SuperCrowd25: A Movement on the Rise
From Investomers to Climate Action: Lessons from SuperCrowd25
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A Community United for Impact
Thousands of founders, investors, social entrepreneurs, and community builders gathered virtually for SuperCrowd25—the largest impact crowdfunding event of the year. For two days, our screens lit up with the faces and voices of people who believe in investing with purpose. This wasn’t just another conference; it felt like a reunion of a movement. The energy was palpable as dreamers and doers from all over came together, all focused on one goal: using crowdfunding to fund a better world.
Watch the replays right here!
Everyone Can Be an Investor
One of the beautiful things about impact crowdfunding is how inclusive it is. Truly, everyone can participate. Whether someone starts with a humble $10 or brings $10,000 to the table, they’re equally welcome. At SuperCrowd25, we celebrated this radical inclusivity. No special license, no pedigree, no massive bank account required—just the desire to make a difference. Crowdfunding democratizes investing, letting everyday people put their money into causes and companies they believe in.
I shared one of my favorite examples: a founder named Jennifer Eden who built her company, Tampon Tribe, from the ground up via crowdfunding. She began with a small rewards campaign and went on to raise money through multiple community investment rounds on different platforms. Today, nearly her entire cap table is filled with everyday investors. That business simply wouldn’t exist but for crowdfunding. Stories like Jennifer’s prove that this new funding model works—and that it matters.
Proof of Concept: Impact Stories with Soul
What makes SuperCrowd25 special is that it wasn’t just talk—we saw real examples of impact in action. Throughout the event, speakers shared stories that were both inspiring and practical, proving that doing good and doing well can go hand in hand.
Take Dr. Canaan “Dr. Van” Williams, for example. He’s an affordable housing entrepreneur who’s been at it for decades, and his story had us all nodding in admiration. Dr. Van started out renovating a run-down property in my hometown of Stockton years ago, turning a dilapidated, crime-ridden complex into safe, affordable homes. Fast forward to today: he’s built affordable housing projects across the country and even manages a fund that lets ordinary people invest in these properties. He focuses on “naturally occurring affordable housing”—essentially finding existing housing stock that can be preserved and rented at below-market rates to keep it accessible.
One part of Dr. Van’s “secret sauce” is what he calls rapid housing. When he acquires a property, he can start providing homes to people in as little as two weeks (and no more than a few months, even for bigger projects). Think about that: taking a vacant or blighted property and getting families moved in within weeks. These are often second-chance housing opportunities for people—like single mothers—who desperately need an affordable place to live. And he’s doing it while delivering solid returns to investors. In one Las Vegas project, he highlighted, they kept rents low for residents and still provided around a 3× return to the community investors who made it possible. That’s a win-win model: investors earn, families get homes, and communities revive. As Dr. Van spoke, you could feel the passion behind his words. Providing housing within two weeks… that’s amazing. It really is. His work shows that impact investing isn’t about charity; it’s about creating sustainable solutions that benefit everyone involved.
We also heard from entrepreneurs tackling challenges in other domains. For instance, Meseret Warner of Ignite Investment shared how diaspora communities can leverage crowdfunding to invest back home. The African diaspora, she reminded us, sends tens of billions of dollars to their home countries every year in remittances. But rather than just sending money person-to-person, what if those funds were channeled into businesses and projects that build the local economy?
She emphasized that this is not donation—this is investment for a return, including impact. In her case, crowdfunding is the bridge that lets people of African descent (and anyone who cares about a region) invest in vetted enterprises on the continent. The capital goes into real ventures—say a social enterprise in Ethiopia—and investors can earn alongside creating jobs and opportunities in communities that need them. It’s a structured, transparent way for expatriates and supporters to go beyond charitable giving and actually fuel entrepreneurship in their homelands. Talk about inspiring: it turns out the “next frontier for diaspora capital” is right here in front of us, unlocked by crowdfunding platforms that make these investments accessible.
These stories underline why we’re all here. This stuff works. Lives are being changed because capital is flowing where it has never reached before. Businesses are thriving that traditional finance has overlooked. And entire communities are benefiting—not from handouts but from true investment partnerships.
From Customers to “Investomers”
A recurring theme at SuperCrowd25 was the power of turning supporters into investors. We heard that idea loud and clear from Sherwood “Woodie” Neiss, one of the pioneers of this industry. He likes to use the term “investomers”—essentially, your customers become your investors, and in doing so, they become something greater than either.
