Archive: First Stage Investor

Premium

New Recommendation: EnergyFunders

By Adam Sharp on July 12, 2018

Deal Details Security type: Convertible note (will convert into shares in the future at no higher than a $10 million valuation) Valuation: $10 million cap Minimum investment: $1,000 Investment Portal: SeedInvest Raise: Series A Link to invest EnergyFunders is an investment platform focused on the energy sector. We have a chance here to invest in its Series A round at a $10 million valuation. The investment platform is live and has raised…
Premium
Editor’s note: Vin Narayanan here, stepping in for a vacationing Andy Gordon. Over the next few weeks, you’re going to be hearing more from me as Andy and Adam Sharp take some well-deserved time off. But that doesn’t mean you have to do without them while they’re at the beach!…
Premium

New Recommendation: NowRx

By Andy Gordon on July 2, 2018

Deal Details Security type: Preferred Equity Round size: Up to $7 million Valuation: $20 million Share price: $2.00 Minimum investment: $1,000 Investment portal: SeedInvest Raise: Series A Of all the things that you can order…
Premium

Do You Trust Driverless Car Tech?

By Allison Brickell on June 28, 2018

Editor’s note: Just a heads-up – we will be recommending a startup for you to invest in this week. You’re not going to want to miss this! Until then, here’s our next poll. These polls help us learn more about you so we can provide you better information. Hopefully you…
Premium

Peer-to-Peer Lessons to Learn From

By Vin Narayanan on June 21, 2018

In a previous life, I worked in the business side of the casino industry. Some considered me an expert. I wrote about it. I edited books and magazines about it. I advised regulators. I helped run online casino companies (in Asia and Europe, where it was legal) and consulted. This…
Premium

You Like Robots, but What About Dinosaur Bones?

By Vin Narayanan on June 14, 2018

In our last poll, we found out you like robots and holding bitcoin. In this week’s poll, tell us your thoughts on dinosaurs and when to buy bitcoin.
Premium

SEC Chief: Bitcoin Not a Security

By Adam Sharp on June 7, 2018

For years, we’ve been thinking about how (and if) the Securities and Exchange Commission would regulate bitcoin. Yesterday, we almost got our answer when SEC Chairman Jay Clayton drew a line in the sand between bitcoin and initial coin offerings (ICOs). And it was mostly good news. “Cryptocurrencies – these…
Premium

EOS Launch Is in “Chaos Mode”

By Andy Gordon on June 7, 2018

If you haven’t heard of the altcoin – and blockchain – EOS, it’s about time we caught you up. EOS is different… in almost every way imaginable. It claims to have game-changing technology. That may be the only thing it has in common with other blockchains. EOS says its technology…
Premium
We recommended 20/20 GeneSystems to you exactly two weeks before Christmas last year. I considered it my special holiday gift to you, calling it “the best thing to happen to the cancer treatment space in years.” As a quick reminder, let me tell you why. Most cancers don’t have screening…
Premium

DOJ Launches Bitcoin Probe

By Vin Narayanan on May 24, 2018

The Department of Justice has launched a probe into bitcoin price manipulation, according to a Bloomberg report today. The report, which cites four anonymous sources, says the DOJ – with the cooperation of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) – is looking at whether spoofing has…
Premium

Facebook and Bitcoin Poll Generates Interesting Results

By Allison Brickell on May 24, 2018

Two weeks ago, we sent you a tech news poll created by Arbit, one of our portfolio recommendations. The response rate was fantastic – which tells us you’re paying attention. (That’s a relief.) We learned that 68% of you care about how Facebook uses the data it…
Premium
At some point, every “disruptive” technology or business becomes the “establishment.” That’s the way of the world. Southwest Airlines used to be a plucky upstart budget airline. Now it’s a major airline in the same league as Delta, United and American. Amazon changed the face of retail with e-commerce.
Premium

Bitcoin or Gold? Take the Arbit Poll

By Allison Brickell on May 10, 2018

Dear First Stage Investor, Chipotle or Qdoba? Celtics or 76ers? Bitcoin or gold? Simple polls with simple questions are a popular form of discussion on the internet (just visit Buzzfeed). In the age of social media, a company that can capitalize on that engagement – and the data it provides…
Premium

Airdrop Recommendation: Bread (BRD)

By Adam Sharp on April 27, 2018

Editor’s Note: This is my first airdrop recommendation. As a reminder, an airdrop is a tool utilized by cryptocurrency projects to increase awareness and use. To clarify, I am recommending that you take advantage of the free airdrop (instructions below). I’m not recommending that you buy the token. Anyone can…
Premium

Millennials, Smart Sensors and Bitcoin IRAs

By Andy Gordon on April 26, 2018

What’s new this week in the tech and crypto worlds? Let’s take a look. “This is a major change from a year ago.” In a recent cryptocurrency survey, Thomson Reuters found that about 20% of its clients were “really interested and actively exploring” launching cryptocurrency trading operations in 2018.
Premium

BrewDog Sees Massive Growth

By Allison Brickell on April 19, 2018

When we first recommended BrewDog, an independent craft brewery, in fall 2016, we thought it was the perfect example of the investor-fan model – a positive cycle in which fans of a brand become investors and investors become fans. Shareholders – known as “punks” in the company’s Equity for…