GROUNDFLOOR is a platform that enables investors of all backgrounds to access debt-based real estate investments. It focuses on fractional shares -- meaning an investor can put a little as $10 into a loan that's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. And that investor can start to receive returns on it within a year.

GROUNDFLOOR co-founder Brian Dally is a deep believer in the need for accessibility. Before crowdfunding, it was very difficult for retail investors to have exposure to debt-based real estate. But now, just as startup investing has been democratized by equity crowdfunding, real estate has also reached a new level of democratization. And GROUNDFLOOR is a major mover in the space.

On this episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino and Brian talk about the power of the crowd in investing. They also discuss GROUNDFLOOR's current Wefunder raise, the downside of concentration in debt deals, and why GROUNDFLOOR now offers a savings account.

GROUNDFLOOR website: https://groundfloor.us/

GROUNDFLOOR Wefunder raise: https://wefunder.com/groundfloor/

Advertising is one of the hardest industries to keep up with. While the internet created a whole new form of advertising, tracking the effectiveness of ads is a continuous struggle for companies. And more traditional advertising -- like out-of-home advertising that's placed on billboards and buses -- has fallen behind when it comes to technology.

That's the gap Nickelytics wants to address. This startup connects brands with rideshare fleets to create mobile and highly visible advertising. It also uses GPS technology to track and quantify the impact ads are having.

On this episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino welcomes Nickelytics founder Judah Longgrear to learn more about this unique marketing approach. The two discuss the challenge of measuring an ad's effectiveness, how Nickelytics can expand to a global presence, and why the company is staying focused on mobility solutions.

Today's episode is a special edition. We're very excited to announce that KingsCrowd and Backstage Capital are adding a new dimension to our strategic partnership.

Chris Lustrino is joined by Backstage Capital founder Arlan Hamilton. And a major topic of discussion is the need for more diversity and inclusion in venture capital. Backstage is a venture capital firm that focuses on underrepresented founders. And KingsCrowd tracks founder demographics across the hundreds of deals available through online startup investing.

But here's the really exciting part -- for Backstage's new Flex Fund II, KingsCrowd will provide data and ratings on promising online deals that have underrepresented founders. This synergy between our data and analytics and Backstage's prioritization of diversity is a perfect collaboration. But don't take our word for it. Let Arlan tell you why this is such an exciting moment in startup investing.

Diana Hall has invented a better cast (the type your doctor gives you when you break a bone). After running a mentoring program for children from low income families, Diana saw how traditional plaster casts weren't cutting it. They couldn't be cleaned. They made it hard to see infections. And they were unnecessarily bulky. She knew there had to be a better way.

That was the inspiration for ActivArmor. Today, ActivArmor offers 3D casts and splints that empower patients to maintain active, hygienic lifestyles. The company uses a simple iPhone scan to design custom casts, and the results are breathable, waterproof, and sanitizable.

In this episode of Inside Startup Investing, Diana tells Chris Lustrino how her company is making the production of these next-gen casts even easier. The two also discuss how ActivArmor is ensuring that clinics benefit from adopting this technology, the health benefits of being able to shower with a cast, and the company's strategy for achieving mass adoption.

Online startup investing isn't unique to the US. In fact, the EU legalized equity crowdfunding in 2014. And that headstart has given the EU market ample time to develop its regulations and become a well-established market.

But until recently, the US crowdfunding market and the EU crowdfunding market were disconnected. Wefunder wants to change that.

On this episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino welcomes Adrian Parlow, head of general counsel and vice president of corporate development at Wefunder. And Adrian has exciting news about Wefunder's expansion into the EU. Chris and Adrian also discuss how American investors can participate in EU raises, whether language is a barrier, and the continued need for investor education.

Real estate has long been viewed as a high stable investment asset. As a hard asset, real estate is seen as having more intrinsic value than stocks. And that can make it a great investment in times of market volatility -- like we're seeing today!

But similar to startups, real estate investing used to be primarily reserved for people who were already wealthy and who had the right connections. Thankfully, that's changing. And today's Inside Startup Investing guest, Levi Brackman, is part of that change.

Levi is the founder and CEO of Invown, a real estate investing marketplace that connects property owners with investors of all backgrounds. And on today's episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino and Levi discuss the democratization of real estate investing, how investors can think about debt vs equity in real estate deals, and some exciting deals that are coming to Invown soon.

Alternative investing isn't limited to just startups. Alt assets include all kinds of investment opportunities -- from real estate and wine to art and sports memorabilia. But the one thing these assets have in common with startups is that new ways of investing have made them far more accessible to all investors.

In the collectibles market, fractional investing has made it possible to invest in a baseball card that's worth millions. Collectable founder Ezra Levine compares it to public stock market investing. When you invest in a publicly traded company like Google or Apple, you don't suddenly own the whole company. But you still benefit from its success. Fractional investing in sports memorabilia is very similar -- you can own a small portion of a sports card, jersey, or ball and potentially see returns as its value grows.

On today's episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino welcomes Ezra, and the two dive into the fun world of sports collecting. Ezra discusses the origins of Collectable -- the sports-focused fractional investing platform he founded -- and some of the high dollar assets that have traded on the platform. Chris and Ezra also touch on liquidity in collectible investing, how the assets are protected, and whether sports investing is a long term or short term investment.

Many people dream of Hollywood -- the cameras, the glam, the red carpet. And for most, it remains just a dream.

But one of the most exciting developments in the online private markets is the ability for retail investors to help fund movies. It's a unique opportunity that enables investors to be part of the creation of brand new films and production studios.

OneDoor Studios is such a new studio. Its first movies are based on a young adult novel series. And investors right now can help fund the film series.

On today's episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino talks to OneDoor Studios' three co-founders, John Lee Jr., Stephen Wollwerth, and Jason Brents. The group discusses how they found the young adult novels for their films, the nitty gritty details of film investing, and what investors should look for before making a film investment.

Brooke Harley was a lawyer in the mergers and acquisitions space when the 2008 financial crisis hit. It was a wake up call for her.

She went back to school to get an MBA before working with lululemon for a while. And her time there showed her the potential of early investing. Brooke began angel investing on her own and soon realized there was a complete lack of education around capital raising and startup investing.

Brooke founded Class Rebel as a modern education company that started with a focus on angel investing and how founders can raise capital. And her mission to be upfront about the risks -- and potential rewards -- is a huge service to the startup investing community.

On this episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino and Brooke discuss the strengths of online startup investing and how dramatic early investing can be. They also touch on how female founders are seeing better opportunities in the online private markets and the need for better liquidity options.

It can seem daunting to begin startup investing. The risk, the long wait times for returns, the need to do extra due diligence -- it's a lot for a new investor to navigate.

That's the problem that Gerry Hays is solving with his company, Doriot.

Doriot is named after the father of venture capital, George Doriot. And the flagship of Doriot is the Fantasy Startups app. Fantasy Startups is a gamified simulation that walks users through the process of choosing to invest – or not – in a collection of 50 mock companies. Through this experience, players learn the importance of diversification, making consistent investments, and key terminology.

On this episode of Inside Startup Investing, Chris Lustrino and Gerry talk about the need for education in startup investing. They also touch on the ability for everyday investors to overcome prejudice and a new way for investors to become accredited.