Woodie posed a thought-provoking question to founders: What if your best customers could also be your biggest investors? For most businesses, that’s a game-changer. Your customers already love your product or service; they believe in your mission. They want you to succeed because your success benefits them, too. In the old days, those loyal fans had no way to invest even if they wanted to—but thanks to the JOBS Act and crowdfunding regulations, now they can. We’re living in “the age of the investomer,” as Woodie put it, where customers can become true capital partners in the companies they frequent.
One attendee at the event quipped that customer-investors are the new normal, and I have to agree. We’re watching the lines blur between consumers and investors, between fans and backers. And this is a wonderful development! It leads to companies that are more accountable and responsive to their communities, and communities that feel genuinely proud of the companies they’ve funded. It’s capitalism with a human face.
Community Capital Builds Resilience
Another compelling insight came from looking at what happens after the investment. Chris Miller from NC3 (the National Coalition for Community Capital) shared research on how community-funded businesses perform compared to those funded by traditional means. The findings gave everyone goosebumps. In short, when the crowd invests in a business, that business tends to be more diverse, more resilient, and more deeply rooted in its community.
One statistic that stunned the audience was this: Venture capital historically has a dismal record on inclusivity—in 2024, less than 4% of VC funding went to companies led by women or minorities. 4%! In contrast, about 44% of crowdfunding investments have gone into businesses led by women or people of color. In other words, the crowdfunding ecosystem is far closer to reflecting the real world of talented entrepreneurs out there. That’s huge. By democratizing who can invest, we democratize who gets invested in. Underrepresented founders are raising money and building companies because the crowd believes in them, even when traditional investors might overlook them. The result is more innovation, more local solutions, and frankly, a more just allocation of capital.
Investing with Purpose: From Climate to Community
Impact was the common denominator of every discussion. Over and over, speakers drove home that crowdfunding isn’t just about money—it’s about purpose. We aren’t raising capital for capital’s sake; we’re doing it to fund the solutions and changes we want to see in the world.
One of our keynote speakers, Michael Shuman, made perhaps the boldest claim of all: he argued that crowdfunding can save the world. Yes, you read that right. Not just that it’s cool or profitable or good for your community (it is all those things), but that it can literally help save the planet from the crises we face—starting with climate change. Michael is one of the early architects of the crowdfunding movement and a leading voice on local economies. When he said this, it wasn’t hyperbole; he walked us through the reasoning, and it was eye-opening.
His point was that solving something as colossal as the climate crisis requires mobilizing capital on a massive scale and directing it into countless local solutions—solar projects, energy-efficient housing, clean tech startups, community resilience initiatives, and so on. Traditional funding channels just aren’t meeting that need fast enough. Governments and big investors move slowly, and often the most innovative grassroots ideas fall through the cracks. Enter the crowd. Through regulated crowdfunding, anyone can now invest in climate solutions, even at the project level. Michael gave examples of ordinary people investing in solar farms, sustainable agriculture, and green startups in their towns. Those investments not only have the potential for financial return; they also yield very tangible social returns, like cutting carbon emissions or creating green jobs.
We saw examples, too, like community members investing to reopen a local grocery store in a food desert, or environmental activists funding clean energy co-ops. When advocates invest, they don’t stop advocating—they amplify it, because now they have a vested interest in the outcome. The movement gains momentum (and capital), and the investors gain the satisfaction of tangible progress, plus a share in any upside.
Even the more technical talks—on topics like legal compliance or marketing your campaign—circled back to purpose. Kendall Almerico, a top crowdfunding attorney, gave a lively rundown of “top ten mistakes” to avoid when raising capital online. It was practical advice for sure (don’t launch your campaign without lining up supporters to invest early, don’t make people hunt around to find your investment page, do keep communicating with your backers constantly, etc.). But I noticed something: underlying every tip was the idea of respecting and valuing your community. For instance, Kendall emphasized not to treat crowdfunding as “easy money”—it’s a relationship, not a transaction. If you’re fortunate enough to have hundreds of people invest in your dream, honor that trust. Keep them updated, make them feel included, and deliver on your promises. That’s as much a moral lesson as a business one. And it’s how you scale a movement sustainably—through integrity and transparency.
