I-Bankers Direct

Founded: 1996 (ECF portal: 2012)

Country: United States

Non-Accredited Investors: No

Business Selective: Yes

Investor Selective: Yes

URL: https://ibankersdirect.com/

Unlike many of the other companies profiled here, I-Bankers Direct is not brand new. Mike McCrory and John Kallassy founded the investment/management firm in 1996, and it has raised over $6 billion in capital for its client companies over the course of its 17-year history. In December 2012, the firm launched its own equity crowdfunding portal, combining the power of ECF with the experience the I-Bankers Direct team has accrued over the years.

Currently open only to accredited investors, the portal allows investors to contribute as little as $5,000 to companies seeking capital. If the company reaches its fundraising goal, contributing investors become shareholders. If not, their funds are immediately returned to them. The portal seeks to open up early-stage investment opportunities to individual as well as institutional investors by offering extensive profiles on investment opportunities and decision-making support. I-Bankers Direct is selective with the investment opportunities it raises capital for— interested businesses must submit a proposal for consideration before their campaign is posted on the portal.

The site’s tagline is “Serious Crowdfunding for Serious Investors,” a maxim that, given I-Bankers Direct’s know-how in the early-stage investment trade, seems quite fitting.