or is acquired, and it may never do either.
- I understand I cannot sell or transfer this for 12 months, and there may never be a buyer after that.
- I understand I can cancel until 48 hours before the close, and not after.
- I understand Fools does not review, rank or endorse this company, and nothing here is advice.
Your limit, in one sentence
Federal crowdfunding rules cap what you can put into all Regulation Crowdfunding offerings in any 12-month window, on Fools or anywhere else. We ask for your income and net worth for one reason: to state your limit in one sentence, and to stop you at it.
The cancellation window is on screen the whole time
You can cancel until 48 hours before the close, and not after. The date and time sit on the raise page, on every step of backing, and next to each commitment in your portfolio.
Everything you back, in one place
Your portfolio lists each commitment with its status, its cancellation window and the instrument. Founders' updates arrive there, and so do the notices the rules require: the annual report, and the 12-month transfer restriction.
Backing on Fools is a preview with sample companies until our partner agreement and counsel review are complete. Fools is not currently offering securities.