Join the SuperCrowd Movement
By the end of Day 2, I think all of us felt a mix of exhilaration and resolve. Exhilaration at what’s already happening—the big ideas, the inspiring leaders, the sense of “we’re really onto something” that filled the air. And resolve to keep pushing this movement forward, to scale it up and welcome more people into it. We’re still in the early days of what crowdfunding can do. As I shared in one session, I like to imagine this movement as a young tree. In 20 or 30 years, we’ll look back on these days and say, “Wow—look at what grew from that little seedling we planted.” The roots we’re watering now—the community, the knowledge, the trust—will support something truly mighty in the decades to come. But only if we continue to nurture it.
SuperCrowd25 proved that the momentum is building. Now it’s on us to carry it forward. How? By staying engaged and investing with purpose whenever we can. By helping more entrepreneurs find the crowd as their funding source. By sharing our successes and lessons openly, so others can replicate them in their own communities. And by holding onto the idealism that got us here, even as this becomes a bigger and bigger industry.
The great news is that the conversations and learning don’t end with the conference. All the SuperCrowd25 sessions are available to watch on replay, so if you missed anything (or want to experience it all again), you can find those recordings above or at thesupercrowd25.com. I encourage you to dive in—there’s a wealth of insight and inspiration in each talk, far more than I could cover in one newsletter.
Looking ahead, I’m thrilled about what’s next. We announced SuperGreen Live, our next big virtual event, coming January 22-24, 2026. This will be a global gathering focused on sustainability and green innovation—essentially taking that “save the world” spirit and zooming in on climate and environmental solutions. Registration is free, and it’s open right now (you can also get VIP tickets for just $25). Consider this your personal invitation to join us again. Mark your calendar and secure your spot—you won’t want to miss it.
SuperCrowd25 was a milestone for our community. It showed that we are not alone—there’s a whole crowd of us out here, using capital as a force for good and cheering each other on. I left the event feeling inspired, energized, and more convinced than ever that we are onto something historic. We’re proving a new model of capitalism, one that’s inclusive, community-driven, and impact-focused.
Thank you to everyone who attended, spoke, or volunteered. You are the movement. Let’s keep building this. As we like to say, impact starts here—but it doesn’t end here. So go forth, tap into the crowd, invest in what matters, and help spread the word. Together, we’re crowdfunding the future. Here’s to the SuperCrowd and the brighter future we’re creating, one investment at a time!
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Max-Impact Members
The following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:
Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Hiten Sonpal, RISE Robotics | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Mark Grimes, Networked Enterprise Development | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Dr. Nicole Paulk, Siren Biotechnology | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name Here
Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar
If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.
Superpowers for Good Live Pitch on September 29, 2025, hosted by Devin Thorpe on e360tv, will feature Core Tax Deeds, Dopple, ProActive Realty Group, and Victory Hemp Foods pitching their active Regulation Crowdfunding campaigns to a nationwide audience. Viewers can vote for their favorite companies, win prizes, ask live questions, and join a private investor Zoom session to engage directly with founders and even invest during the show. Don’t miss this free chance to discover and support purpose-driven startups—register here: https://thesupercrowd.com/25q3pitch
Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on October 28, 2025, at 1:30 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.
Community Event Calendar
Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.
KingsCrowd Investment Crowdfunding Week: September 29 through October 2nd, featuring speakers, panels and live pitches (Devin Thorpe will be judging the Clean Energy pitch session on September 30 at 2ET/11PT). Free registration!
Neighborhood Economics: Chicago takes place September 29–October 1, 2025, at Venue SIX10, bringing together changemakers, innovators, and community leaders reimagining wealth, ownership, and entrepreneurship to drive real community transformation.
Earthstock Festival & Summit (Oct 2–5, 2025, Santa Monica & Venice, CA) unites music, arts, ecology, health, and green innovation for four days of learning, networking, and celebration. Register now at EarthstockFestival.com.
Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington, DC, October 21-22, 2025.
Impact Accelerator Summit is a live, in-person event taking place in Austin, Texas, from October 23–25, 2025. This exclusive gathering brings together 100 heart-centered, conscious entrepreneurs generating $1M+ in revenue with 20–30 family offices and venture funds actively seeking to invest in world-changing businesses. Referred by Michael Dash, participants can expect an inspiring, high-impact experience focused on capital connection, growth, and global impact.
If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,500+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.
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