Kingscrowd Podcast

In this week's Kingscrowd Podcast, Brian, Scott, Léa, and Teddy explore unexpected investor risks in crowdfunding, sharing real stories of IPOs and acquisitions that didn’t go as planned for investors. Plus, the team analyzes why some pre-revenue startups get high valuations—and what it means for your investments.

 

This week on the Kingscrowd Podcast, the team shares highlights from the recent Atlanta Startup Showcase, featuring pitches from high-potential companies like Doc2Doc Lending, RISE Robotics, Healthcare Originals, and Vegetable + Butcher. Plus, Léa reveals fresh data on platform switching among repeat crowdfunding issuers—uncovering why startups move between major equity crowdfunding platforms and what this means for investors.

In this week's episode of the Kingscrowd Podcast, Brian Belley, Scott Kitun, Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau, and Teddy Lyons cover: Key takeaways from the SEC's newly released Reg CF crowdfunding report and what data is missing. The realities and implications of asset sales as an exit strategy for startups, using Hello Woofy as a recent example. A detailed deal review of Siren Biotechnology, a groundbreaking startup leveraging gene therapy to tackle deadly brain cancers. Discover why prominent VCs like Founders Fund are backing Siren's revolutionary approach, and why investors should pay attention. Stay informed with the latest insights to make smarter decisions in the online private markets. 
 

In this week’s Kingscrowd Podcast, Brian Belley, Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau, and Teddy Lyons explore down rounds—funding rounds at reduced valuations—and their impact on investors. While commonly viewed negatively, down rounds can offer strategic investment opportunities when understood in context. They examine real-world examples, including Elemental Health, to explain how investors should approach these scenarios.

Next, the team reviews a compelling follow-up funding opportunity: Neopenda, a med-tech innovator that provides affordable, battery-powered health monitors for newborns in resource-limited hospitals. With EU regulatory approval secured, Neopenda’s device is positioned for significant global expansion, tackling critical healthcare challenges. The analysis covers valuation insights, founder motivations, risks, and potential returns.

On the latest episode of the Kingscrowd Podcast, host Brian Belley teams up with Senior Investment Associates Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau and Teddy Lyons, along with industry expert Scott Kitun, to explore startup valuations and learn lessons from a recently failed startup.

The Kingscrowd team examines the latest data on revenue multiples, offering a comprehensive breakdown across key industries, including food & beverage, healthcare, consumer products, and software. Léa and Teddy share insights on why some industries command higher multiples, highlighting crucial considerations for investors evaluating startup valuations. Learn how to use revenue multiples effectively—and when to look beyond them.

Dive deeper as the team discusses industry-specific dynamics influencing startup valuations. They identify median multiples, key outliers, and industry trends, providing investors with a practical framework for assessing whether a startup's valuation is justified. The conversation also covers how biopharma, software, and consumer products differ significantly in their valuation methodologies.

In a candid breakdown, Brian and Scott Kitun analyze the failure of PvP, a web3 gaming platform that recently shut down after multiple successful crowdfunding rounds. The discussion explores potential warning signs in PvP’s funding history, unrealistic growth projections, and critical macroeconomic shifts. Scott emphasizes how investors can spot hype-driven trends and avoid similar pitfalls in gaming and other tech sectors.

On this week’s episode of the Kingscrowd Podcast, host Brian Belley is joined by senior investment associates Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau and Teddy Lyons for a three-segment deep dive:

Kingscrowd's Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau presents fresh data on how major equity crowdfunding platforms—including Republic, StartEngine, Wefunder, and niche players like Honeycomb—score based on Kingscrowd’s proprietary rating system. Discover why platforms like Republic consistently stand out in deal quality, and what makes Honeycomb unique in pricing and performance metrics.

Which industries are dominating investor interest in equity crowdfunding? Léa breaks down the data, highlighting healthcare, consumer goods, food and beverage, and clean energy as sectors driving significant investment volume. The team discusses why these industries resonate so strongly with crowdfunding investors and the unique investment characteristics each brings to the table.

Teddy Lyons provides an in-depth analysis of Vegetable + Butcher, a DC-area meal delivery service with $10M in annual revenue from just 2,500 subscribers. The team evaluates its compelling unit economics, niche market positioning, competitive advantages, and future scalability. Could this company carve out substantial market share in a crowded field?

In this episode of the Kingscrowd Podcast, host Brian Belley is joined by industry insider and The Scott Show host Scott Kitun to discuss the fundamental shift in venture capital as traditional "venture factory" models collapse. Hear insights from Scott’s conversation with Sam Lessin (founder of Slow Ventures) about the rise of "Zombie Unicorns," why IPO pathways are stalled, and how the new "Regatta Model" might redefine early-stage investing.

In segment two, Kingscrowd's senior investment associate, Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau, breaks down the April 2025 Reg CF market trends. Discover which companies topped fundraising charts, why platforms like Wefunder and StartEngine are continuing to dominate, and how investor communities are reshaping deal momentum.

Highlights include...

Why traditional VC funding models are breaking down.

Sam Lessin’s take on the collapse of the "Venture Factory" era.

Scott Kitun’s personal investment strategy evolution.

April 2025 equity crowdfunding trends, including top-performing campaigns.

Insights into the significant seasonal drop after April 30th reporting deadlines.

On this special episode of the Kingscrowd Podcast, we're joined by Gerry Hays, founder and CEO of Doriot. Gerry shares the vision behind Venture Staking, a new model designed to revolutionize early-stage investing by allowing investors to secure future investment rights at minimal upfront costs. Later, Kingscrowd’s Senior Investment Associate Teddy Lyons breaks down the latest healthcare and pharma trends in Regulation Crowdfunding (RegCF) and Regulation A (RegA) markets, highlighting surprising data on funding growth and investor behavior.

Special Guest Gerry Hays: Understanding Venture Staking and its impact on crowdfunding

Venture Staking Model: Why securing the right to invest could be better than investing upfront

Healthcare Funding Trends: Surprising insights into RegCF and RegA performance in biotech and pharma

This special Kingscrowd Podcast episode features founder & CEO Chris Lustrino discussing Kingscrowd’s strategic acquisition of CrowdCheck. Learn how combining CrowdCheck’s industry-leading regulatory expertise with Kingscrowd’s data-driven advisory platform creates a groundbreaking solution for startup founders navigating Regulation CF and Regulation A raises. Chris also shares insights into the vision behind Kingscrowd’s growth and how investors and founders will benefit from this game-changing merger.

Highlights & Key segments:

Behind the Acquisition: Why CrowdCheck was an essential strategic move for Kingscrowd.

Future Roadmap: Exclusive details on upcoming product developments, including the launch of Kingscrowd’s investor relations platform.

Investment Opportunity: How Kingscrowd investors can benefit directly from the recent acquisitions and continued growth trajectory.

In this week's Kingscrowd Podcast, Brian Belley shares exclusive insights straight from the SEC’s recent Small Business Forum. Get the inside track on potential regulatory shifts—including higher Reg CF and Reg A+ funding caps—and what these changes mean for private investors and startup founders. Plus,  Léa Bouhelier-Gautreau and Teddy Lyons dive into how recent tariff uncertainty is impacting US climate tech startups and reshaping the future of American manufacturing.

Highlights include...

SEC Insider Insights: Brian breaks down proposed regulation changes, their potential impact on capital access, investor protections, and fraud prevention.

Tariff Impact Deep-Dive: Léa analyzes climate startups positioning themselves as winners in US manufacturing amid tariff volatility.

Industry Spotlight (AI & Pharma): Teddy outlines potential ripple effects from tariffs on semiconductor and pharmaceutical sectors.