| This question comes up a lot and frankly I think it's a really bad idea. I'm a big proponent of the JOBs act but for different reasons. Let's assume you have 10-15k that you want to throw at a startup. Let's also assume that being an 'investor' you have maxed out your tax accounts (IRAs, HSAs, etc.) and you have a year's supply of rent/mortgage, food, electricity, etc. So you have 10-15k that you can just blow immediately and not worry about ever seeing it again. What do you do? Buy 5% of a startup? Unless you are actively involved with the startup your chances of ever seeing that cash again are practically none. Also, through the sheer fact that a startup allowed you to invest in them being that you have nothing else to give them but money (I'm guessing here) shows you that they are not being serious about it and that money is going to go up in flames. You'd be better off going anywhere but places like California and buying a house with 20% down. Why? You get immediate returns by placing it under property management. If not property buy shipping containers. If not those, go buy oil royalties from producing wells. If not those, throw it into something like betterment.com or lendingclub.com. All of these investments will give you a yield that, while not guaranteed, is better than the craps roll you are placing into a 'startup'. Now, I know you didn't want to read that so I'll give you the answer you are looking for. Even without the JOBs act not being in place, you as an un-accredited investor (which I assume you are being 'ordinary') can invest in a startup as long as they are raising no more than 1M for the first year and you aren't going to be un-lucky #36 of the guys that bought shares with them. If you really know these guys (and you should if you are wanting to throw your money in the paper shredder) they could organize a SCOR offering as well. |